About Torquay Boys' Grammar School
Torquay Boys' Grammar School (TBGS) is a selective boys' grammar school in Torquay, admitting 145 boys per year. It is part of the Torbay Consortium alongside Churston Ferrers and Torquay Girls' Grammar School, sharing the same GL Assessment entrance test. The 11+ is taken on Saturday 19th September 2026. There is no fixed pass mark — places go to the highest scorers.
Torquay Boys' Grammar School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 60.7%. A-Level A*–B: 67.8%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Torquay Boys' Grammar School
Torquay Boys' Grammar School 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 145 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 Devon 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.
Torquay Boys' 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 (145 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 Torquay Boys' Grammar School
Torquay Boys' Grammar School Admissions Criteria
Torquay Boys' Grammar School (TBGS) is a selective boys' grammar school in Torquay, admitting 145 boys per year. It is part of the Torbay Consortium alongside Churston Ferrers and Torquay Girls' Grammar School, sharing the same GL Assessment entrance test. The 11+ is taken on Saturday 19th September 2026. There is no fixed pass mark — places go to the highest scorers.
- ✓Register directly with Torquay Boys' Grammar School or another Torbay Consortium school.
- ✓Sit two GL Assessment multiple-choice papers (approx. 45–50 minutes each) on Saturday 19th September 2026.
- ✓Papers cover English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
- ✓There is no fixed qualifying score — places are allocated to the highest-scoring candidates.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Boys achieving the highest scores in the Torbay 11+ test.
- ✓Where a tie-break is required, distance from the school entrance is used.
- ✓Apply via your Local Authority CAF by 31st October 2026.
Torquay Boys' Grammar School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 145 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 Torquay Boys' 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 — Torquay Boys' Grammar 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 Torquay Boys' 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. Devon) 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 Torquay Boys' 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 Torquay Boys' 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 Torquay Boys' Grammar School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Torquay Boys' Grammar School
Torquay Boys' selects through the Torbay grammar schools' entrance test (now GL Assessment), sat once for the area's grammar schools — two age-standardised, multiple-choice papers, ranked by score with no fixed pass mark.
- English: reading comprehension, spelling, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation.
- Mathematics: Key Stage 2 arithmetic and problem-solving.
Note: the Torbay test does not include separate verbal or non-verbal reasoning papers.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Torquay Boys' Grammar School
Torquay Boys' 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 Torquay Boys' 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
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Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at Torquay Boys' Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Torquay Boys' Grammar School (TBGS) is one of the top-performing boys' schools in the country, with strong GCSE results and high progression into further study and employment.
- GCSE: around 98% of grades at 9–4 and roughly 59% at 9–7 in a recent year, with 93% achieving a strong pass in English and maths.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form, with around 99% of leavers continuing in education or employment.
- Specialism: a specialism in languages and business and enterprise.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Torquay Boys' Grammar School
Admission to Year 7 is through the Torbay grammar schools' entrance test (the Torbay Council 11+, now set and marked by GL Assessment), shared by the area's three grammar schools (Torquay Boys', Torquay Girls' and Churston Ferrers) — so a child sits it once. It is two multiple-choice papers of around 50 minutes taken on the same day, covering English (comprehension, spelling, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation) and mathematics at Key Stage 2 level; there are no separate reasoning papers. Scores are age-standardised and combined, and the school is super-selective — there is no fixed pass mark, with boys ranked by score and a qualifying standard set each year.
The school admits around 145 boys to Year 7 and has no formal catchment area; it serves a designated area covering parts of Torbay, Teignbridge and South Hams, but places are offered in rank order of score, with straight-line distance used only as a tie-break. After boys with an EHCP naming the school, places are filled by score. Register through Torbay's process and name the school on the Common Application Form by 31 October. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Torquay Boys' Grammar School is a selective boys' grammar for ages 11–18, with a co-educational sixth form, on Shiphay Manor Drive in Torquay, Devon (TQ2 7EL), with around 1,090 pupils. Founded in 1904 and an academy since 2010, it sits next to Torquay Girls' Grammar School and is one of three grammar schools in the Torbay area.
The school carries the motto Aude Sapere ("Dare to be wise"), holds a specialism in languages and business and enterprise, and offers a broad co-curriculum across sport, music, drama and leadership. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Torquay Boys' Grammar School
How do I apply to Torquay Boys' Grammar School for Year 7?
Applications to Torquay Boys' 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 (varies by school)), then list Torquay Boys' Grammar School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Torquay Boys' Grammar School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Torquay Boys' Grammar 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 Torquay Boys' Grammar School?
Torquay Boys' 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 145 places.
How many Year 7 places does Torquay Boys' Grammar School have?
Torquay Boys' Grammar School admits 145 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 Torquay Boys' 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 Torquay Boys' Grammar School's waiting list.
Is Torquay Boys' Grammar School a state school or fee-paying?
Torquay Boys' 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 Torquay Boys' 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 Torquay Boys' Grammar School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Torquay Boys' 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.