Two multiple-choice papers: English and maths.
- Test provider
- GL Assessment
- Format
- Multiple choice
Papers and timings
- English Multiple choice
- Mathematics Multiple choice
What the test includes
- English
- Maths
School profile
Record updated 27 October 2026
A selective girls grammar school in Torquay, Devon, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,021 pupils on roll.
Grammar school Girls Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form GL Assessment
- 2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
- UK Rank #107
- Year 7 places
- 192
- Competition ?
- Moderate (estimated)
- Ofsted ?
- Outstanding
- 11+ route
- GL Assessment
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- 2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
- UK Rank #107
- Sector
- Grammar school
- Admissions
- Girls only
- Assessment
- GL Assessment
- Places in Year 7
- 192
- Competition ?
- Moderate (estimated)
- Catchment
- You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
- Ofsted ?
- Outstanding
Overview
Overview
Torquay Girls' Grammar School is the only state selective girls' school in its area, educating around 1,020 pupils on Shiphay Lane with the TG6 sixth form attached. Its own welcome frames the school as more than 100 years old, high achieving and deliberately single-sex in Years 7 to 11, with pupils encouraged to speak, lead and be ambitious without embarrassment.
The ethos has a distinctive energy. TGGS celebrates elite academic, sporting and artistic achievement, but also stresses happiness, confidence and fun: house culture includes whole-school events such as the Brixham-to-Torquay sponsored walk and House Shout. The curriculum is described as developing character skills and self-esteem alongside academic success.
The enrichment offer is one of the more vivid in this batch. Official pages mention local trips to the National Marine Aquarium and Tate St Ives, national visits to Parliament and Oxbridge, and international travel including Iceland, Borneo, CERN and Kenya. Students also have routes into sport, drama, Duke of Edinburgh, Ten Tors, student leadership, trips, clubs and a theatre or performance culture. TG6 has about 250 students and highlights strong university, apprenticeship, STEM, law and medical destinations.
Year 7 has 192 places and entry is through selection tests in English and mathematics; outcome letters confirm whether the eligible score has been met, but actual scores are not disclosed. Oversubscription priorities include looked-after status, pupil premium or service premium, then rank order and distance. Published measures show Ofsted Outstanding, Progress 8 around +0.37, 94.2% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 19.6% AAB or better at A level.
Key points
Key points
- Assessment route
- GL Assessment: 2 papers, covering English and Maths.
- Places and demand
- 192 places in Year 7 and Moderate (estimated)
- Catchment
- You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
- Results
- 94.8% grade 5+ in English and maths and 68.4 Attainment 8
- Sixth form
- Sixth form available with 19.6% AAB or better and 70.7% in higher education.
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2025/26 KS4 measures compared with Torbay and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 68.4
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 94.8%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Torbay and England.
School Local authority England
Destinations
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Torbay and England.
Education Apprenticeships Employment Other / unknown
School details
School details
- Sector
- Grammar school
- School type
- Academy converter
- Application
- Local authority CAF
- Gender
- Girls only
- Age range
- 11-18
- Headteacher
- Ms Sarah Forster
- Pupil roll
- 1,058 pupils
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Trust
- Torquay Girls' Grammar School
- FSM ?
- 6%
- EAL ?
- 6.5%
- EHCP ?
- 0.1%
Facilities
Theatre
Extracurriculars
Drama Sport
School statistics
School statistics
Ethnicity
Ethnicity
Pupil ethnicity
Whole-school roll of 1,058 pupils; 1,042 had a recorded ethnic group.
White 908 pupils, 85.8%
Sign in to see the full breakdown
Asian 62 pupils, 5.8%
Sign in to see the full breakdown
Mixed 53 pupils, 5.1%
Sign in to see the full breakdown
Black 7 pupils, 0.7%
Sign in to see the full breakdown
Other 12 pupils, 1.1%
Sign in to see the full breakdown
Unclassified 16 pupils, 1.5%
Sign in to see the full breakdown
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- 30 Shiphay Lane, Torquay, Devon
- Postcode
- TQ2 7DY
- Area
- Torbay
- Exam area
- Torbay 11+
School leadership
- Headteacher
- Ms Sarah Forster
School contact
- School email
- admin@tggsacademy.org
- School phone
- 01803613215
Admissions contact
- Admissions email
- admin@tggsacademy.org
- Admissions phone
- 01803613215
Admissions
Admissions
- Year 7 places
- 192 places
- Applications listed
- 352 applications (2026 entry)
- First preferences
- 247 first preferences (2026 entry)
- Competition ?
- Moderate (estimated)
- Catchment
- You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
- Pass mark note
- Outcome letters give only whether the eligible score has been met. Actual scores are not disclosed.
Selection is through English and maths tests. Outcome letters confirm whether the eligible score has been met; actual scores are not disclosed.
No catchment priority is listed. Distance from home to school is used only to resolve tied scores after the priority categories.
Oversubscription and eligibility
-
1
Education, Health and Care Plan
Girls with an EHCP naming Torquay Girls' Grammar School are admitted if they meet the eligible academic score.
-
2
Looked-after and previously looked-after girls
Candidates on the eligible list are prioritised first for looked-after or previously looked-after status.
-
3
Pupil Premium and Service Premium
Eligible-list candidates entitled to Pupil Premium or Service Premium are prioritised next.
-
4
Rank order by total score
All other eligible candidates are ranked by total selection-test score.
-
5
Distance tie-break
Tied candidates are ordered by straight-line distance from home to school, with random allocation if still tied.
Exam and test format
Exam and test format
Official exam resources
Past papers and practice materials
No released past entrance-test papers are currently verified here. The resources below are labelled by type.
Torbay test guideFree parent account
Open the exam resources
Create a free parent account to open the official papers, sample questions and guidance listed here.
Application
Application
Key dates
Get date reminders-
Registration opens
1 March 2026
Past -
Preferred registration deadline
15 July 2026
Past -
Final registration deadline
4 September 2026
PastDeadline is midday.
-
Selection tests
19 September 2026
Past -
Eligibility outcome
On or as soon as possible after 12 October 2026 (provisional)
-
Secondary school application deadline
31 October 2026
Past -
National offer day
1 March 2027
How to apply
- 1
Register for the selection tests
Register by midday on Friday 4 September 2026; 15 July is the preferred earlier deadline.
Register - 2
Sit the selection tests
The main test date is Saturday 19 September 2026.
Check test details - 3
Submit the secondary application
Name the school on the local authority application by 31 October 2026.
Check application details
Official admissions documents
Results
Results
Inspection
Inspection
Outstanding
Latest inspection: 2 November 2023
- Quality of education
- Outstanding
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Outstanding
- Sixth form provision
- Outstanding
Quick summary
- Overall effectiveness: Torquay Girls' Grammar School was rated Outstanding across all areas. Inspectors described highly ambitious academic provision balanced with emotional and mental health support, strong STEM aspirations, high participation in enrichment and pupils who challenge gender stereotypes in future planning.
- Quality of education: Ambitious content is carefully chosen in each subject and taught by staff with strong subject expertise. Pupils use specialist language fluently, sixth-formers produce scholarly writing and lead sophisticated discussion, and teachers revisit learning to spot and close misconceptions.
- Behaviour and attitudes: The report links pupils' strong attitudes to high expectations and supportive classrooms. Pupils feel safe to express views, show courage in their choices and take part enthusiastically in the wider life of the school.
- Personal development: Pupils keep physically healthy through sport, learn skills such as coding and gain confidence through public speaking and productions. Participation in extra-curricular activities is high, including among disadvantaged pupils, and the house system inspires future sixth-form leadership.
- Leadership and management: Leaders balance exceptional academic ambition with close attention to pupils' emotional and mental health. They reflect carefully on what works in each subject, adapt support for pupils who need it and maintain effective safeguarding arrangements.
- Sixth form provision: Sixth-form provision was rated Outstanding. The report notes that more than half of students progress to STEM degrees, older students produce scholarly work and sophisticated discussion, and younger pupils see house leadership as something to aspire to.
Similar schools and comparisons
Similar schools and comparisons
Nearby schools families also consider
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Plymouth High School for Girls
Same wider selective region with a comparable travel distance
Devonport High School for Girls
Same wider selective region with a comparable travel distance
Nearby schools with similar results
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Parkstone Grammar School
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
West Kirby Grammar School
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Wirral Grammar School for Girls
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Shortlist comparisons
Explore this school in context
Best Grammar Schools in Torbay
Compare 3 Torbay grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Torbay route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
Best Girls' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best girls grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing schools by route and journey.
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 pages and guides
Related pages and guides
Area and ranking pages
Best Grammar Schools in Torbay
Compare 3 Torbay grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Torbay route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
Best Girls' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best girls grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing schools by route and journey.
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.
Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which entrance tests does Torquay Girls' Grammar School use?
For September 2027 entry, Torquay Girls' Grammar School uses GL Assessment. Check the named test and any alternative or later-stage requirements in the admissions policy.
How do I apply to Torquay Girls' Grammar School?
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 main test date is Saturday 19 September 2026. 3. Submit the secondary application: Name the school on the local authority application by 31 October 2026.
When are the key dates for Torquay Girls' Grammar School?
Registration opens: 1 March 2026. Preferred registration deadline: 15 July 2026. Final registration deadline: 4 September 2026. Selection tests: 19 September 2026. Eligibility outcome: On or as soon as possible after 12 October 2026 (provisional). Secondary school application deadline: 31 October 2026. National offer day: 1 March 2027
What does the latest inspection picture look like for Torquay Girls' Grammar School?
Torquay Girls' Grammar School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 2 November 2023.