About Alcester Grammar School
Alcester Grammar School is part of the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership (Warwickshire Consortium). Admission is via the shared West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test (GL Assessment). All 19 schools in the partnership use the same test — children register once at westmidlandsgrammarschools.co.uk.
Alcester Grammar School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 66.7%. A-Level A*–B: 65.4%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Alcester Grammar School
Alcester Grammar School is a co-educational state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 150 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The West Midlands Grammar Schools’ Entrance Test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2027 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in Saturday 13 September 2026 and results are released to parents on mid-October 2026 (via Warwickshire Admissions) — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
Alcester Grammar School is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (150 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Alcester Grammar School
Alcester Grammar School Admissions Criteria
Alcester Grammar School is part of the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership (Warwickshire Consortium). Admission is via the shared West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test (GL Assessment). All 19 schools in the partnership use the same test — children register once at westmidlandsgrammarschools.co.uk.
- ✓Register at westmidlandsgrammarschools.co.uk (opens 5th May, closes 26th June, Year 5).
- ✓Sit two multiple-choice papers in September Year 6: English Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics and Non-Verbal/Spatial Reasoning.
- ✓Achieve the Warwickshire Consortium qualifying standardised score to be eligible.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Children within the school's priority catchment area who achieved the qualifying score.
- ✓Children with siblings currently attending Alcester Grammar School.
- ✓All other qualifying children, ranked by score then straight-line distance.
Alcester Grammar School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 150 Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by Alcester Grammar School)
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — Alcester Grammar School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 via Warwickshire Admissions (closes 4pm, 30 June 2026) |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Saturday 13 September 2026 (English + Maths + VR + NVR) |
| 📌 Test results released | mid-October 2026 (via Warwickshire Admissions) |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to Alcester Grammar School via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (Warwickshire Admissions) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026. There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Alcester Grammar School
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in Saturday 13 September 2026. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents on mid-October 2026 (via Warwickshire Admissions), BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List Alcester Grammar School as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2026. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Alcester Grammar School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Alcester Grammar School
Alcester Grammar School selects through the West Midlands Grammar Schools' Entrance Test, produced by GL Assessment and shared across the consortium — so a child sits it only once even when applying to several member schools. The assessment is two multiple-choice papers of roughly one hour each, weighted English and verbal reasoning 50%, non-verbal reasoning 25% and mathematics 25%, with age-standardised scoring and no negative marking.
- English: reading comprehension, grammar, punctuation and vocabulary.
- Mathematics: arithmetic, number, measurement, geometry, algebra and problem-solving.
- Verbal reasoning: word relationships, logical deduction and use of language.
- Non-verbal reasoning: interpreting shapes, sequences and spatial patterns.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Alcester Grammar School
Alcester Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Alcester Grammar School 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at Alcester Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Alcester Grammar School (AGS) is a high-achieving co-educational grammar, ranked nationally in the Sunday Times Parent Power guide. In the 2025 dataset, around 76% of A-Level grades were A*–B and about 73.5% of GCSE grades were 9–7, placing it in the region of 90th nationally for GCSE results.
- GCSE: consistently strong results across a broad curriculum including mathematics, the sciences, languages, design technology, business and computing.
- A-Level: a wide sixth-form offer with strong outcomes supporting competitive university applications.
- Progression: high rates of entry to Russell Group and other leading universities.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Alcester Grammar School
Admission to Year 7 is through the West Midlands Grammar Schools Consortium entrance test, produced by GL Assessment: two multiple-choice papers of roughly one hour each, weighted around 50% English and verbal reasoning, 25% non-verbal reasoning and 25% mathematics. The Published Admission Number is 150 places, and the school is consistently oversubscribed.
AGS operates a designated priority (catchment) area — broadly a radius of about 16.9 miles centred on the Fountain in Rother Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, extending to the county boundary south of Long Compton — and Warwickshire Admissions may request proof of address. Where the school is oversubscribed, priority typically runs: previously looked-after and looked-after children; eligible children in the priority area (including those eligible for the Pupil Premium) who achieve the qualifying score; then qualifying children outside the area, ranked by score.
Applications are made through the consortium's registration portal alongside your local authority's Common Application Form. Always confirm the current area map, qualifying score and oversubscription criteria in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
With origins stretching back several centuries, the school took the name Alcester Grammar School in 1912, became co-educational in the 1970s and converted to academy status in 2011 (the first school in the area to do so). It now educates over 1,000 students on Birmingham Road in Alcester, Warwickshire. Its ethos centres on respect, honesty and social and cultural inclusivity, in a harmonious and cooperative environment that encourages pupils to contribute to their communities as responsible citizens.
AGS offers a rich extracurricular programme spanning sport, music and drama — from quiz club, chess and athletics to jazz band, rowing and tennis — helping pupils develop their interests and life skills alongside their academic work. For the full list of clubs, teams and ensembles, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Alcester Grammar School
How do I apply to Alcester Grammar School for Year 7?
Applications to Alcester Grammar School are made through your home Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) — not directly to the school. Your child must sit the GL Assessment 11+ test (registration closes late June 2026), then list Alcester Grammar School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Alcester Grammar School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Alcester Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Saturday 13 September 2026 (English + Maths + VR + NVR). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Alcester Grammar School?
Alcester Grammar School sets its own qualifying mark each year. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) up to the admission number of 150 places.
How many Year 7 places does Alcester Grammar School have?
Alcester Grammar School admits 150 Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places fairly.
When are GL Assessment results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, GL Assessment test results are released on mid-October 2026 (via Warwickshire Admissions) — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
When is National Offers Day for Alcester Grammar School in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 secondary school places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by your home Local Authority — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Alcester Grammar School's waiting list.
Is Alcester Grammar School a state school or fee-paying?
Alcester Grammar School is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the GL Assessment 11+ test, but pupils who pass the test do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the Alcester Grammar School 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete GL Assessment 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all GL topic areas — English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find Alcester Grammar School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Alcester Grammar School 2027 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, qualifying mark, supplementary forms (if any), and any school-specific application requirements.