About Poole Grammar School (PGS)
Poole Grammar School (PGS) is a selective boys' grammar school in Poole, Dorset, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. It admits 180 boys per year and is part of the Dorset Grammar School Consortium. PGS shares the same GL Assessment entrance test with Bournemouth School, Bournemouth School for Girls, and Parkstone Grammar School. Priority is given to boys from specified BCP Council postcodes.
Poole Grammar School (PGS) provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 57.1%. A-Level A*–B: 63.9%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Poole Grammar School (PGS)
Poole Grammar School (PGS) is a boys state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 180 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 your local 11+ consortium 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 September 2026 and results are released to parents on Mid-October 2026 — 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.
Poole Grammar School (PGS) 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 (180 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 Poole Grammar School (PGS)
Poole Grammar School (PGS) Admissions Criteria
Poole Grammar School (PGS) is a selective boys' grammar school in Poole, Dorset, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. It admits 180 boys per year and is part of the Dorset Grammar School Consortium. PGS shares the same GL Assessment entrance test with Bournemouth School, Bournemouth School for Girls, and Parkstone Grammar School. Priority is given to boys from specified BCP Council postcodes.
- ✓Register with one of the four Dorset Consortium schools (opens 13th April 2026, closes 4th September 2026 at noon).
- ✓Sit three GL Assessment multiple-choice tests: English (45 min), Mathematics (50 min) and Verbal Reasoning.
- ✓Achieve the qualifying standard in all three papers.
- ✓Results shared with all four consortium schools.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Boys who achieve the qualifying standard and live within Poole Grammar's priority postcodes (Poole and surrounding BH areas).
- ✓Pupil Premium boys within the priority area who achieve the qualifying standard.
- ✓All other qualifying boys, ranked by score then distance from the school.
Poole Grammar School (PGS) Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 180 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 Poole Grammar School (PGS))
- 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 — Poole Grammar School (PGS) 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 (varies by school) |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | September 2026 (English + Maths + Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) |
| 📌 Test results released | Mid-October 2026 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to Poole Grammar School (PGS) via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Default) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026 (varies by school). There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Poole Grammar School (PGS)
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 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, 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 Poole Grammar School (PGS) 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 Poole Grammar School (PGS)'s waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Poole Grammar School (PGS)
Poole Grammar School selects through the Dorset Grammar Schools Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment), sat once for the four Dorset grammar schools — three computer-marked, age-standardised multiple-choice papers.
- Mathematics (50 min): Key Stage 2 arithmetic and problem-solving.
- English (45 min): comprehension, vocabulary and punctuation.
- Verbal reasoning (~45–50 min): word-, letter- and number-based logic.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Poole Grammar School (PGS)
Poole Grammar School (PGS) 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 Poole Grammar School (PGS) 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 Poole Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Poole Grammar School (PGS) has an excellent academic record at GCSE and A-Level. In 2022 around 72% of GCSE grades were 9–7 and roughly 86% of A-Level grades were A*–B, supported by high expectations and strong subject teaching; its most recent Ofsted inspection rated it Good, with Outstanding for behaviour, attitudes and personal development.
- GCSE: around 72% of grades at 9–7 in 2022.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form, run in partnership with Parkstone Grammar.
- Selectivity: the test selects roughly the top 16% of the cohort.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Poole Grammar School
Admission to Year 7 is through the Dorset Grammar Schools Consortium 11+, produced by GL Assessment and shared across the four Dorset grammar schools (Poole Grammar, Parkstone, Bournemouth School for Girls and Bournemouth School) — so a child sits it once. It is three multiple-choice papers: Mathematics (50 minutes, Key Stage 2), English (45 minutes, comprehension, vocabulary and punctuation) and Verbal Reasoning (around 45–50 minutes); papers are computer-marked and age-standardised, and there is no fixed pass mark. Families register through one consortium school and apply to the local authority.
The school admits around 180 boys to Year 7 and uses a catchment covering the historic Borough of Poole and the surrounding postcodes (BH12–BH18 and BH21 3). After children with an EHCP and looked-after children, qualified boys within the catchment are prioritised, with distance as the tie-break; boys outside the catchment may still gain places on score. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Poole Grammar School (PGS) is a selective boys' grammar for ages 11–18, with a co-educational sixth form, on Gravel Hill in Poole, Dorset (BH17 9JU). One of the four grammar schools in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area, it has a history stretching back over a century and partners with nearby Parkstone Grammar to broaden sixth-form options.
The school sets high academic expectations alongside a lively co-curricular life, with popular activities including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model United Nations and a range of clubs. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Poole Grammar School
How do I apply to Poole Grammar School (PGS) for Year 7?
Applications to Poole Grammar School (PGS) 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 (varies by school)), then list Poole Grammar School (PGS) on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Poole Grammar School (PGS) use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Poole Grammar School (PGS) uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in September 2026 (English + Maths + Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Poole Grammar School (PGS)?
Poole Grammar School (PGS) 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 180 places.
How many Year 7 places does Poole Grammar School (PGS) have?
Poole Grammar School (PGS) admits 180 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 — 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 Poole Grammar School (PGS) 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 Poole Grammar School (PGS)'s waiting list.
Is Poole Grammar School (PGS) a state school or fee-paying?
Poole Grammar School (PGS) 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 Poole Grammar School (PGS) 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 Poole Grammar School (PGS)'s official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Poole Grammar School (PGS) 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.