A selective boys grammar school in Torquay, Devon, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,100 pupils on roll.
Torquay Boys' Grammar School
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At a glance
Torquay Boys' Grammar School is a selective boys' grammar school in Shiphay, Torquay, with about 1,100 pupils and a sixth form that includes girls on the International Baccalaureate route. The school traces its roots to the Pupil Teacher Centre opened in Abbey Road in 1904, moved to Barton Road in 1915, and then to its purpose-built Shiphay site in 1983.
TBGS is explicit about balancing academic achievement with wider development. Its stated core values are excellence, leadership and integrity, and the school links them to curriculum, the house system and a large range of activities. At Key Stage 3, pupils study a broad curriculum including art, computing, design technology, English, geography, history, mathematics, languages, music, PE and philosophy and applied ethics; Spanish starts in Year 7, with German or Mandarin Chinese added in Year 8.
The sixth form is distinctive because it offers both A levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma. A-level students choose three or four subjects and can add options such as the Extended Essay, AS Further Mathematics, Gold Duke of Edinburgh, AS Ancient History and AS Music. IB students study three Higher and three Standard Level subjects plus Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service. Outside lessons, TBGS makes use of its Dartmoor-and-sea setting through Dartmoor Society, Ten Tors and Duke of Edinburgh, alongside clubs, societies, sport, music and performing arts.
For Year 7 entry, the published admission number is 168. There is no defined catchment or feeder-school priority: candidates who meet the academic threshold are ranked by test score, with looked-after, pupil-premium and distance rules used only to separate tied scores. Recent official benchmarks record Ofsted Good, Progress 8 of +0.34, 98.8% grade 5+ in English and maths and 28.3% AAB or better at A level.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Torbay and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Torbay and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Torbay and England.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,100 pupils; 1,028 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 75.7% | White | 833 |
| Unclassified | 6.5% | Unclassified | 72 |
| Any other White background | 6% | White | 66 |
| Any other mixed background | 2.7% | Mixed | 30 |
| Indian | 2.4% | Asian | 26 |
| White and Asian | 1.8% | Mixed | 20 |
| Any other Asian background | 1.2% | Asian | 13 |
| Chinese | 1.2% | Asian | 13 |
| Any other ethnic group | 0.6% | Other | 7 |
| African | 0.4% | Black | 4 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.4% | Asian | 4 |
| Pakistani | 0.4% | Asian | 4 |
| Irish | 0.3% | White | 3 |
| White and Black African | 0.2% | Mixed | 2 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.2% | Mixed | 2 |
| Any other Black background | 0.1% | Black | 1 |
There is no defined catchment or feeder-school priority. Candidates who meet the academic threshold are ranked by test score, with distance used only after tied-score priority categories.
No defined catchment area applies. Distance from home to school is used only after tied-score priority categories.
Eligible-score ranking
Candidates who reach the required academic threshold are ranked by test score until the PAN is reached.
Looked-after and previously looked-after tie priority
If candidates are tied, looked-after and previously looked-after candidates are prioritised first.
Pupil Premium tie priority
Pupil Premium candidates are prioritised next in a tied-score situation.
Distance tie-break
Remaining tied candidates are ordered by straight-line distance from home to school.
Torquay Boys' Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment. The published format currently lists 1 paper.
Shared exam route
Torquay Boys' Grammar School uses the shared Torbay route. Use these common practice resources for the route, then check the full consortium guide for the complete set and current test guidance.
View all Torbay practice papersPaper 1
English, Maths
Selection tests
Two tests, one English and one maths, each approximately 50 minutes.
English and Maths are included in the published format.
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Science are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning
Science
Registration opens
1 March 2026
PastPreferred registration deadline
15 July 2026
Final registration deadline
4 September 2026
Deadline is midday.
Selection tests
19 September 2026
Eligibility outcome
12 October 2026
Secondary school application deadline
31 October 2026
National offer day
1 March 2027
Register for the selection tests
Register by midday on Friday 4 September 2026; 15 July is the preferred earlier deadline.
RegisterSit the selection tests
The tests are on Saturday 19 September 2026.
Check test detailsSubmit the secondary application
Name the school on the local authority application by 31 October 2026.
Check application detailsLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 70.8 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 66.2 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 66.9 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 70.8 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | B average (40.7 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B- average (37.8 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B- average (37.7 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B- average (35.6 points) | 41.8 points | 35.0 points |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 99% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 97% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 98% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 95% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 2% |
Latest inspection: 23 September 2021
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same wider selective region and a similar admissions route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
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Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking that can be filtered by county, school type, and Ofsted before moving into local admissions detail.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Torquay Boys' Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Register for the selection tests: Register by midday on Friday 4 September 2026; 15 July is the preferred earlier deadline. 2. Sit the selection tests: The tests are on Saturday 19 September 2026. 3. Submit the secondary application: Name the school on the local authority application by 31 October 2026.
Registration opens: 1 March 2026. Preferred registration deadline: 15 July 2026. Final registration deadline: 4 September 2026. Selection tests: 19 September 2026. Eligibility outcome: 12 October 2026. Secondary school application deadline: 31 October 2026. National offer day: 1 March 2027
Torquay Boys' Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 23 September 2021.