Poole Grammar School 11+ Guide

About Poole Grammar School

Poole Grammar School is a selective secondary school in Dorset. For children to get into Poole Grammar School they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, Poole Grammar School is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.

Nestled in the picturesque county of Dorset, Poole Grammar School (PGS) is a renowned all-boys' grammar school that caters to students aged 11-18. As an academy, PGS is committed to delivering exceptional education with a particular emphasis on mathematics and computing. The school takes pride in its state-of-the-art facilities, which provide an ideal learning environment for its approximately 1,000 students.

At PGS, education extends far beyond the classroom walls. The school recognizes the significance of a well-balanced approach to learning, encouraging students to engage in a wide array of social and cultural activities. Sports play a pivotal role in the life of PGS students, with the school boasting an impressive collection of playing fields within its grounds. This commitment to physical education alongside academic pursuits ensures that students develop a holistic set of skills and interests.

The school's dedication to its students' well-being is evident in its outstanding pastoral system. PGS fosters a vibrant community where success is celebrated, and individual talents are nurtured and valued. As a single-sex institution, the school is well-equipped to cater to the specific needs of boys, creating an environment that optimizes their learning experience. The school's curriculum is further enriched by an extensive extra-curricular programme, featuring a diverse range of clubs and activities such as Model United Nations, Warhammer, Greenpower, Gardening, and Lego.

Poole Grammar School's commitment to excellence has been recognized by Ofsted, which currently rates the school as 'good'. The school's mission is to empower its students to reach their full potential, both academically and personally. Many pupils actively participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award programme, demonstrating the school's dedication to fostering well-rounded individuals prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

School Information

Below you will find further information about Poole Grammar School together with their admissions contact details.

Poole Grammar School is a boys only school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).

In total 1,199 pupils attend Poole Grammar School and it's led by the Headteacher, Dr Amanda Smith.

Poole Grammar School Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Poole Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.

Dorset 11+ Information

In order to get into Poole Grammar School, children need to pass the Dorset 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.

Dorset 11+ Subjects & Structure

The Dorset 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• Maths
• English
• Verbal Reasoning

The Dorset Consortium 11 plus entrance exam is used by Bournemouth School to assess prospective students. This comprehensive assessment consists of three separate test papers designed to evaluate a child's abilities in key areas.

The exam includes a 50-minute Maths paper, a 45-minute English paper, and a 50-minute Verbal Reasoning paper. Each of these papers is composed entirely of multiple-choice questions, allowing for efficient and standardized evaluation of a student's skills and knowledge.

During the exam, students are provided with dedicated answer sheets on which they indicate their responses to the questions. These answer sheets are then collected and marked electronically, ensuring a swift and accurate assessment process.

Other Schools using Dorset 11+

As well as Poole Grammar School, several other schools also use Dorset 11+. These are:

• Bournemouth School
• Bournemouth School for Girls
• Parkstone Grammar School

Dorset 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Poole Grammar School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

Dorset 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the Dorset 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Poole Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Ofsted Information

Poole Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 23/01/2018 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 21/02/2018, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Poole Grammar School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

Past 11+ Paper Downloads

Unfortunately, Poole Grammar School has not made any of their 11+ past papers publicly available. However, you can use our 11+ practice papers to help your child prepare.

Practice 11+ Paper Downloads

Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Dorset 11+ Ensure you double-check with Poole Grammar School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.