About Plymouth High School for Girls
Plymouth High School for Girls (PHSG) is a selective state grammar school for girls in Plymouth, admitting 120 girls to Year 7 each year. For September 2027 entry it selects using the Quest Assessments 11+ — two age-standardised, multiple-choice papers sat on two Saturdays (English reading comprehension on 12 September 2026 and Mathematics on 19 September 2026). There is no fixed pass mark; the school sets a qualifying standard and ranks qualifying girls by score.
Established in 1874, PHSG is one of Plymouth's oldest schools and is part of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, with a strong STEM tradition and a co-educational sixth form. In a recent year around 90% of GCSE grades were 9–5 and roughly 78% were 9–6.
About the Quest Assessments 11+ Test for Plymouth High School for Girls
Plymouth High School for Girls is a girls' state grammar school in Plymouth that uses the Quest Assessments 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7. The school admits 120 girls each September. You register directly with the school to sit the test, then list Plymouth High School for Girls as a preference on the Plymouth City Council Common Application Form (CAF).
For 2027 entry the Plymouth grammar schools have moved to Quest Assessments. The test is two multiple-choice papers covering English and Mathematics only — there are no verbal or non-verbal reasoning papers. Papers are sat on two Saturdays: 12 September 2026 (English reading comprehension) and 19 September 2026 (Mathematics). Scores are age-standardised, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged.
Results are released to parents in mid-October 2026 — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving you time to consider the outcome before listing preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Plymouth City Council issues Year 7 secondary school offers.
Plymouth High School for Girls is academically selective — girls must meet the qualifying standard to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the 120 places, the school applies its oversubscription criteria 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 Plymouth High School for Girls
Plymouth High School for Girls Admissions Criteria
Plymouth High School for Girls is a selective girls' grammar school in Plymouth, admitting 120 girls per year via the Quest Assessments 11+. The test covers English and Mathematics only and is sat on two Saturdays in September 2026. There is no fixed pass mark — qualifying girls are ranked by score.
- ✓Register directly with Plymouth High School for Girls (via the school's website) to sit the Quest Assessments 11+.
- ✓Sit two multiple-choice papers: English reading comprehension on Saturday 12 September 2026 and Mathematics on Saturday 19 September 2026.
- ✓There are no verbal or non-verbal reasoning papers; scores are age-standardised.
- ✓There is no fixed qualifying score — places go to the highest-ranked qualifying girls.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children receive highest priority.
- ✓Girls eligible for the Pupil Premium who meet the qualifying score are given priority.
- ✓Apply via the Plymouth City Council CAF by 31 October 2026; distance is used only as a tie-break.
Plymouth High School for Girls Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 120 Year 7 places, the Academy Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Children who meet the qualifying standard are ranked by their age-standardised Quest score.
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming Plymouth High School for Girls (admitted first)
- Looked-after and previously looked-after children who meet the qualifying score
- Girls eligible for the Pupil Premium who meet the qualifying score
- All other qualifying girls, ranked by their age-standardised Quest score (highest first) up to the admission number
- Tiebreak: straight-line distance from home to school (closest prioritised). Confirm any catchment, medical/social-need or sibling priorities in the school's current admissions policy.
Key Dates & Deadlines — Plymouth High School for Girls 2027 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | Monday 27 April 2026 (shared DHSG/PHSG form) |
| 📌 Registration closes | Monday 31 August 2026 (noon) |
| 📌 Quest Assessments 11+ — English | Saturday 12 September 2026 (reading comprehension) |
| 📌 Quest Assessments 11+ — Maths | Saturday 19 September 2026 |
| 📌 Test results released | Mid-October 2026 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (Plymouth City Council) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to Plymouth High School for Girls via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register with Plymouth High School for Girls for the Quest 11+
Register directly via the school's website. Registration opens Monday 27 April 2026 and closes Monday 31 August 2026 (noon); the two Plymouth girls grammar schools share a single registration form. There is no fee to sit the test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Event at Plymouth High School for Girls
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 Quest Assessments Entrance Test
Your daughter sits two multiple-choice papers — English reading comprehension on 12 September 2026 and Mathematics on 19 September 2026. Scores are age-standardised.
Step 4 — Receive your age-standardised results
Results are released to parents in mid-October 2026, BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive an age-standardised score and an indication of whether your daughter has met the qualifying standard.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List Plymouth High School for Girls as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via Plymouth City Council (or your home Local Authority, if different). You can usually list several preferences.
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, reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued by Plymouth City Council on Monday 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join the school's waiting list.
Quest Assessments Subjects Tested at Plymouth High School for Girls
Plymouth High School for Girls selects through the Quest Assessments 11+ — two age-standardised, multiple-choice papers covering English and Mathematics, ranked by score with no fixed pass mark.
- English: reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
- Mathematics: Key Stage 2 arithmetic and problem-solving.
Note: the Quest Assessments test does not include separate verbal or non-verbal reasoning papers.
11+ Practice Papers for Plymouth High School for Girls (English & Maths)
The Quest Assessments 11+ used by Plymouth High School for Girls tests English and Mathematics in a multiple-choice format. Our 11+ English and Maths practice papers — with full video explanations for every question — are well suited to Quest preparation.
- 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 Plymouth High School for Girls 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 Plymouth High School for Girls (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Plymouth High School for Girls achieves strong academic results, with high progression into further study at sixth form and university.
- GCSE: in recent years, around 80% of grades were 9–7.
- A-Level: consistently strong, with over 80% of entries reported at A*–B in recent years (indicative — please confirm the latest published figure).
- Inspection: rated Good by Ofsted; please see the school's latest report on the Ofsted website for the current inspection outcome.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Plymouth High School for Girls
Admission to Year 7 is through the Quest Assessments 11+ — two age-standardised, multiple-choice papers (English reading comprehension on 12 September 2026 and Mathematics on 19 September 2026). There are no separate reasoning papers. The school is selective with no fixed pass mark: it sets a qualifying standard each year and ranks qualifying girls by score up to the admission number of 120.
Plymouth High School for Girls has no formal catchment area. The school draws girls from across Plymouth and the surrounding parts of south-west Devon and south-east Cornwall, but admissions do not use a catchment priority. After children with an EHCP naming the school, places are allocated to looked-after children, then girls eligible for the Pupil Premium who meet the standard, children of staff, and then the highest-ranked qualifying girls, with distance used only as a tie-break. Register directly with the school and name it on the Plymouth City Council Common Application Form by 31 October. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions policy.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Plymouth High School for Girls is a selective girls' grammar school for ages 11–18 (with a co-educational sixth form) on St Lawrence Road, Plymouth, Devon (PL4 6HT), with around 795 girls. Established in 1874 and part of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, its motto is Non scholae sed vitae discimus.
With a strong STEM tradition, the school offers a wide co-curriculum across science, the arts, sport and enrichment, alongside its academic programme. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Plymouth High School for Girls
How do I apply to Plymouth High School for Girls for Year 7?
Applications have two stages. First, register your daughter directly with Plymouth High School for Girls (via the school's website) to sit the Quest Assessments 11+ — Registration opens Monday 27 April 2026 and closes Monday 31 August 2026 (noon); the two Plymouth girls grammar schools share a single registration form. Then list Plymouth High School for Girls as a preference on your Plymouth City Council Common Application Form (CAF). The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026 for September 2027 entry.
Does Plymouth High School for Girls use the Quest Assessments 11+ test?
Yes. For 2027 entry Plymouth High School for Girls — like the other Plymouth grammar schools — selects using Quest Assessments. Children sit two multiple-choice papers on two Saturdays — Saturday 12 September 2026 (English reading comprehension) and Saturday 19 September 2026 (Mathematics). The papers cover English and Mathematics only; there are no verbal or non-verbal reasoning papers, and scores are age-standardised.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Plymouth High School for Girls?
Plymouth High School for Girls does not publish a fixed pass mark. Quest scores are age-standardised, the school sets a qualifying standard each year, and qualifying children are then ranked by score up to the admission number of 120 places.
How many Year 7 places does Plymouth High School for Girls have?
Plymouth High School for Girls admits 120 pupils to Year 7 each September. Demand usually exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria to allocate places.
When are the Quest 11+ results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, results are released in mid-October 2026 — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive an age-standardised score and an indication of whether your daughter has met the qualifying standard.
When is National Offers Day for Plymouth High School for Girls in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by Plymouth City Council — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful you can appeal or join the school's waiting list.
Is Plymouth High School for Girls a state school or fee-paying?
Plymouth High School for Girls is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. It is academically selective via the Quest Assessments 11+, but pupils who meet the standard do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the Plymouth High School for Girls 11+ test?
Because Quest tests English and Mathematics only, focus practice on reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and Key Stage 2 maths under timed, multiple-choice conditions. ExamTutor's 11+ English and Maths practice papers with full video explanations are well suited; our verbal and non-verbal reasoning material is optional enrichment that builds underlying skills but is not part of the Quest test.
Where can I find Plymouth High School for Girls's official admissions policy?
The full admissions policy for Plymouth High School for Girls (2027 entry) is published on the school's official website and via Plymouth City Council. Always check there for the current oversubscription criteria, qualifying standard, registration window and any school-specific requirements.