Gloucestershire 11 Plus: The Grammar Schools Guide (2027 Entry)
Gloucestershire's seven grammar schools — in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud — share one entrance test in the GL format. Your child sits it once, on one day, and you ask for the result to be shared with each consortium school you apply to. This guide covers the process for September 2027 entry.
Quick summary — Gloucestershire 11+, 2027 entry
Keep in mind:
- Both registration times are 12 noon — noon on 18 May to open, noon on 26 June to close.
- One test, one result: you nominate which of the seven schools receive it when you apply.
- There is no single pass mark — each school sets its own threshold, and priority groups can qualify with lower scores.
The seven Gloucestershire grammar schools
- Pate's Grammar School — co-educational, Cheltenham
- Sir Thomas Rich's School — boys, Gloucester
- The Crypt School — co-educational, Gloucester
- Denmark Road High School — girls, Gloucester
- Ribston Hall High School — girls, Gloucester
- Marling School — boys, Stroud
- Stroud High School — girls, Stroud
All seven use the same test and the same sitting; there is no separate exam per school.
The test papers
The Gloucestershire Grammar Schools' Entrance Test is in the GL format — two multiple-choice papers of about an hour each:
- Paper 1 — verbal skills: reading comprehension, vocabulary and verbal reasoning.
- Paper 2 — non-verbal reasoning and maths: Key Stage 2 maths content plus spatial and visual problem-solving.
Gloucestershire 11+ key dates for 2027 entry
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 12 noon, Monday 18 May 2026 | Registration opens |
| 12 noon, Friday 26 June 2026 | Registration closes |
| Saturday 12 September 2026 | Entrance test |
| Mid-October 2026 | Results sent to parents |
| 31 October 2026 | Secondary Common Application Form deadline |
| 1 March 2027 | National offer day |
Qualifying and applying
After the test, you receive your child's standardised result and can see which schools' thresholds they have met. You then name those schools as preferences on your home local authority's application form by 31 October 2026, in genuine order of preference.
Because each school ranks and allocates in score order within its own criteria (including any designated area and priority for looked-after and disadvantaged children), a child who clears the threshold but sits low in the rank may still not be offered a place at an oversubscribed school. Refused applicants can appeal and join a waiting list.
How to prepare
Paper 1 is won on vocabulary and reading. Wide reading and deliberate vocabulary work feed comprehension and verbal reasoning at the same time.
Paper 2 pairs maths with spatial reasoning, so arithmetic fluency and a systematic method for rotation, reflection and folding questions both matter.
Use GL-format multiple-choice practice and work on a separate answer sheet. Our non-verbal reasoning guide covers the spatial question types in Paper 2.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Gloucestershire 11+ for 2027 entry?
The Gloucestershire Grammar Schools' Entrance Test is sat on Saturday 12 September 2026. Registration runs from 12 noon on Monday 18 May 2026 to 12 noon on Friday 26 June 2026, and results are sent to parents in mid-October 2026, before the 31 October secondary application deadline.
How many grammar schools are in Gloucestershire?
Seven, all using the shared entrance test: Pate's Grammar School (Cheltenham), Sir Thomas Rich's School, The Crypt School, Denmark Road High School and Ribston Hall High School (all Gloucester), and Marling School and Stroud High School (both Stroud).
What is on the Gloucestershire 11+ test?
Two multiple-choice papers of about an hour each, in the GL format. Paper 1 covers verbal skills — reading comprehension, vocabulary and verbal reasoning. Paper 2 covers non-verbal reasoning and maths, including Key Stage 2 maths content and spatial problem-solving. Results are age-standardised.
What score do you need to pass the Gloucestershire 11+?
There is no fixed pass mark across all schools. Each grammar school sets its own qualifying standardised score, ranks its qualifying applicants and allocates places in rank order, so the threshold varies by school and by year. Some priority groups can qualify with a lower score.
Do all seven schools see my child's result automatically?
No. You receive the result and then nominate which consortium schools it is shared with by naming them as preferences on your home local authority's application form. One test result can be used for any combination of the seven.
Does clearing the threshold guarantee a Gloucestershire grammar place?
No. Schools allocate in score order within their own oversubscription criteria, including any designated area and priority for looked-after and disadvantaged children. A child who clears the threshold but ranks low at an oversubscribed school may not be offered a place, though they can appeal and join the waiting list.
Related SharpY Mind resources
Two papers, four skills
Comprehension and verbal reasoning in Paper 1; maths and spatial reasoning in Paper 2. SharpY Mind builds all four in short daily sessions.
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