About Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS)
Colyton Grammar School (CGS) is a co-educational state grammar school in Colyford, East Devon — consistently ranked among the top state schools in England (Times ranking #20). Entry uses the Quest Assessments 11+ entrance examination (three papers: English, Mathematics and Creative Writing). 155 Year 7 places. Registration is direct with the school. The school draws pupils from across East Devon and West Dorset.
Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) offers an outstanding education with excellent academic standards, small class sizes and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities. GCSE 9–7: 80.9%.
About the Quest Assessments 11+ Test for Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS)
Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) is a co-educational state grammar school in England that selects pupils through the Quest Assessments 11+ (Quest Assessments), a super-selective entrance test, for Year 7 admission. Places are offered to the highest-scoring applicants — there is no fixed catchment area. The school admits approximately 155 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF).
The Quest Assessments 11+ format traditionally consists of one or two papers covering English (comprehension, cloze passages, vocabulary), Mathematics (numerical reasoning, problem-solving), Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Quest Assessments scores are age-standardised so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. The Quest Assessments papers (English, Maths and Creative Writing) are set by Quest Assessments.
For 2026 entry, the test is sat in September 2025 and results are released on Mid-October 2025. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2025, with National Offers Day on Monday 2 March 2026.
Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (155 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria to allocate places fairly. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS)
Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) Admissions Criteria
Colyton Grammar School (CGS) is a co-educational state grammar school in Colyford, East Devon — consistently ranked among the top state schools in England (Times ranking #20). Entry uses the Quest Assessments 11+ entrance examination (three papers: English, Mathematics and Creative Writing). 155 Year 7 places. Registration is direct with the school. The school draws pupils from across East Devon and West Dorset.
- ✓Register directly with Colyton Grammar School via the school website (colytongrammar.com).
- ✓Sit the Quest Assessments 11+ entrance examination covering English Comprehension, Mathematics and Reasoning.
- ✓Papers are taken at Colyton Grammar School on a set date in September of Year 6.
- ✓All scores are age-standardised. No fixed pass mark — places offered to highest-scoring eligible candidates.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Children within the school's designated catchment area who achieve the required standard.
- ✓Children outside the catchment who achieve the required standard, ranked by score then distance.
- ✓Apply via Devon County Council CAF by 31st October 2026.
Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 155 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 Quest Assessments 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the Quest Assessments entrance test set by Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS)
- 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) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2025 |
| 📌 Registration closes | Mid-July 2025 |
| 📌 Quest Assessments 11+ Entrance Test | September 2025 (Quest Assessments: English, Maths and Creative Writing VR + NVR) |
| 📌 Test results released | Mid-October 2025 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2025 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 2 March 2026 |
How to Apply to Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register for the Quest Assessments 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal when registration opens. Closes Mid-July 2025. There is no fee to sit the test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS)
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to assess fit before listing this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the Quest Assessments 11+ Entrance Test
Test held on September 2025. Covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with age-standardised scoring.
Step 4 — Receive standardised test results
Test results released on Mid-October 2025, BEFORE the CAF deadline.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit by Friday 31 October 2025. Late applications are processed only after on-time ones.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers issued on Monday 2 March 2026 via your Local Authority.
Quest Assessments 11+ Papers at Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS)
11+ Practice Papers for Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS)
Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) uses the Quest Assessments 11+ (English, Maths and Creative Writing). Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
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How to Prepare for the Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) 11+ Exam
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Academic Performance at Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Colyton Grammar School is consistently one of the highest-performing state grammar schools in England and is rated Outstanding by Ofsted across all areas. A very high proportion of GCSE entries are awarded grades 9–7 (A* and A equivalents) and of A-Levels grades A*–B, placing it at or near the top of the Devon tables and supporting strong progression to leading universities.
- GCSE: strong results across a broad, STEM-focused curriculum spanning mathematics, the sciences, languages and humanities.
- A-Level: a wide sixth-form offer with high grades supporting competitive university applications, including Oxbridge.
- 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 Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS)
Colyton Grammar School operates without a designated catchment area. All applicants are treated equally regardless of where they live: any child who reaches the school's qualifying standard in the entrance test is eligible to be named on the Common Application Form. The school offers 155 Year 7 places and is part of the Devon Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme.
Registration for the entrance test is made directly to the school (typically opening in spring and closing at the end of July), while the place itself is applied for through your home local authority's Common Application Form by 31 October. Where more qualified children apply than there are places, priority runs: children with an EHC Plan naming the school; looked-after and previously looked-after children; then children eligible for the Pupil Premium or Service Premium who meet the standard; then all other qualified applicants ranked by score. If two children are tied for the final place, the one living closer to the school (by straight-line distance) is given priority.
Always confirm the current registration dates, qualifying standard and oversubscription criteria in the school's admissions policy.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Founded in 1546, Colyton is one of the oldest grammar schools in England and now educates around 1,000 co-educational students aged 11–18 at Whitwell Lane in Colyford, East Devon. It pairs high academic expectations with a supportive, inclusive ethos, and Year 11 pupils progress automatically into the Sixth Form once they meet the academic criteria.
Beyond the classroom the school runs a wide extracurricular programme — from astronomy, chess, drama and computer-science clubs to a full range of sport including rugby, hockey, netball, football, badminton and athletics — helping pupils develop leadership, creativity and teamwork. For the full list of clubs, teams and trips, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS)
How do I apply to Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) for Year 7?
Applications to Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) are made through your home Local Authority's Common Application Form (CAF), not directly to the school. Your child must sit the Quest Assessments 11+ test (registration closes Mid-July 2025), then list Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) on the CAF by Friday 31 October 2025.
Does Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) use the Quest Assessments 11+ test?
Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) uses the Quest Assessments 11+ (Quest Assessments) entrance test — three papers covering English, Mathematics and Creative Writing. many schools have transitioned to GL Assessment or developed bespoke entrance tests. Practice papers in the CEM-style format remain valuable preparation as the topic areas (English, Maths, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) are still tested in most formats.
What's the difference between CEM and GL Assessment?
Both test similar subjects (English, Maths, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) but differ in style: CEM was designed to be less coachable with broader vocabulary and varied question types per paper; GL Assessment has more structured, predictable papers per subject area. Many former CEM schools now use GL Assessment after CEM 11+ was retired in 2022.
How many Year 7 places does Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) have?
Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) admits approximately 155 Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria to allocate places fairly.
When is the 11+ test for Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS)?
For 2026 entry, Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS)'s 11+ entrance assessment is held in September 2025 (Quest Assessments: English, Maths and Creative Writing VR + NVR). Registration closes Mid-July 2025.
What's the pass mark / qualifying score for Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS)?
Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) sets its own qualifying mark each year based on the standardised score distribution of applicants. 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 155 places.
Is Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) a state school or fee-paying?
Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the Quest Assessments 11+ test.
How can my child prepare for the Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question, and downloadable resources covering English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the test for best results.
Where can I find Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS)'s official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Colyton Grammar School, Colyford (CGS) 2026 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, current test format, qualifying mark, supplementary forms, and any school-specific application requirements.