Bournemouth School for Girls 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Bournemouth School for Girls.
How to get into Bournemouth School for Girls
Bournemouth School for Girls is a selective secondary school in Dorset. To get into Bournemouth School for Girls children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into Bournemouth School for Girls with all the important information you need to know.
Admission Requirements
Children born between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014 are eligible for Year 7 entry in September 2025 (see key dates). The school offers 180 places annually for Year 7 entry [1].
Girls must take the 11+ exam to be eligible for a place in Year 7. Bournemouth School for Girls is a member of the Dorset Consortium, which includes four grammar schools that share the same entrance test, meaning children only need to take the test once even if applying to multiple schools in the Consortium.
The catchment area covers postcodes BH1, BH2, BH3, BH4, BH5, BH6, BH7, BH8, BH9, BH10, BH11, BH12 5, BH23 1, BH23 2, and BH23 3. Priority is given to girls living within this area during the admissions process.
Application Process
Registration for the Dorset 11+ opens on Tuesday 22nd April 2025 and closes on Friday 5th September 2025 (see key dates). For 2026 entry, the selection test registration deadline is 5th September 2025 at 12 noon (see key dates).
Families must complete two separate applications. First, register for the 11+ entrance test directly with one of the Consortium schools. Second, submit a Common Application Form (CAF) through their home local authority.
- Register for the 11+ test through the school's online portal by 5th September 2025 (see key dates)
- Complete the secondary school Common Application Form available from early September and submit by Friday 31st October 2025 (see key dates)
- Include Bournemouth School for Girls as a preference only if the child meets the qualifying score
- For contact information, refer to the school information section
Examination Details
Children will take the Dorset 11+ entrance test on Saturday 20th September 2025 and receive results on Friday 10th October (see key dates). The test consists of three papers covering Mathematics, English, and Verbal Reasoning.
Mathematics paper lasts 50 minutes and covers Key Stage 2 national curriculum content. The English paper tests comprehension, vocabulary and punctuation and lasts 45 minutes. The Verbal Reasoning test analyses academic potential and does not depend on prior knowledge, but families should ensure children are familiar with this component.
All questions are multiple-choice format with separate answer sheets marked electronically. Test scores are age-standardised to prevent disadvantage to younger children, then ranked from highest to lowest.
Oversubscription Criteria
If more children achieve the qualifying score than the 180 places available, oversubscription criteria apply. Places are allocated in this priority order: Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children; Girls eligible for Pupil Premium Grant ranked by test scores; 130 places for girls with highest 11+ scores ranked from highest to lowest.
Remaining places go first to eligible girls living within the catchment area, then to eligible girls living outside the catchment area. Within each category, places are allocated by rank order of 11+ scores, with proximity to school used as a tiebreaker.
Preparation Guidance
GL Assessment provides free 11+ familiarisation papers covering Verbal Reasoning, English and Mathematics available for download. These practice materials help children become familiar with question types and exam format.
Bournemouth School for Girls partners with Atom Learning to provide students eligible for Pupil Premium with free online learning and 11+ exam preparation, including Key Stage 2 and 11+ practice questions, learning resources, and practice papers. For non-pupil premium families, a five-day free trial is available via the Atom website.
For comprehensive preparation resources, families should visit practice 11+ papers. For professional tutoring support, consider exploring 11+ tutor options.
Practical Advice
The 11+ exam is challenging and designed to select children working within the top 25% of their year group. Families should begin preparation early and maintain consistent practice throughout Year 5 and Year 6.
Passing the 11+ does not guarantee admission, as many grammar schools are oversubscribed with qualified children. Families should research backup school options in Dorset and complete applications for non-selective schools as alternatives.
Families requiring access arrangements for the examination must submit forms by 12 noon on Monday 8th September 2025, with the Access Arrangements Panel considering all information when deciding eligibility (see key dates).
For specific contact information and additional support, families should refer to the school information section. The school welcomes prospective families to attend open events to learn more about the educational opportunities available.
Dorset 11+ Information
In order to get into Bournemouth School for Girls, 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 challenging assessment consists of three separate papers designed to evaluate a child's academic potential and suitability for the school's curriculum.
The exam comprises a 50-minute Maths test, a 45-minute English test, and a 50-minute Verbal Reasoning test. All questions across the three papers are presented in a multiple-choice format, with students required to mark their answers on dedicated answer sheets. These answer sheets are then electronically marked to ensure accuracy and efficiency in the grading process.
The 11 plus exam aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of a student's abilities in key areas, testing their numerical skills, literacy and comprehension, and logical thinking. Success in this entrance exam is a crucial step for students seeking admission to Bournemouth School, as it helps to identify those who are most likely to thrive within the school's academically rigorous environment.
Other Schools using Dorset 11+
As well as Bournemouth School for Girls, several other schools also use Dorset 11+. These are:
Dorset 11+ Marking Process
The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Bournemouth School for Girls 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 Bournemouth School for Girls, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
Key Dates for the Bournemouth School for Girls 11+ Entrance Tests
Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into Bournemouth School for Girls) as well as other relevant dates.
| Date | Event | Calendar Link |
|---|---|---|
| 22/04/2025 | Dorset 11 Plus Registration Opens | Add Dates to Calendar |
| 03/07/2025 | Bournemouth School For Girls Open Evening | |
| 05/09/2025 | Dorset 11 Plus Registration Closes | |
| 20/09/2025 | Dorset 11 Plus Exam Day | |
| Early October | Parents Receive Dorset 11 Plus Results | |
| Late October | National Deadline To Apply For School Places | |
| 02/03/2026 | National Offers Day |
Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Bournemouth School for Girls as they may well change.
11+ Tutor for Bournemouth School for Girls
As the Dorset 11+ entrance process is particularly gruelling, we would highly recommend using an 11+ private tutor.
Why use a private 11+ tutor?
Personal tutors have the experience and expertise to help children pass their 11+ exams. They know the requirements of the GL Assessment 11+ tests inside-out and can provide tailored support to give children the best possible chance of success. It's also important to bear in mind that plenty of other children will be using private tutors too.
11+ tutors don't need to be face-to-face, plenty of children use online 11+ tutors.
11+ tutors can also provide regular progress reports and feedback, helping parents to monitor their child's progress and make any necessary adjustments to their preparation.
Most importantly, using an 11+ tutor helps ensure that the preparation work gets done!
Private 11+ Tutors for the Bournemouth School for Girls 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the Bournemouth School for Girls 11+ entrance tests. Please click here to be put in touch with a range of excellent 11+ private tutors from our friends at exams.courses.
11+ Past Papers for Bournemouth School for Girls
Unfortunately, Bournemouth School for Girls has not made any of their 11+ past papers publicly available. However, you can use However, you can use 11+ practice papers from other exam boards (such as GL Assessment, CEM and CSSE) to help your child prepare.
11+ Practice Papers for Bournemouth School for Girls
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 Bournemouth School for Girls which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.
This is just a sample of our extensive collection of 11+ practice papers. Please click here to see the full collection.
11+ Practice Papers for Bournemouth School for Girls by Bond
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by Bond and cover and cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. As such they are very helpful for children hoping to pass the Dorset 11+ to get into Bournemouth School for Girls.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Bournemouth School for Girls by GL Assessment
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by GL Assessment themselves. As with the Bond papers, they cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. They remain useful and we encourage parents to download and use them with their children to help them get into Bournemouth School for Girls.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Bournemouth School for Girls by Exam Ninja
These Free 11+ Practice Tests by Exam Ninja are extremely useful. They are straight-forward 10-question tests in Maths and English, following the same GL Assessment style (and multiple-choice format) as the Dorset 11+.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | English |
11+ Practice Papers for Bournemouth School for Girls by Owl Tutors
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by Owl Tutors. These too are written in a GL Assessment style and make useful practice for children hoping to get into Bournemouth School for Girls.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Writing | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Bournemouth School for Girls by CGP
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. As with the Bond, GL Assessment and Exam Ninja papers, they're written for the GL Assessment style, in multiple-choice format and are helpful for children hoping to pass their 11+ tests and get into Bournemouth School for Girls.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
These Free CEM 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. If Bournemouth School for Girls ever used them then they don't anymore as grammar schools no longer use CEM for any of their 11+ entrance tests. However, as a general practice tool these 11+ tests remain useful.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEM | Maths | |||
| CEM | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| CEM | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Bournemouth School for Girls by 11+ For You
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "11+ For You".
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Bournemouth School for Girls by Examberry
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "Examberry".
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Bournemouth School for Girls by Independent Junction
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by Independent Junction.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Bournemouth School for Girls by IPS
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by IPS (Internet Primary School Ltd).
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
11+ Practice Papers for Bournemouth School for Girls by Schofield & Sims
These 11+ practice papers were published by Schofield & Sims, a large UK educational publisher.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
School Information
Below you will find further information about Bournemouth School for Girls together with their admissions contact details.
| Address | Bournemouth School for Girls, Castle Gate Close, Castle Lane West, Bournemouth, Dorset BH8 9UJ |
|---|---|
| School Website | https://wearebsg.uk/ |
| Telephone | 01202526289 |
| Email Address | office@bsg.bournemouth.sch.uk |
| Gender | Girls only |
| Total Year 7 Places | 180 |
| Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 1179 (1175 Girls / 4 Boys) |
| Headteacher | Mr David Sims |
Bournemouth School for Girls 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 1,179 pupils attend Bournemouth School for Girls and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr David Sims.
Bournemouth School for Girls Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
Bournemouth School for Girls was last inspected by Ofsted on 10/10/2012 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 07/11/2012, 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
| Date Inspected | Inspection Duration (Days) | Reporting Date | Rating | Full Report | 10/10/2012 | 1 | 07/11/2012 | Outstanding | Full Report |
|---|
GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Bournemouth School for Girls for the 2022-23 academic year.
| GCSE Subjects Offered |
|
|---|---|
| A-Level Subjects Offered |
|
GCSE & A-Level Performance
Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Bournemouth School for Girls 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)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Art & Design (Fine Art) | 30 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 16 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| Biology | 170 | - | - | - | 2 | 10 | 35 | 29 | 40 | 31 | 23 |
| Chemistry | 169 | 1 | - | - | 5 | 16 | 35 | 33 | 28 | 28 | 23 |
| Computer Studies/Computing | 37 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 5 |
| Design & Technology | 44 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| English Language | 170 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 17 | 38 | 50 | 44 | 18 |
| English Literature | 170 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 15 | 41 | 49 | 35 | 26 |
| D&T Food Technology | 35 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 |
| French | 60 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 13 |
| Geography | 81 | - | - | - | 3 | 3 | 10 | 16 | 28 | 13 | 8 |
| German | 31 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| History | 90 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 7 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 32 |
| Mathematics | 170 | - | - | - | - | 12 | 25 | 36 | 37 | 46 | 14 |
| Music | 14 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Physics | 168 | - | - | - | 2 | 13 | 32 | 44 | 23 | 31 | 23 |
| Religious Studies | 168 | - | - | 2 | - | 4 | 10 | 29 | 34 | 42 | 47 |
| Spanish | 20 | - | - | - | 1 | - | 2 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| Drama & Theatre Studies | 31 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 6 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
| Physical Education/Sports Studies | 19 | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
| Art and Design (Fine Art) | 11 | - | - | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | |||
| Biology | 53 | - | 6 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 10 | |||
| Chemistry | 36 | - | 6 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 3 | |||
| Computer Studies / Computing | 8 | - | 1 | - | 3 | 1 | 3 | - | |||
| Design and Technology (Product Design) | 6 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||
| Design and Technology (Textiles Technology) | 9 | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | |||
| Drama and Theatre Studies | 10 | - | - | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | - | |||
| Economics | 28 | - | - | 2 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 2 | |||
| English Language | 6 | - | - | - | 2 | - | 3 | 1 | |||
| English Literature | 26 | - | - | - | 4 | 8 | 6 | 8 | |||
| Geography | 13 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 8 | 2 | - | |||
| German | 6 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | - | |||
| Government and Politics | 10 | - | - | - | 4 | 4 | 2 | - | |||
| History | 12 | - | - | - | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | |||
| Mathematics | 62 | - | 5 | 1 | 8 | 17 | 22 | 8 | |||
| Mathematics (Further) | 13 | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | |||
| Media/Film/Tv Studies | 8 | - | - | - | 4 | 3 | 1 | - | |||
| Physics | 13 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | |||
| Psychology | 61 | - | - | 3 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 10 | |||
| Religious Studies | 25 | - | - | 1 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 2 | |||
| Sociology | 30 | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 10 | |||
FAQ
Is Bournemouth School for Girls hard to get into?
Yes, Bournemouth School for Girls is hard to get into! Children need to pass their challenging 11+ entrance test (with a high pass mark) and there's tough competition with many other children trying to get a place for Year 7.
Is Bournemouth School for Girls a private school?
No, Bournemouth School for Girls is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is Bournemouth School for Girls free?
Yes, Bournemouth School for Girls is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Bournemouth School for Girls won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into Bournemouth School for Girls?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Bournemouth School for Girls for how up to date information on how to apply (it may be automatic or it may require some forms to be filled in). More information on their 11+ entrance test can be found here.
Is Bournemouth School for Girls a girls-only school?
Yes, Bournemouth School for Girls is a girls-only school.
