Plymouth High School for Girls 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Plymouth High School for Girls.
How to get into Plymouth High School for Girls
Plymouth High School for Girls is a selective secondary school in Devon. To get into Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High School for Girls with all the important information you need to know.
Admission Requirements
Plymouth High School for Girls accepts girls only for Year 7 entry in September 2025[1]. The school offers 120 places annually. Children born between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014 are eligible for admission.
Children must pass the Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ examination to be considered for admission. Families must submit the secondary school Common Application Form by Friday 31st October 2025 (see key dates).
The school operates without a catchment area, accepting eligible students from all locations. Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school receive priority admission if they achieve the required score.
Application Process
Registration for the 11+ examination opens on Monday 28th April 2025 and closes on Sunday 31st August 2025 (see key dates). Families register through either school's website and choose their preferred examination venue.
Students can take the examination at either Plymouth High School for Girls or Devonport High School for Girls. The same examination applies to both schools, allowing candidates to apply to either or both after taking the test once.
Families eligible for Pupil Premium benefits must complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF). Parents must submit evidence of free school meals eligibility directly to the School Admissions Team during the application process.
- Register for the Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ examination online
- Complete the Common Application Form through the local authority
- Submit Supplementary Information Form if eligible for Pupil Premium
- Provide required documentation including proof of address and birth certificate
Examination Details
The Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ examination consists of two papers taken on Saturday 13th September and Saturday 20th September (see key dates). Families receive results on Friday 17th October (see key dates).
Both papers are supplied by GL Assessment and include English and Mathematics components. The examinations use multiple-choice format. Each paper lasts approximately 45 minutes to one hour.
Marks are age-standardised to ensure fairness for younger candidates, then combined to create a final score. Children are ranked by their standardised scores for place allocation.
Oversubscription Criteria
The school typically receives more applications than available places. Places are allocated in the following priority order after children with EHCP plans:
- Looked after and previously looked after children achieving the adjusted cut-off score
- Up to 12 places for children achieving the cut-off score who qualify for free school meals or Pupil Premium
- All other children ranked by examination score order
- Distance from school used as tie-breaker for children with identical scores
Preparation Guidance
Families should begin preparation early using a 'little and often' approach, with regular study sessions of 20-30 minutes for children aged 10-11. Children consistently scoring 75-85% on practice tests are typically well-prepared for the examination.
Practice papers form an essential part of preparation, helping children understand examination layout and format. GL Assessment provides free familiarisation materials on their website for examination preview.
For free preparation resources, families should visit our practice papers section. Professional tutoring support is available through our recommended tutors.
Practical Advice
Families can minimise examination stress through organised preparation and appropriate resources. The school encourages families to attend the September open event for questions and school familiarisation.
In-year admissions require application through Plymouth City Council plus a school-administered ability test. Children eligible for Pupil Premium receive free access to Atom Learning preparation platform.
Alternative Devon grammar schools include Devonport High School for Girls and Devonport High School for Boys. For specific contact information regarding admissions, families should refer to the school information section.
- Attend the school's September open event for insights and questions
- Practice with GL Assessment familiarisation materials before examination day
- Ensure children are well-rested and arrive early on examination dates
- Consider backup school options within Devon
- Contact the school directly for specific queries via the school information section
Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ Information
In order to get into Plymouth High School for Girls, children need to pass the Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.
Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ Subjects & Structure
The Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:
- English
- Maths
The 11+ exam for Plymouth High School for Girls and Devonport High School for Girls consists of two multiple-choice papers supplied by GL Assessment, a leading provider of 11+ exams in England. The papers, each lasting approximately 45 minutes to one hour, are taken on separate dates and cover the subjects of English and Maths.
The English paper assesses the child's understanding of the national curriculum, including reading comprehension, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation. Children are required to read a passage and answer questions to demonstrate their understanding, as well as complete additional questions testing their English skills.
The Maths paper, based on Year 5 content, evaluates the child's knowledge of essential mathematical concepts such as times tables, mental maths, shapes, space and measures, the four basic operations, and interpreting graphs. Some questions may be more challenging than what the child is accustomed to, requiring them to apply their skills to solve novel problems.
Other Schools using Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+
As well as Plymouth High School for Girls, several other schools also use Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+. These are:
Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ Marking Process
The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Plymouth High 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!
Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ Pass Mark
The pass mark for the Plymouth & Devonport Girls 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 Plymouth High School for Girls, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
Key Dates for the Plymouth High School for Girls 11+ Entrance Tests
Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into Plymouth High School for Girls) as well as other relevant dates.
| Date | Event | Calendar Link |
|---|---|---|
| 22/04/2025 | Registration Opens For The Dhsg And Phsg Practice 11+ Exam | Add Dates to Calendar |
| 28/04/2025 | 11+ Registration Opens | |
| 23/05/2025 | Registration Closes For The Practice Exam | |
| 05/07/2025 | Dhsg And Phsg Practice (mock) 11+ Exam | |
| 18/07/2025 | Results Sent For The Dhsg And Phsg Practice 11+ Exam | |
| 31/08/2025 | 11+ Registration Closes | |
| 13/09/2025 | 11+ Exam Paper 1 | |
| 20/09/2025 | 11+ Exam Paper 2 | |
| Mid October | Parents Receive 11+ Results | |
| Late October | Secondary School Applications Close At 5pm | |
| 02/03/2026 | Secondary School National Offers Day |
Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Plymouth High School for Girls as they may well change.
11+ Tutor for Plymouth High School for Girls
As the Plymouth & Devonport Girls 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 Plymouth High School for Girls 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High School for Girls
Unfortunately, Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High School for Girls
Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ Ensure you double-check with Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High 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 Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+ to get into Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High 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 Plymouth & Devonport Girls 11+.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | English |
11+ Practice Papers for Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High School for Girls together with their admissions contact details.
| Address | Plymouth High School for Girls, St Lawrence Road, Plymouth, Devon PL4 6HT |
|---|---|
| School Website | https://www.phsg.org/ |
| Telephone | 03333602230 |
| Email Address | office@plymouthhighschoolforgirls.org.uk |
| Gender | Girls only |
| Total Year 7 Places | 120 |
| Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 826 (778 Girls / 48 Boys) |
| Headteacher | Mr Simon Underdown |
Plymouth High 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 826 pupils attend Plymouth High School for Girls and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr Simon Underdown.
Plymouth High School for Girls Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
Plymouth High School for Girls was last inspected by Ofsted on 28/09/2011 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 20/10/2011, declaring that the school was ''. 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 | 28/09/2011 | 1 | 20/10/2011 | Full Report |
|---|
GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High 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) | 34 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 8 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Biology | 53 | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 13 |
| Chemistry | 53 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 4 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 13 |
| Computer Studies/Computing | 20 | - | - | 1 | 5 | - | 4 | 5 | 1 | 4 | - |
| Design & Technology | 26 | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| English Language | 115 | - | - | - | 2 | 6 | 20 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 11 |
| English Literature | 115 | - | - | - | 1 | 5 | 17 | 27 | 28 | 21 | 16 |
| D&T Food Technology | 41 | - | - | - | 3 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
| French | 41 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| Geography | 76 | - | - | - | 4 | 6 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 4 |
| German | 29 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| History | 66 | - | - | - | 6 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 12 | 11 |
| Mathematics | 115 | - | - | - | 1 | 11 | 19 | 29 | 32 | 14 | 9 |
| Music | 29 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 2 | - |
| Physics | 53 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 13 |
| Religious Studies | 30 | - | - | - | 1 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Drama & Theatre Studies | 26 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Physical Education/Sports Studies | 27 | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| Science: Double Award | 61 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
| Art and Design (Fine Art) | 18 | - | - | 1 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 3 | |||
| Biology | 32 | - | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 2 | |||
| Business Studies:Single | 19 | - | - | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | - | |||
| Chemistry | 20 | - | - | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | |||
| Design and Technology (Product Design) | 8 | - | - | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| English Literature | 20 | - | - | 1 | 4 | 11 | 3 | 1 | |||
| Environmental Science | 19 | - | 2 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | |||
| Geography | 21 | - | - | 3 | 8 | 5 | 5 | - | |||
| Government and Politics | 7 | - | 1 | - | 1 | 3 | 2 | - | |||
| History | 23 | - | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 2 | |||
| Law | 21 | - | 3 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | |||
| Mathematics | 20 | - | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | |||
| Media/Film/Tv Studies | 20 | - | 1 | - | 4 | 11 | 4 | - | |||
| Physical Education / Sports Studies | 6 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 3 | - | - | |||
| Physics | 12 | - | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | - | 1 | |||
| Psychology | 45 | - | 6 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 1 | |||
FAQ
Is Plymouth High School for Girls hard to get into?
Yes, Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High School for Girls a private school?
No, Plymouth High School for Girls is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is Plymouth High School for Girls free?
Yes, Plymouth High School for Girls is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Plymouth High School for Girls won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into Plymouth High School for Girls?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Plymouth High 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 Plymouth High School for Girls a girls-only school?
Yes, Plymouth High School for Girls is a girls-only school.
