About Stroud High School (SHS)
Stroud High School is a selective girls' grammar school in Stroud, founded in 1904, and part of the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Consortium. It is consistently one of the top-performing girls' grammar schools in the UK. Unusually, if a student is unsuccessful for Year 7 entry, they may sit the test again for Year 8, 9 or 10 entry.
Stroud High School (SHS) provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 79.6%. A-Level A*–B: 73.6%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Stroud High School (SHS)
Stroud High School (SHS) 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 150 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 Gloucestershire 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.
Stroud High School (SHS) 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 (150 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 Stroud High School (SHS)
Stroud High School (SHS) Admissions Criteria
Stroud High School is a selective girls' grammar school in Stroud, founded in 1904, and part of the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Consortium. It is consistently one of the top-performing girls' grammar schools in the UK. Unusually, if a student is unsuccessful for Year 7 entry, they may sit the test again for Year 8, 9 or 10 entry.
- ✓Register via the Gloucestershire Central Registration Bureau (noon 18th May – noon 26th June 2026).
- ✓Sit the shared Gloucestershire Grammar Schools entrance test on Saturday 12th September 2026.
- ✓Two GL Assessment multiple-choice papers covering Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Numerical Reasoning.
- ✓No fixed pass mark — places offered in order of standardised score.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Girls ranked in order of merit from their standardised test score.
- ✓Students unsuccessful at Year 7 may re-sit the test for Year 8, 9 or 10 entry.
Stroud High School (SHS) Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 150 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 Stroud High School (SHS))
- 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 — Stroud High School (SHS) 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 Stroud High School (SHS) via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Gloucestershire) 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 Stroud High School (SHS)
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 Stroud High School (SHS) 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 Stroud High School (SHS)'s waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Stroud High School (SHS)
Stroud High selects through the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools' Entrance Test (currently GL Assessment), sat once for the county's grammar schools — two age-standardised multiple-choice papers with no fixed pass mark (broadly the top 25%).
- English & verbal reasoning: comprehension, vocabulary and word-based logic.
- Non-verbal & spatial reasoning: pattern recognition and visual problem-solving.
- Mathematics: Key Stage 2 arithmetic and reasoning.
Note: Gloucestershire's grammar schools have announced a move to the FSCE test for entry from September 2028 — confirm the current provider with the school.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Stroud High School (SHS)
Stroud High School (SHS) 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 Stroud High School (SHS) 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 Stroud High School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Stroud High School (SHS) is a high-performing Gloucestershire girls' grammar with outstanding GCSE and A-Level results and good progression to leading universities.
- GCSE & A-Level: consistently strong results across a broad curriculum.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form, shared with the neighbouring boys' grammar.
- Specialism: particular strengths in science and languages.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Stroud High School
Admission to Year 7 is through the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools' Entrance Test, currently set by GL Assessment and shared by all seven of the county's grammar schools — so a child sits it once. It is two multiple-choice papers of around 45–60 minutes taken on the same day: one covering English comprehension and verbal reasoning, the other non-verbal/spatial reasoning and mathematics. There is no fixed pass mark; pupils are ranked on age-standardised scores, with the qualifying standard set after results at roughly the top 25% (commonly around a standardised score of 210–220). Families register through the school for the Gloucestershire test and apply via the local authority by 31 October.
The school admits around 150 girls to Year 7 and, unusually, has no catchment area — entry is based first on test score. After children with an EHCP and looked-after children, Pupil Premium and Service Premium pupils are prioritised, then places are offered in test-rank order. Note that Gloucestershire's grammar schools have announced a move to the FSCE test for entry from September 2028, so confirm the current provider and format with the school. Always check the latest arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Stroud High School is a selective girls' grammar for ages 11–18, with a co-educational sixth form, on Beards Lane (Cainscross Road) in Stroud, Gloucestershire (GL5 4HF). Founded in 1904, it became an academy in 2011, specialises in science and languages, and shares a sixth form (the Stroud Post-16 partnership) with the neighbouring boys' grammar, Marling School.
The school encourages independence, curiosity and leadership alongside a strong academic record, supported by a broad co-curricular programme. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Stroud High School
How do I apply to Stroud High School (SHS) for Year 7?
Applications to Stroud High School (SHS) 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 Stroud High School (SHS) on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Stroud High School (SHS) use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Stroud High School (SHS) 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 Stroud High School (SHS)?
Stroud High School (SHS) 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 150 places.
How many Year 7 places does Stroud High School (SHS) have?
Stroud High School (SHS) admits 150 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 Stroud High School (SHS) 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 Stroud High School (SHS)'s waiting list.
Is Stroud High School (SHS) a state school or fee-paying?
Stroud High School (SHS) 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 Stroud High School (SHS) 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 Stroud High School (SHS)'s official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Stroud High School (SHS) 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.