The Gloucestershire Grammar School Entrance Test registration is open in May through to June. The seven Gloucestershire Grammar Schools hold the Entrance Test during September, the year prior to entry. 

• The test assesses students’ verbal and non-verbal abilities, English skills and mathematics, and is provided by GL Assessment. 
• All questions are multiple choice style questions.
• In one paper, students will be tested on their verbal skills (including comprehension, vocabulary and verbal reasoning).
• The other test paper assesses non-verbal reasoning and mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding. 
• Each test session will take around an hour. 
• At the beginning of each session, there is time built in for the sharing of instructions and, for the non-verbal reasoning element, some worked examples. Students are allocated a total of 45 minutes to complete the tests themselves.
• GL Assessment is the largest independent provider of educational assessments in the UK, also providing assessment materials to schools in over 100 countries worldwide.  They have been developing selection assessments for over 40 years and provide tests to the majority of grammar schools in the country.  GL Assessment works hard to develop its material such that all children are able to demonstrate their levels of attainment and academic potential without excessive preparation. 

Familiarisation materials are available on the GL Assessment website via the following weblink: GL Assessment Information.

Please note that since 11+ tests vary from one area to another, the free familiarisation materials are generic and may differ from your own test's exact specifications. These differences may include the length of papers, the types of questions covered, and/or the level of difficulty.

Please note: On 15 April 2025, we shared a press release along with the 7 other Gloucestershire Grammar Schools (G7) about some changes to the admission process for students starting school in 2028. These arrangements will take effect from summer 2027 for first entry into Year 7 in September 2028. More information about the changes to the testing arrangements will be published in September 2026.

You can find out more by reading our press release: Ribston Hall High School Admissions Press Release (15.04.26).

If you have any questions about the new arrangements, please contact Mrs Denice Murphy (Admissions Manager for Ribston Hall High School) via email: admissions@ribstonhall.gloucs.sch.uk

Thank you for your interest in a school place for your child at Ribston Hall High School. All our year groups are currently full and oversubscribed. If you would like to express interest in your daughter joining our school as an in-year admission, please complete this Register of Interest form.

We will contact you if a space becomes available in your daughter’s current academic year and invite her to sit the Grammar School In Year Admissions test.  Students must meet the qualifying standard to be considered for a place at Ribston Hall.

Places will be offered to suitable applicants in accordance with our over-subscription criteria, provided

1. There is space available in that year group.
2. The applicant has achieved an appropriate level using the Cognitive Ability Test (CAT) scores, i.e., a minimum mean score for Ribston Hall High School is 110.

Due to the high volume of enquiries we receive daily, testing will not be carried out until a space becomes available. We do not expect any preparation to be made for this test, given it is an assessment of your child’s current academic level. However, at the time of your application, please do prepare your daughter that the request to sit the test may come at short notice. 

You can apply for a place for your child at any point within the academic year and your child will remain on the waiting list until July of that academic year, should a place not become available. The waiting list is fluid, with your child potentially moving up and down, dependent on the oversubscription criteria met by other applicants also on the list, even once CAT scores are received. 

Please see the Admissions Policy for more information. For Sixth Form admissions, please visit our Sixth Form webpage.

How does my child gain admission to Ribston Hall High School?
Ribston Hall High School is a selective school. To gain a place, your child must first sit and achieve the required standard in the grammar school entrance test. You must register for the test, and it is taken in September.

How do I apply to sit the grammar school entrance test?
You must complete the Grammar School Registration to enable your child to sit the entrance test. Information on this will be found on the Ribston Hall High School website www.ribstonhall.gloucs.sch.uk at the appropriate time. Once you have registered online, you receive a confirmation email.  At the beginning of the school term in September, you receive a letter detailing the timings of the day and what your child should bring.

What is the format of the test?
The test consists of multiple choice style questions on verbal ability (comprehension, vocabulary and verbal reasoning), numerical reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. There are two papers each lasting 45 to 50 minutes with additional time for instructions and some worked examples. There will be a break between the papers.

Who is the test provider?
GL Assessment is the largest independent provider of educational assessments in the UK, also providing assessment materials to schools in over 100 countries worldwide. They have been developing selection assessments for over 40 years and provide tests to the majority of grammar schools in the country. GL Assessment works hard to develop its material such that all children are able to demonstrate their levels of attainment and academic potential without excessive preparation.

Is it possible to obtain some practice papers/sample questions beforehand?
There is a wealth of familiarisation material available on GL Assessment’s website. Please click the link GL Assessment Since 11+ tests vary from one area to another, it's important to note that the free familiarisation materials are generic and may differ from your own test's exact specifications. These differences may include the length of papers, the types of questions covered, and/or the level of difficulty.

How should my child prepare for the test?
Beyond the familiarisation material, the best preparation for the tests is to read books and use mathematics on a regular basis.

When will I get the results?
The results will be sent via email in October (date and time to be confirmed). Results are published in good time for you to be able to complete the Local Authority’s Common Application Form.

If my child reaches the qualifying standard, how do I apply for a place at Ribston Hall High School?
If your child meets the qualifying standard you will be informed and can apply for a place at Ribston Hall High School by completing the Local Authority’s Common Application Form (CAF) for allocation of school places. The deadline for this is 31st October.

Does the school have a catchment area?
Ribston Hall High School does not have a catchment area.

When is National Allocation Day?
March 1st is National Allocation Day. Your local County Council admissions department will offer out places for Ribston Hall High School. Our current cohort for Year 7 is 150 places.

This information is based on the most up-to-date information available to us at the time and may be subject to change.

We have a longstanding relationship with a number of independent bus companies who run transport to and from our school. 

To assist parents in making decisions about transport to and from Ribston Hall High School, please find a list of bus companies below who currently provide transport for our students. 

Transport providers are generally very helpful in discussing setting up new or altered routes where there is a need.  However, our influence, whilst not insubstantial, has no power to control or alter the actions of these independent companies. Please contact the companies directly to see if they can cater for your specific needs.

More information about the current Bus Timetable is here: Bus Timetable 2026

The contact details for the companies that currently run transport to and from our school is below: