About Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall
Queen Mary's Grammar School (QMGS) is a selective boys' grammar school in Walsall, West Midlands, founded in 1554, admitting 180 boys per year. It is part of the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership (Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton Consortium). The school uses the shared GL Assessment entrance test. Results are weighted: English & VR 50%, NVR 25%, Maths 25%. Results released 16th October 2026.
Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 68.3%. A-Level A*–B: 70.1%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall
Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall 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 London 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 Mid-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.
Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall 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 Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall
Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall Admissions Criteria
Queen Mary's Grammar School (QMGS) is a selective boys' grammar school in Walsall, West Midlands, founded in 1554, admitting 180 boys per year. It is part of the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership (Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton Consortium). The school uses the shared GL Assessment entrance test. Results are weighted: English & VR 50%, NVR 25%, Maths 25%. Results released 16th October 2026.
- ✓Register at westmidlandsgrammarschools.co.uk (opens 5th May 2026, closes 26th June 2026 at 4pm).
- ✓Sit two GL Assessment multiple-choice papers (VR, NVR, Numerical Reasoning).
- ✓Scores weighted: English & Verbal Reasoning 50%, Non-Verbal Reasoning 25%, Mathematics 25%.
- ✓Achieve the qualifying standardised score set by the school's governing body.
- ✓QMGS has no catchment area — applications from anywhere in England welcomed.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Boys achieving the qualifying score, ranked by score.
- ✓Pupil Premium boys within the qualifying standard (up to 30% of places, approx. 54).
- ✓All other qualifying boys, ranked by score.
Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall 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 Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall)
- 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 — Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 via individual school portals |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 (varies by consortium) |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Mid-September 2026 (varies — Sutton, Kingston, Wallington consortiums have different dates) |
| 📌 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 Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. London) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026 (varies by consortium). There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall
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 Mid-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 Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall 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 Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall
QMGS selects through the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test (GL Assessment), sat once for the partnership's schools — two age-standardised multiple-choice papers of around 50–60 minutes.
- English & comprehension: reading, understanding and vocabulary.
- Mathematics: Key Stage 2 arithmetic and problem-solving.
- Verbal & non-verbal reasoning: word-based logic plus pattern and spatial reasoning.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall
Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall 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 Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall 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 Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Queen Mary's Grammar School (QMGS) is a high-performing selective school rated Outstanding by Ofsted. In a recent year around 98% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above at GCSE, and most sixth-formers progress to university, with over half going on to Russell Group institutions.
- GCSE: around 98% grade 5+ in a recent year.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form, with most leavers progressing to higher education.
- Destinations: over half of sixth-form leavers go on to Russell Group universities.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall
Admission to Year 7 is through the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test (the Midlands Grammar School Test), produced by GL Assessment and shared by the partnership's grammar schools across Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Shropshire and Warwickshire — so a child sits it once and can ask for the result to be shared with several schools. It is two multiple-choice papers of around 50–60 minutes, each split into timed sections covering English/comprehension, verbal reasoning, mathematics and non-verbal reasoning; papers are age-standardised, with no fixed pass mark. Families register through the partnership and name the school on the Local Authority application form.
The school admits around 180 boys to Year 7, drawn from over 100 primary schools, and has no catchment area: after children with an EHCP and looked-after children, priority runs through Pupil Premium pupils who meet the standard, then strictly by rank order of standardised score. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Queen Mary's Grammar School (QMGS) is a selective boys' grammar for ages 11–18, with a co-educational sixth form, on Sutton Road in Walsall, West Midlands (WS1 2PG), with around 1,340 pupils. Founded in 1554 by Mary Tudor, it is one of the oldest schools in the country; it became an academy in 2011 and is a founding member of The Mercian Trust.
True to its pillars — academic in purpose, international in outlook, enterprising in spirit and generous in approach — the school offers a rich co-curriculum including a thriving Combined Cadet Force, a Field Centre in Wales, foreign exchanges, and music, drama and sport. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall
How do I apply to Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall for Year 7?
Applications to Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall 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 consortium)), then list Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Mid-September 2026 (varies — Sutton, Kingston, Wallington consortiums have different dates). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall?
Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall 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 Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall have?
Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall 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 Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall 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 Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall's waiting list.
Is Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall a state school or fee-paying?
Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall 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 Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall 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 Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall 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.