Ripon Grammar School 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Ripon Grammar School.
How to get into Ripon Grammar School
Ripon Grammar School is a selective secondary school in North Yorkshire. To get into Ripon Grammar School children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into Ripon Grammar School with all the important information you need to know.
Background Information
Ripon Grammar School is an outstanding selective co-educational state grammar school located in North Yorkshire. The school is situated in the beautiful cathedral city of Ripon within the Yorkshire Dales. Recognised as the top-performing state school in North Yorkshire by The Sunday Times Parent Power guide 2025, the school uniquely offers both day and boarding places for children aged 11-18 years, with boarding costs approximately one-third of private school fees.
Founded in 1555 but tracing its roots back to the 7th century, the school originally served boys only until merging with Ripon Girls' High School in 1962 to become co-educational. All applications are by academic selection only, with admissions for Years 7-11 managed by North Yorkshire County Council's school admissions team.
Admission Requirements
For September 2026 Year 7 entry, families can apply when pupils are in Year 5, from April until 30th June 2025 (see key dates). The school offers 117 places annually, including 14 boarding places [1]. If boarding applications do not reach 14, remaining places become day places.
Ripon Grammar School is selective, requiring children to take the Ripon Grammar School 11+ examination for Year 7 eligibility. Registration for the exam opens in early April 2025 and closes on 30th June 2025 (see key dates). The school operates within a catchment area covering Ripon and surrounding areas including Grewelthorpe, Laverton, Galphay, Winksley and Aldfield.
The school offers places to the highest scoring 28% of pupils who live within the catchment area. Any surplus places are offered to pupils outside the catchment who have attained the required standard.
Application Process
Families must register their child via the North Yorkshire Council website for the entrance test. Following this, families need to name the school on their secondary school common application form, available from early September and must be submitted by 31st October 2025 (see key dates).
The application process follows these essential steps:
- Register for the Ripon Grammar School 11+ entrance test by 30th June 2025 (see key dates)
- Complete the secondary school common application form through the home council by 31st October 2025 (see key dates)
- Submit the application to the home local authority by the closing date
- For boarding places, families can apply for both day and boarding options as separate preferences
Families considering boarding must complete a suitability for boarding form and return it to the school to ensure the school can meet the child's boarding needs. For general enquiries about admissions for Years 7-11, contact Mrs Drummond, Admissions Officer - see school information section.
Examination Details
The Ripon Grammar School 11+ examination takes place on Saturday 13th September 2025 (see key dates). The tests are coordinated by GL Assessment and managed by North Yorkshire Council. Results are received in mid-October, determining eligibility for a place at the school.
The examination consists of two multiple-choice papers: a Verbal Reasoning test lasting 50 minutes with 80 questions, and a Non-Verbal Reasoning test divided into four sections with 10 minutes per section. Once a section is completed, pupils cannot return to that section.
The Verbal Reasoning test evaluates logic and reasoning abilities with written information including letters, words, symbols or numbers. The Non-Verbal Reasoning test assesses logic and reasoning with visual information including shapes, diagrams or pictures. These reasoning skills are not taught on the national curriculum, making children likely unfamiliar with these question types.
Oversubscription Criteria
Passing the Ripon Grammar School 11+ does not guarantee allocation to the preferred school. If children achieving the pass mark exceed available places, the school uses oversubscription criteria to prioritise places. Priority is given in the following order: looked after and previously looked after children, children with special social or medical reasons, children within the catchment area, children of school staff, and children outside the normal area.
Within each group, priority is given first to children with siblings at Ripon Grammar School, then to children living closest to the school. There are 103 day places available at Ripon Grammar School, with up to 14 boarding places available in Year 7.
Preparation Guidance
Ripon Grammar School attracts at least five applications for every Year 7 place, requiring families to start 11+ revision well ahead of the examination. Regular bite-size practice in the lead-up to the exam helps children feel more confident on exam day.
Setting regular achievable goals and celebrating progress helps maintain motivation, encouraging a growth mindset that celebrates effort alongside achievement. Building a good knowledge base using a 'little and often' approach is essential, with child psychologists recommending 20-30 minute study sessions for children aged 10-11.
For preparation resources, families should explore practice 11+ papers and consider professional support through 11+ tutoring. When children struggle with topics, help them understand that improvement comes through practice, with regular praise building resilience for challenging topics.
Key Dates and Timeline
Families can visit the school's online open day for 2026 entry and attend the in-person Open Evening on Thursday 19th June 2025 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm (see key dates). This provides opportunities for current Year 5 students and families to tour the school, meet staff and speak to current students.
Important timeline for September 2026 entry:
- Early April 2025: Registration opens for the entrance test
- Thursday 19th June 2025: Open Evening at 5:30pm start (see key dates)
- 30th June 2025: Registration deadline for entrance test (see key dates)
- Saturday 13th September 2025: Entrance examination (see key dates)
- Mid-October 2025: Test results received
- Friday 31st October 2025: Application deadline (see key dates)
Practical Advice
School tours can be arranged on alternative dates for families living overseas or long distances away, with individual boarding house tours also available. The school runs monthly tours for both the main school and boarding facilities by appointment.
For examination day preparation, families should notify the admissions team immediately if their child cannot attend due to illness, family bereavement or serious issues, confirming in writing to arrange alternative testing. Children absent without notification will be withdrawn from testing with no alternative arrangements.
National Offer Day falls on 3rd March 2025, with online applications accessible through the admissions portal and email notifications during office hours (see key dates). Appeal deadlines are 31st March 2025, with appeals heard from 30th April to 18th June 2025 (see key dates).
For backup options in North Yorkshire, families should research other secondary schools in the area. Contact details and specific information about alternative arrangements are available through the school information section.
Ripon Grammar School 11+ Information
In order to get into Ripon Grammar School, children need to pass the Ripon Grammar School 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.
Ripon Grammar School 11+ Subjects & Structure
The Ripon Grammar School 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
The 11 plus exam at Ripon Grammar School is a competitive assessment designed to evaluate the academic potential of prospective students. The exam consists of two distinct papers, both of which are multiple-choice and provided by GL Assessment, a leading 11 plus provider in England.
The first paper is a Verbal Reasoning test, which spans 50 minutes and includes 80 questions. This test assesses a child's capacity to apply logic and reasoning skills to solve problems involving written information, such as letters, words, symbols, or numbers. The second paper is a Non-Verbal Reasoning test, divided into four sections, each with a 10-minute time limit and 20 questions. This test evaluates a child's ability to use logic and reasoning to tackle problems featuring visual information, including shapes, diagrams, or pictures.
As Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning are not part of the national curriculum, children may be unfamiliar with these question types. To build confidence and preparedness for the exam, it is recommended that children engage in regular, bite-sized practice sessions leading up to the assessment.
Ripon Grammar School 11+ Marking Process
The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Ripon Grammar 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!
Ripon Grammar School 11+ Pass Mark
The pass mark for the Ripon Grammar School 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 Ripon Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
Key Dates for the Ripon Grammar School 11+ Entrance Tests
Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into Ripon Grammar School) as well as other relevant dates.
| Date | Event | Calendar Link |
|---|---|---|
| Early April | Ripon Grammar School 11+ Test Registration Opens | Add Dates to Calendar |
| 19/06/2025 | Ripon Grammar School Open Evening | |
| 30/06/2025 | Ripon Grammar School 11+ Test Registration Closes | |
| 13/09/2025 | 11+ Exam At Ripon Grammar School | |
| 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 Ripon Grammar School as they may well change.
11+ Tutor for Ripon Grammar School
As the Ripon Grammar School 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 Ripon Grammar School 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar School
Here are all available past 11+ papers for Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar School currently uses.
The exam board (or test supplier) that Ripon Grammar 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 |
|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | |
| GL Assessment | Mixed | |
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Ripon Grammar School
Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Ripon Grammar School 11+ Ensure you double-check with Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar School 11+ to get into Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar School 11+.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | English |
11+ Practice Papers for Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Writing | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar School together with their admissions contact details.
| Address | Ripon Grammar School, Clotherholme Road, Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 2DG |
|---|---|
| School Website | https://www.ripongrammar.co.uk/ |
| Telephone | 01765602647 |
| Email Address | admin@ripongrammar.com |
| Gender | Mixed (both girls and boys) |
| Total Year 7 Places | Unknown |
| Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 919 (482 Girls / 437 Boys) |
| Headteacher | Mr Jonathan Webb |
Ripon Grammar School is a mixed (i.e. both girls and boys) school. It is also a local authority maintained school, meaning the local authority oversee the funding, admissions, and overall performance of the school.
Notably, Ripon Grammar School is one of very few English grammar schools to also offer boarding facilities.
In total 919 pupils attend Ripon Grammar School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr Jonathan Webb.
Ripon Grammar School Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
Ripon Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 25/01/2023 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 27/04/2023, 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 | 25/01/2023 | 1 | 27/04/2023 | Good | Full Report |
|---|
Ofsted Report Summary
The inspection of Ripon Grammar School on 25 January 2023 resulted in an overall outcome of Good. The school received a Good rating for the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. Personal development and sixth form provision were both rated as Outstanding.
GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar 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 | 60 | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 8 | 20 | 20 | 7 |
| Astronomy | 14 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Biology | 108 | - | - | - | 1 | 6 | 8 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 17 |
| Chemistry | 108 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 11 | 6 | 23 | 37 | 29 |
| Classical Civilisation | 25 | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Design & Technology | 37 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 5 |
| English Language | 122 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 35 | 31 | 21 | 11 |
| English Literature | 121 | - | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 21 | 29 | 28 | 21 | 10 |
| D&T Food Technology | 27 | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| French | 80 | 1 | - | - | 11 | 6 | 19 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 9 |
| Geography | 83 | - | - | 2 | - | 6 | 10 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 6 |
| German | 14 | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| History | 42 | - | - | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 5 |
| Latin | 6 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | 2 | - |
| Mathematics | 122 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 10 | 19 | 38 | 36 | 15 |
| Music | 17 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| Physics | 108 | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | 10 | 24 | 21 | 31 | 18 |
| Religious Studies | 23 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 5 | 12 | 5 |
| Spanish | 36 | - | - | - | 3 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 5 | - |
| Physical Education/Sports Studies | 19 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| Science: Double Award | 14 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
| Art and Design (Fine Art) | 23 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 12 | 7 | |||
| Biology | 42 | - | - | 3 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 4 | |||
| Business Studies:Single | 18 | - | 1 | - | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | |||
| Chemistry | 73 | - | 1 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 32 | 17 | |||
| Classical Civilisation | 8 | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | 1 | - | |||
| Design and Technology (Product Design) | 9 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 4 | 2 | |||
| Economics | 30 | - | - | - | 2 | 10 | 13 | 5 | |||
| English Literature | 8 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 3 | 1 | |||
| French | 12 | - | - | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 | - | |||
| Geography | 23 | - | - | - | 4 | 6 | 9 | 4 | |||
| Government and Politics | 10 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |||
| History | 22 | - | - | 1 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 2 | |||
| Mathematics | 153 | - | 9 | 8 | 20 | 32 | 62 | 22 | |||
| Mathematics (Further) | 32 | - | - | - | 3 | 3 | 20 | 6 | |||
| Physical Education / Sports Studies | 8 | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||
| Physics | 31 | - | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 7 | |||
| Psychology | 41 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 18 | 17 | 3 | |||
| Religious Studies | 15 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 9 | - | |||
FAQ
Is Ripon Grammar School hard to get into?
Yes, Ripon Grammar 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 Ripon Grammar School a private school?
No, Ripon Grammar School is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is Ripon Grammar School free?
Yes, Ripon Grammar School is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Ripon Grammar School won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into Ripon Grammar School?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Ripon Grammar 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.
