Marling School 11+ Guide

About Marling School

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

Nestled in the heart of Stroud, Gloucestershire, Marling School stands as a beacon of educational excellence for boys aged 11 to 18, with a co-educational Sixth Form. As a member of the Cotswold Beacon Academy Trust, this grammar school has earned its reputation as an outstanding institution that fosters a dynamic and challenging academic environment.

At Marling School, students are encouraged to become active learners, equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in further education and contribute to a global society. The school takes pride in its rigorous curriculum, exposing students to a diverse range of subjects, cultures, and perspectives. By providing a balanced approach to learning across all academic fields, Marling School aims to create a solid foundation for its pupils' intellectual growth and personal development.

Beyond the classroom, Marling School offers a wealth of opportunities for students to explore their passions and develop new skills. As a Duke of Edinburgh award-licensed organisation, the school provides bronze, silver, and gold awards to students who complete activities related to volunteering, physical fitness, and expeditions. This programme inspires pupils to work ambitiously towards their goals while fostering independence and adaptability. The school also shares some facilities with the neighbouring girls' grammar school, Stroud High School, creating a vibrant and collaborative learning environment.

The success of Marling School's educational approach is evident in the outstanding achievements of its pupils, who regularly score highly on both GCSE and A-Level exams. This is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the school's staff, who work harmoniously with students in an atmosphere characterised by tolerance, respect, and mutual support. By nurturing strong relationships and encouraging personal growth, Marling School aims to develop responsible global citizens who are prepared to make their mark on the world.

School Information

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

Marling 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 1,230 pupils attend Marling School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mrs Jules Godfrey.

Marling 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 Marling School for the 2022-23 academic year.

Gloucestershire 11+ Information

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

Gloucestershire 11+ Subjects & Structure

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

• Reading Comprehension
• Vocabulary
• Verbal Reasoning
• Non-Verbal Reasoning
• Maths

The Gloucestershire Grammar Schools' Entrance Test is a crucial assessment for students seeking admission to Marling School, one of the prestigious grammar schools in the region. This comprehensive examination is designed to evaluate the academic potential and aptitude of prospective students across various disciplines.

The entrance test comprises two distinct papers, each lasting for one hour. Both papers feature multiple-choice questions, allowing for objective evaluation of the candidates' abilities. Paper 1 focuses on assessing verbal skills, encompassing reading comprehension, vocabulary, and verbal reasoning. These components aim to gauge the students' language proficiency, comprehension abilities, and logical thinking skills in a verbal context.

Paper 2, on the other hand, concentrates on non-verbal skills. This paper includes non-verbal reasoning and mathematics sections. The non-verbal reasoning component evaluates the students' ability to identify patterns, solve problems, and apply logical reasoning in a visual context. The mathematics section assesses the candidates' numerical skills, mathematical understanding, and problem-solving abilities.

Other Schools using Gloucestershire 11+

As well as Marling School, several other schools also use Gloucestershire 11+. These are:

• Denmark Road High School
• Pate's Grammar School
• Ribston Hall High School
• Sir Thomas Rich's School
• Stroud High School
• The Crypt School

Gloucestershire 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Marling 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!

Gloucestershire 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the Gloucestershire 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 Marling School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Ofsted Information

Marling School was last inspected by Ofsted on 12/11/2013 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 04/12/2013, declaring that the school was 'Outstanding'. 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 Marling 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

Here are all available past 11+ papers for Marling School. Please note that this may include past 11+ papers, past familiarisation booklets, past practice materials published by third parties and past 11+ exam guides written by the school. These materials are provided 'as-is' and may no longer reflect the subjects, format, structure or exam board that Marling School currently uses.

The exam board that Marling School chooses to use for their 11+ entrance tests can change and we encourage you to check directly with the school.

Practice 11+ Paper Downloads

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