About Dorset Grammar Schools
Dorset has four grammar schools, all in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) area: Bournemouth School (boys), Bournemouth School for Girls, Poole Grammar School (boys) and Parkstone Grammar School (girls). They form the Dorset Consortium and share a single 11+, so your child sits one test for all four.
You register with one of the four schools (the test is taken there), and the result is shared across the consortium. The test is provided by GL Assessment.
For September 2027 entry, registration opens 13 April 2026 and closes 4 September 2026; the test is on a Saturday in mid-September 2026, with results in October. You then list schools on your home authority’s Common Application Form by 31 October; there is no fixed pass mark, so each school sets its own qualifying score from the ranked cohort.
Dorset Grammar Schools
All four Dorset Consortium grammar schools share one 11+ test. Click any school for its detailed admission guide, catchment and key dates:
All four schools share one test result but each sets its own catchment and qualifying score. Two further local schools (Poole High School and Budmouth Academy) are only partially selective and run their own separate admissions.
About the Dorset 11+
The Dorset Consortium 11+ is the single test used by all four grammar schools. It is provided by GL Assessment, and your child sits it once (at the school you register with), with the result shared across the four.
Format: three multiple-choice papers — Mathematics (50 minutes), English (comprehension, vocabulary and punctuation, 45 minutes) and Verbal Reasoning. All papers are based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum and marked by computer.
Scores are age-standardised and there is no fixed pass mark — each school sets its own qualifying score from the ranked cohort. The test is on a Saturday in mid-September 2026 for 2027 entry, with results around three weeks later in October.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Dorset Grammar Schools
The four Dorset grammar schools share one Dorset Consortium 11+: register your child with one of the four schools (or via BCP Council) during the window — for 2027 entry, 13 April to 4 September 2026. Your child sits the test once on a Saturday in mid-September 2026, at the school you registered with, and the result is shared across all four. Results arrive in October; you then list schools on your home authority’s Common Application Form by 31 October, with offers on National Offer Day (1 March). There is no fixed pass mark — each school sets its own qualifying score from the ranked cohort, then applies its own catchment and oversubscription criteria.
What the Dorset 11+ Covers
The Dorset Consortium 11+ covers Mathematics, English (comprehension, vocabulary and punctuation) and Verbal Reasoning across three papers, based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum. Practising realistic GL-style papers across these areas is the most effective preparation.
How to Prepare for the Dorset 11+
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📋 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.
GL Assessment Practice Papers and Quest Software for Dorset Grammar Schools
Dorset Grammar Schools uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers mirror that exact format, with a short tutor video explaining every question. Quest, our interactive practice software, comes in a GL Assessment edition too: 4,600 questions across English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning in short tests with medals to win, an Exam Hall of timed mocks, the GL sitting papers, flashcards, a daily five, a Weekly Challenge set by a friendly Guardian and a hero your child unlocks by learning, with a working-out board under every question and My Corrections — plus a Skills Report and a week-by-week plan for parents. Start with the free samples, then choose a pack when you're ready.
When you're readyPractice-paper packs from £19 · all papers £69 · Quest £59 a year · Quest + all papers £89. One-off purchases with 12 months' access — no subscription, nothing renews.
View GL Assessment practice papers →Dorset Grammar Schools — Frequently Asked Questions
How many grammar schools are in Dorset?
Four, all in the BCP area: Bournemouth School (boys), Bournemouth School for Girls, Poole Grammar School (boys) and Parkstone Grammar School (girls).
What is the Dorset 11+?
The Dorset Consortium 11+ — a single GL Assessment test of three multiple-choice papers covering Mathematics, English and Verbal Reasoning.
Do I sit a separate test for each school?
No — you sit the consortium test once (at the school you register with) and the result is shared across all four.
Is there a pass mark?
No fixed pass mark — scores are age-standardised and each school sets its own qualifying score from the ranked cohort.
How do I register?
Register with one of the four schools (or via BCP Council). For 2027 entry the window is 13 April to 4 September 2026, and the test is on a Saturday in mid-September 2026.
How do I apply for a place?
List your chosen schools on your local authority's Common Application Form by 31 October; offers are made on National Offer Day (1 March).
When are results released?
Around three weeks after the test (in October), because the papers are marked by computer — before the 31 October application deadline.
Are there other selective schools nearby?
Poole High School and Budmouth Academy are partially selective, admitting a small proportion on academic criteria through their own separate processes.
Start preparing for the Dorset Grammar Schools 11+
Try the free GL Assessment samples first — a real paper, a tutor video and the Quest demo, no sign-up. Then choose a pack when you're ready.