Parkstone Grammar School 11+ Guide

About Parkstone Grammar School

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

Parkstone Grammar School is an exceptional selective school for girls situated in the picturesque coastal town of Poole, Dorset. As an academy, PGS is dedicated to providing its students with an outstanding education that extends beyond the classroom. With a focus on science and languages, the school offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to inspire a lifelong passion for learning.

At PGS, the well-being of each student is of utmost importance. The school actively encourages participation in a wide array of extracurricular activities, including sports, music, theatre, public speaking, and charitable endeavours. These opportunities allow girls to develop their talents, build confidence, and cultivate a strong sense of community. Additionally, the school's commitment to healthy eating ensures that students are nourished both intellectually and physically.

The school's partnership with the local boys' grammar school, Poole Grammar School, enhances the sixth form experience by providing a diverse range of A level subjects. This collaboration prepares students for the challenges and opportunities that await them in higher education and beyond. With an emphasis on fostering independence and resilience, PGS equips its students with the skills necessary to succeed in their future endeavours.

Parkstone Grammar School's outstanding reputation is a testament to its effective leadership, dedicated staff, and the unwavering commitment of its students. The school's supportive and inclusive environment encourages girls to strive for excellence while maintaining impeccable behaviour and a genuine enthusiasm for learning. At PGS, every student is valued, nurtured, and inspired to reach their full potential.

School Information

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

Parkstone Grammar School is a girls 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 1,224 pupils attend Parkstone Grammar School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr David Hallsworth.

Parkstone 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 Parkstone Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.

Dorset 11+ Information

In order to get into Parkstone 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 the admissions test used by Bournemouth School. This assessment consists of three separate papers designed to evaluate a child's abilities in key areas. The exam includes a 50-minute Maths test, a 45-minute English test, and a 50-minute Verbal Reasoning test.

All the questions in the Dorset 11 plus exam are presented in a multiple-choice format. Pupils will be provided with individual answer sheets on which they will indicate their selected responses. These answer sheets are then electronically marked to determine the child's score in each subject area.

The Dorset 11 plus exam aims to assess a student's academic potential and suitability for admission to Bournemouth School. Success in this competitive entrance exam requires a solid foundation in Maths, English, and Verbal Reasoning skills, as well as effective time management and test-taking strategies.

Other Schools using Dorset 11+

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

• Bournemouth School
• Bournemouth School for Girls
• Poole Grammar School

Dorset 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Parkstone 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 Parkstone Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Ofsted Information

Parkstone Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 11/10/2017 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 17/11/2017, 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 Parkstone 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, Parkstone Grammar School has not made any of their past 11+ papers publicly available.

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 Parkstone Grammar School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.