Ribston Hall High School 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Ribston Hall High School.
How to get into Ribston Hall High School
Ribston Hall High School is a selective secondary school in Gloucestershire. To get into Ribston Hall High School children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into Ribston Hall High School with all the important information you need to know.
Admission Requirements
Ribston Hall High School is a selective grammar school with academy status in Gloucester, England, for girls between the ages of 11 and 18 [1]. The school specifically serves girls seeking admission to Year 7 through the Gloucestershire 11+ examination process.
For September 2025 entry, families must register for the entrance test and complete their applications according to specific deadlines (see key dates). Ribston Hall High School does not have a catchment area [1], meaning girls from anywhere can apply provided they meet the academic requirements.
- To gain a place your child must first sit and achieve the required standard in the Grammar School entrance test [1]
- Entry exams are held in September, a year prior to entry [1]
- The school uses GL Assessment test papers for all entrance examinations [1]
- All candidates must demonstrate selective ability through the testing process
Application Process
Families must complete two separate applications for Ribston Hall High School admission. The first involves registering for the entrance examination, while the second requires submitting school preferences to the local authority.
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 [1]. Once you have registered online you will receive a confirmation email [1].
- Register for the entrance test through the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools' registration system during the specified window
- Parents/carers will be informed of their child's result by email in mid-October. Results will be sent home before parents/carers have to make a decision on which schools to put on their Local Authority Common Application (Preference) Form [1]
- Managed by the Local Authority - Deadline 31st October 2024. The Common Application Form (CAF) is the form which must be completed to enable the Gloucestershire County Admissions Team to offer you a secondary school place for your child [1]
- You will be informed by your own Local County Council of the school allocated to you for your child on Monday 3rd March 2025 [1]
- For appeals information, contact details are available in the school information section
Examination Format
The Gloucestershire 11+ consists of All questions are multiple choice style questions across two test papers[1]. 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 [1].
Paper 1 focuses on verbal skills (including comprehension, vocabulary and verbal reasoning) [1]. Paper 2 covers non-verbal reasoning and mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding [1].
- English including comprehension and vocabulary assessment
- Verbal Reasoning testing logical thinking with words and language
- Mathematics covering numerical skills and problem-solving
- Non-Verbal Reasoning including spatial and pattern recognition
- Both papers include worked examples before the actual test questions begin
- There is a break between papers during the examination session
Preparation Guidance
Families should begin preparation well in advance of the examination date. 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 Material - GL Assessment can be found on their website 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 [1].
The school emphasises that excessive preparation is not necessary, as the test aims to assess natural academic ability. However, familiarising children with the question types and format can help reduce anxiety and improve performance.
- Use official GL Assessment familiarisation materials available through their website
- Practice with multiple-choice question formats specifically
- Focus on building core subject knowledge in English and mathematics
- Develop verbal and non-verbal reasoning skills through regular practice
- Consider professional tutoring support - see tutoring options
- Access additional practice resources through practice papers
- Ensure regular practice rather than intensive last-minute preparation
Oversubscription Criteria
Ribston Hall High School is frequently oversubscribed, meaning more qualifying candidates apply than places available. When this occurs, the school applies specific criteria to determine which candidates receive offers.
Priority is given to candidates in the following order, provided they meet the qualifying standard. Children in care or previously in care (also known as 'Looked After' or 'Previously Looked After' children). These children will be offered priority by rank order of score. Additional priority categories include special provisions for certain circumstances.
- Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children receive highest priority
- Specific allocations for Pupil Premium eligible candidates with qualifying scores
- Rank order by examination score for remaining places
- Where scores are identical, distance from school becomes the deciding factor
- All candidates must achieve the qualifying standard to be considered
- No predetermined pass mark exists - standards vary annually based on cohort performance
Practical Advice
Successful preparation requires careful planning and realistic expectations. Families should understand that passing the entrance test does not guarantee admission, as the school remains highly competitive.
On examination day, candidates should arrive well-rested and prepared. 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 [1]. The school provides specific instructions closer to the test date.
Gloucestershire 11+ Information
In order to get into Ribston Hall 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 Ribston Hall High School. This comprehensive examination is designed to evaluate the academic potential of prospective students across a range of key skills and subjects.
The test is divided into two distinct papers, each lasting one hour. Paper 1 focuses on assessing verbal abilities, including reading comprehension, vocabulary knowledge, and verbal reasoning skills. Paper 2, on the other hand, concentrates on non-verbal skills, testing students' proficiency in non-verbal reasoning and mathematics.
Throughout both papers, students are presented with multiple-choice questions, allowing for an objective evaluation of their abilities. The Gloucestershire Grammar Schools' Entrance Test aims to identify students with the aptitude and potential to thrive in the academically challenging environment offered by Ribston Hall High School.
Other Schools using Gloucestershire 11+
As well as Ribston Hall High School, several other schools also use Gloucestershire 11+. These are:
- Denmark Road High School
- Marling School
- Pate's Grammar School
- Sir Thomas Rich's School
- Stroud High School
- The Crypt School
Gloucestershire 11+ Marking Process
The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Ribston Hall 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 Ribston Hall High School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
Key Dates for the Ribston Hall High School 11+ Entrance Tests
Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into Ribston Hall High School) as well as other relevant dates.
| Date | Event | Calendar Link |
|---|---|---|
| 19/05/2025 | Gloucestershire 11 Plus Registration Opens At Midday | Add Dates to Calendar |
| 27/06/2025 | Gloucestershire 11 Plus Registration Closes At Midday | |
| 13/09/2025 | Gloucestershire Grammar Schoolsâ Entrance Test | |
| 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 Ribston Hall High School as they may well change.
11+ Tutor for Ribston Hall High School
As the Gloucestershire 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 Ribston Hall High School 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the Ribston Hall High School 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 Ribston Hall High School
Here are all available past 11+ papers for Ribston Hall 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 Ribston Hall High School currently uses.
The exam board (or test supplier) that Ribston Hall 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 extensive collection of 11+ practice papers helpful for your child's preparation.
| Exam Board | Subject | 11+ Past Paper |
|---|---|---|
| CEM* Now use GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Ribston Hall High School
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 Ribston Hall High School 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 Ribston Hall High School 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 Gloucestershire 11+ to get into Ribston Hall High School.
| 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 Ribston Hall High School 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 Ribston Hall High School.
| 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 Ribston Hall High School 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 Gloucestershire 11+.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | English |
11+ Practice Papers for Ribston Hall High School 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 Ribston Hall High School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Writing | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Ribston Hall High School 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 Ribston Hall High School.
| 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 Ribston Hall High School 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 Ribston Hall High School 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 Ribston Hall High School 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 Ribston Hall High School 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 Ribston Hall High School 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 Ribston Hall High School 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 Ribston Hall High School together with their admissions contact details.
| Address | Ribston Hall High School, Stroud Road, Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL1 5LE |
|---|---|
| School Website | https://www.ribstonhall.gloucs.sch.uk/ |
| Telephone | 01452382249 |
| Email Address | rhhs@ribstonhall.gloucs.sch.uk |
| Gender | Girls only |
| Total Year 7 Places | 150 |
| Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 878 (869 Girls / 9 Boys) |
| Headteacher | Mr Alec Waters |
Ribston Hall 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 878 pupils attend Ribston Hall High School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr Alec Waters.
Ribston Hall High School Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
Ribston Hall High School was last inspected by Ofsted on 13/06/2012 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 04/07/2012, declaring that the school was 'Good'. 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 | 13/06/2012 | 1 | 04/07/2012 | Good | Full Report |
|---|
GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Ribston Hall High School 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 Ribston Hall 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)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Art & Design (Fine Art) | 26 | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| Art & Design (Textiles) | 19 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Biology | 101 | 2 | - | - | 2 | 8 | 31 | 26 | 14 | 9 | 9 |
| Chemistry | 101 | - | - | - | 5 | 13 | 22 | 21 | 16 | 15 | 9 |
| Computer Studies/Computing | 15 | - | - | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | - | 2 | 1 |
| Dance | 8 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | - |
| English Language | 124 | - | - | - | 2 | 4 | 18 | 45 | 31 | 16 | 7 |
| English Literature | 122 | - | 2 | - | 2 | 5 | 24 | 34 | 30 | 19 | 6 |
| D&T Food Technology | 39 | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | 7 | 5 | 13 | 11 |
| French | 30 | 1 | - | - | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 5 |
| Geography | 50 | - | - | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 2 |
| History | 95 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 27 | 23 | 8 | 6 |
| Mathematics | 122 | - | - | - | 2 | 10 | 41 | 31 | 24 | 11 | 3 |
| Music | 10 | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | - | 3 | - | 4 |
| Physics | 99 | 1 | - | - | - | 24 | 33 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 5 |
| Religious Studies | 31 | - | - | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 1 |
| Spanish | 33 | - | - | - | - | 8 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 2 |
| Drama & Theatre Studies | 23 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| Physical Education/Sports Studies | 9 | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | - |
| Science: Double Award | 21 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
| Biology | 31 | - | 2 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 5 | |||
| Business Studies:Single | 15 | - | - | - | 4 | 6 | 3 | 1 | |||
| Chemistry | 24 | - | 3 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 5 | - | |||
| English Literature | 23 | - | 2 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 2 | - | |||
| Government and Politics | 13 | - | - | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 | - | |||
| History | 19 | - | - | 2 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 2 | |||
| Mathematics | 14 | - | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | - | |||
| Physical Education / Sports Studies | 6 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 3 | - | - | |||
| Physics | 6 | - | 4 | 1 | - | - | - | - | |||
| Psychology | 44 | - | 2 | 3 | 17 | 12 | 7 | 3 | |||
| Religious Studies | 8 | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | - | - | |||
| Sociology | 37 | - | - | 2 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 2 | |||
FAQ
Is Ribston Hall High School hard to get into?
Yes, Ribston Hall High School 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 Ribston Hall High School a private school?
No, Ribston Hall High School is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is Ribston Hall High School free?
Yes, Ribston Hall High School is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Ribston Hall High School won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into Ribston Hall High School?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Ribston Hall High School 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 Ribston Hall High School a girls-only school?
Yes, Ribston Hall High School is a girls-only school.
