About Ripon Grammar School
Ripon Grammar School is a co-educational selective grammar school with boarding in Ripon, North Yorkshire, founded in 1555 and consistently ranked among the top state schools in the country. It uses GL Assessment for its 11+ test (new format from September 2026 comprising a Verbal Skills paper and a Non-Verbal Reasoning + Mathematics paper). PAN: 117 (103 day places + 14 boarding). Boarding costs approximately one third of private school fees. The school operates a defined catchment area covering Ripon and surrounding villages. Open Evening: Thursday 18th June 2026.
Ripon Grammar School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 59.6%. A-Level A*–B: 81.7%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Ripon Grammar School
Ripon Grammar School is a co-educational 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 Yorkshire 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.
Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar School
Ripon Grammar School Admissions Criteria
Ripon Grammar School is a co-educational selective grammar school with boarding in Ripon, North Yorkshire, founded in 1555 and consistently ranked among the top state schools in the country. It uses GL Assessment for its 11+ test (new format from September 2026 comprising a Verbal Skills paper and a Non-Verbal Reasoning + Mathematics paper). PAN: 117 (103 day places + 14 boarding). Boarding costs approximately one third of private school fees. The school operates a defined catchment area covering Ripon and surrounding villages. Open Evening: Thursday 18th June 2026.
- ✓Register for the Ripon Grammar 11+ test — contact North Yorkshire Council school admissions (schooladmissions@northyorks.gov.uk). Registration opens April 2026, closes June 2026. The registration page will be updated by 30th April 2026.
- ✓Children in the Ripon catchment area are automatically registered unless parents opt out.
- ✓Sit two GL Assessment papers at Ripon Grammar in September 2026: Paper 1 — Verbal Skills (reading comprehension + spelling + verbal reasoning, all multiple-choice); Paper 2 — Non-Verbal Reasoning + Mathematics (multiple-choice).
- ✓The school sets a qualifying score based on the highest 28% of Year 6 pupils in the Ripon catchment area. Historical pass mark has been approximately 198.
- ✓In-area pupils who meet the qualifying standard are offered day places. Surplus places may be offered to out-of-area pupils.
- ✓Boarding places (14 reserved): all candidates must pass the academic test, then complete a Suitability for Boarding Form (available from admissions@ripongrammar.com). Boarding available weekly or termly.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children within the catchment area (highest priority).
- ✓Day places: children within catchment who meet the qualifying standard, ranked by score, then siblings, then distance.
- ✓Out-of-catchment children who meet the qualifying standard, after all catchment places are filled.
Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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 — Ripon Grammar School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | September 2026 (school-specific) |
| 📌 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 Ripon Grammar 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. Yorkshire) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026. There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Ripon Grammar School
Ripon Grammar School selects through the North Yorkshire 11+ (set by GL Assessment) — two age-standardised, reasoning-only multiple-choice papers.
- Verbal reasoning (50 min): around 80 questions on word-based logic, vocabulary and comprehension.
- Non-verbal reasoning (40 min): four timed sections on visual patterns and problem-solving.
Note: the test is reasoning-only — there are no separate English or maths papers.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Ripon Grammar School
Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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.
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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.
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Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at Ripon Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Ripon Grammar School is consistently rated among the very best state schools in the North of England, with outstanding GCSE and A-Level results — close to 100% of pupils achieve grade 4/grade C or above in five GCSEs, and over 80% of A-Level grades are A*–B — and an Outstanding Ofsted rating for both education and boarding.
- GCSE: close to 100% achieving five GCSEs at grade 4 or above.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form with over 80% of grades at A*–B.
- Recognition: regularly the top state school in the North in the Sunday Times rankings.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Ripon Grammar School
Admission to Year 7 is by the North Yorkshire 11+, set by GL Assessment and administered through North Yorkshire Council (Ripon is its own admissions authority). It is two multiple-choice papers — Verbal Reasoning (50 minutes, around 80 questions) and Non-Verbal Reasoning (40 minutes, in four timed sections) — with scores age-standardised and combined to rank candidates; broadly the top quarter of the catchment cohort reach the standard. Families register for the test and apply through their local authority.
The school admits around 120 pupils to Year 7 and is heavily oversubscribed (roughly 450 sit the test). It uses a defined catchment covering Ripon and surrounding villages (such as Grewelthorpe, Laverton, Galphay, Winksley and Aldfield): after children with an EHCP and looked-after children, qualified children in catchment are prioritised by distance, with out-of-catchment applicants considered on score. As one of the few state boarding schools, it also offers boarding places (assessed on boarding suitability and capacity). Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Ripon Grammar School is a selective co-educational state grammar for ages 11–18 on Clotherholme Road in the cathedral city of Ripon, North Yorkshire (HG4 2DG), with around 920 pupils. Founded in 1555 (and tracing its roots back centuries earlier), it admitted girls from 1962 and is one of the very few state schools in the country to offer boarding — tuition is free, with fees only for boarding.
The school combines academic excellence with a strong pastoral and boarding community and a wide co-curriculum spanning music, sport and drama, supported by recent investment in new laboratories, a sixth-form block and sports facilities. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ripon Grammar School
How do I apply to Ripon Grammar School for Year 7?
Applications to Ripon Grammar 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), then list Ripon Grammar School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Ripon Grammar School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Ripon Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in September 2026 (school-specific). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Ripon Grammar School?
Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar School have?
Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar School's waiting list.
Is Ripon Grammar School a state school or fee-paying?
Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Ripon Grammar 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.