Stroud High School 11+ Guide

About Stroud High School

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

Nestled in the heart of Gloucestershire, Stroud High School is a renowned grammar school that has been nurturing and empowering young women for over a century. This exceptional institution fosters a vibrant and inclusive learning environment, where girls aged 11 to 18 can thrive academically, socially, and personally. The school's Sixth Form welcomes both boys and girls, creating a diverse and dynamic community of learners.

At Stroud High School, the curriculum is carefully crafted to ignite curiosity, develop critical thinking skills, and prepare students for the challenges of the modern world. Pupils engage in a wide array of subjects, ranging from languages and literature to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This comprehensive approach to education ensures that students are well-equipped to pursue their passions and excel in their chosen career paths.

Beyond the classroom, Stroud High School offers an extensive range of extracurricular activities that cater to diverse interests and talents. From sports and drama to music and art, students have ample opportunities to explore their passions, develop new skills, and forge lasting friendships. The school also organizes various educational trips and excursions, broadening students' horizons and providing them with unforgettable experiences.

At the core of Stroud High School's ethos lies a deep commitment to student well-being and personal growth. The school's dedicated staff creates a nurturing and supportive environment, where each student receives personalized attention and guidance. Through a comprehensive pastoral care system, the school ensures that every girl feels valued, supported, and empowered to reach her full potential.

With its outstanding academic record and unwavering dedication to excellence, Stroud High School has earned a stellar reputation both locally and nationally. The school consistently produces impressive exam results at GCSE and A-level, cementing its position among the top-performing state schools in the country. Graduates of Stroud High School go on to pursue higher education at prestigious universities across the United Kingdom and beyond, while others embark on exciting apprenticeships and creative ventures.

School Information

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

Stroud High 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 1,067 pupils attend Stroud High School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr Mark McShane.

Stroud High 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 Stroud High School for the 2022-23 academic year.

Gloucestershire 11+ Information

In order to get into Stroud High 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 Stroud High School. This comprehensive examination is designed to evaluate the academic potential and aptitude of prospective students across a range of subjects. The test is divided into two distinct papers, each lasting for one hour and featuring multiple-choice questions throughout.

Paper 1 focuses on assessing the candidate's verbal skills, which encompass reading comprehension, vocabulary knowledge, and verbal reasoning abilities. These components aim to gauge the student's understanding of written texts, their grasp of language and word meanings, as well as their capacity to analyze and interpret information logically.

Paper 2, on the other hand, concentrates on evaluating the student's non-verbal skills. This section includes non-verbal reasoning tasks and mathematical problems. Non-verbal reasoning assesses the candidate's ability to recognize patterns, solve problems using visual cues, and demonstrate logical thinking in abstract contexts. The maths component tests the student's numerical skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of fundamental mathematical concepts.

Other Schools using Gloucestershire 11+

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

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

Gloucestershire 11+ Marking Process

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

Gloucestershire 11+ Key Dates for your Diary

Here are all the important dates for the Gloucestershire 11+ tests (to get into Stroud High School) as well as other relevant dates.

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Stroud High School as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

Stroud High School was last inspected by Ofsted on 07/11/2023 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 17/12/2023, 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

Ofsted Report Summary

Stroud High School was inspected by Ofsted on 7 November 2023 and received an Outstanding rating in all areas. The school demonstrated exceptional performance in the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision.

The inspection report highlights the school's outstanding quality of education, which is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the teaching staff. The school's approach to behaviour and attitudes was also deemed outstanding, creating a positive learning environment that fosters student growth and success. Additionally, the school's commitment to personal development was recognized as outstanding, ensuring that students receive well-rounded support and guidance.

The leadership and management at Stroud High School were found to be outstanding, with a clear vision and effective strategies in place to maintain and further improve the school's performance. The sixth form provision was also rated as outstanding, preparing students for their future academic and professional endeavors. Overall, Stroud High School has demonstrated exceptional standards across all areas, making it a top-performing educational institution.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Stroud High 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 Stroud High School. Please note that this may include 11+ past 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 Stroud High School currently uses.

The exam board (or test supplier) that Stroud High School chooses to use for their 11+ entrance tests can change and we encourage you to check directly with the school.

As well as these past 11+ papers, you may find our 11+ practice papers helpful for your child's preparation.

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