Ribston Hall High School
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Ribston Hall High School is a selective girls’ grammar school for ages 11-16 and offers a mixed Sixth Form. All students must sit the Grammar School Entrance Test in September and gain a pass to be eligible for a place. Registration for the exam is open between May and June. Information and specific dates for the entrance test are published on the Ribston Hall High School website at the appropriate time.
Our school has specialised in educating girls in Gloucester for over 100 years. We foster a supportive environment which allows our students to grow academically and socially. They’re encouraged to build confidence, challenge themselves and go beyond expectations; helping them to go out into the world and excel in the 21st century.
Ribston Hall High School is an Academy and as such, the Governing Body of the school is the admission's authority responsible for all admissions. The Governing Body operates in line with Gloucestershire County Council’s coordinated scheme for school admissions and School Admissions Code.
Joining Ribston in Year 7 was a great experience. I felt welcomed straight away thanks to the summer school and induction days, which helped me make friends and feel more confident before lessons even began. The teachers are kind and always take time to explain things to you if you need help, so you really feel you’re encouraged in all your subjects. The school is also really inclusive - everyone’s encouraged to be themselves, and we have lots of clubs to choose from across things like music, sports, and drama. I would definitely recommend coming to Ribston - it has so many opportunities and really helps you be the best you can be. Cerys Gould Year 7
Information From GL Assessment Regarding the Entrance Test
- 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 this link.
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.
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Key Dates for Entry 2025
| Parents are responsible for checking with the relevant Grammar Schools and the Local Authority that this information is still correct at the time of application |
| Online Registration opens for September 2025 |
From noon 20 May 2024 to noon 28 June 2024 |
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Entrance Test
Results emailed |
Saturday 14th September 2024 Prior to 31st October |
| Return your Common Application Form to your Local Authority | By 31st October 2023 |
| Late Grammar School Entrance Test Day | 1 February 2025 |
| National Allocation Day | 3rd March 2025 |
| Closing date for acceptances/declines and waiting list requests | Midnight, 10 March 2025 |
| Outcome of waiting list requests sent out | After 28 March 2025 |
| Closing date for waiting list round responses | 2 April 2025 |
| Appeals - Appeal Information will be available from March 3rd | Appeals are normally heard during the months of May & July by Democratic Services. |
In-Year Admissions (Years 7-11)
For enquiries regarding In-Year admissions, please contact Mrs D Murphy admissions@ribstonhall.gloucs.sch.uk
You will be sent an In-Year Admission form to complete, and your application will be placed on a waitlist until a place becomes available. At that point, your child will be invited to take a Cognitive Ability Test.
For Sixth Form admissions, please click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
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. Registration for the exam is open between May and June. Information and specific dates about the entrance test are published on the Ribston Hall High School website at the appropriate time.
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 at the appropriate time.
Once you have registered online you will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive this confirmation email within a few hours of registering you must contact the school. At the beginning of the school term in September you will receive a letter detailing timings of the day and what your daughter 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 50 to 55 minutes with additional time for instructions and some worked examples. There will be a break between the papers.
Why has the test been changed?
The seven Gloucestershire Grammar Schools are concerned by the amount of tutoring that currently takes place. CEM are one of the largest independent providers of educational assessment and monitoring systems in the world. They have been developing selection assessments since 1999, and provide tests for a number of grammar schools in other counties. CEM design their tests to enable all children to demonstrate their academic potential without excessive preparation.
Is it possible to obtain some practice papers/sample questions beforehand?
Familiarisation booklet are available on our website which gives examples of the sorts of questions used in the test. CEM does not produce commercially available practice materials. Please be aware that materials sold on the internet or provided by tutors, other than CEM familiarisation and practice materials, are not genuine CEM samples.
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 daughter 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.
This information is based on the most up-to-date information available to us at the time and may be subject to change.
School Transport
To assist parents in making decisions about transport for their daughters 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. Our influence, whilst not insubstantial, has no power to control or alter the actions of the independent commercial enterprises.
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Bennetts Coaches |
Cheltenham, Churchdown, Gloucester, Bishops Cleeve, Shurdington, Brockworth, Hucclecote, Abbeymead and Longlevens. |
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John Dix Travel |
Services from Cheltenham, Stonehouse, Frampton of Severn, Whitminster, Gloucester, Churchdown, Innsworth, Brockworth, Hucclecote, Upton St Leonards, Kingsway, Longlevens, Hardwicke/Quedgeley and Abbeymead and Abbeydale. |
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F R Willetts Limited |
Service from the Forest of Dean |
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Pulham & Sons 01451 820369 info@pulhamscoaches.com |
Service from Winchcombe, Greet, Gretton, Gotherington, Bishops Cleeve, Woodmancote, Swindon Village, Gloucestershire College. |
| KB Coaches www.kb-coaches.co.uk 01453 825774 |
Services from Bristol and Swindon |
| Newent Community Link Community Transport | Sheppard House Health and Social Care 01531 821227 |
Newent Community Transport provide a service from Gorsley Goff, Hartpury, Mitcheldean and Huntley. |
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Bus Pass Entitlement, Shire Hall: Other Transport queries, Shire Hall: |
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