About Queen Mary's High School
Queen Mary's High School (QMHS) is a selective girls' grammar school in Walsall, West Midlands, admitting 120 girls per year (age range 11–18). It is part of the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership. The minimum qualifying score for 2027 entry is approximately 198 (age-standardised to 200). Results released 16th October 2026.
Queen Mary's High School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 71.2%. A-Level A*–B: 62%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Queen Mary's High School
Queen Mary's High School is a girls’ state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 120 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 West Midlands 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.
Queen Mary's High School 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 (120 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 High School
Queen Mary's High School Admissions Criteria
Queen Mary's High School (QMHS) is a selective girls' grammar school in Walsall, West Midlands, admitting 120 girls per year (age range 11–18). It is part of the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership. The minimum qualifying score for 2027 entry is approximately 198 (age-standardised to 200). 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 (English/VR, NVR, Maths).
- ✓Achieve the minimum qualifying score of approximately 198 (standardised to 200).
- ✓Scores weighted: English & VR 50%, NVR 25%, Maths 25%.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children who achieve the qualifying score.
- ✓Girls achieving the qualifying score, ranked by score.
- ✓Apply via your Local Authority CAF by 31st October — only list QMHS if your child achieved the qualifying score.
Queen Mary's High School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 120 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 High School)
- 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 High School 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 Queen Mary's High School via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. West Midlands) 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 Queen Mary's High School
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 Queen Mary's High School 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 High School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Queen Mary's High School
QMHS 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 High School
Queen Mary's High School 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 High School 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 High School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Queen Mary's High School (QMHS) is a high-achieving girls' grammar rated Outstanding by Ofsted in all areas, with consistently excellent outcomes at GCSE and A-Level across more than 125 years of educating girls in Walsall.
- GCSE & A-Level: consistently strong results across a broad, ambitious curriculum.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form admitting boys as well as girls.
- Ofsted: rated Outstanding across all areas.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Queen Mary's High School
Admission to Year 7 is through the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance 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 for several schools. It is two multiple-choice papers of around 50–60 minutes 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 120 girls to Year 7 and has no formal catchment area: after children with an EHCP and looked-after children, priority runs through Pupil Premium pupils who meet the standard, then 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 High School (QMHS) is a selective girls' grammar for ages 11–18, with a co-educational sixth form, on Upper Forster Street in Walsall, West Midlands (WS4 2AE), with around 930 pupils. Founded in 1893 and part of The Mercian Trust, it has been shaping young people for over 125 years and carries the motto 'Semper Fidelis' (Always Faithful).
The school combines academic rigour with strong pastoral care in a vibrant, inclusive community, organising pupils across four houses (Austen, Brontë, Eliot and Shelley) and offering a wide range of enrichment and leadership opportunities. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Queen Mary's High School
How do I apply to Queen Mary's High School for Year 7?
Applications to Queen Mary's High School 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 Queen Mary's High School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Queen Mary's High School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Queen Mary's High School 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 Queen Mary's High School?
Queen Mary's High School 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 120 places.
How many Year 7 places does Queen Mary's High School have?
Queen Mary's High School admits 120 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 High School 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 High School's waiting list.
Is Queen Mary's High School a state school or fee-paying?
Queen Mary's High School 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 High School 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 High School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Queen Mary's High School 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.