Parkstone Grammar School 11+ Guide
A detailed look at Parkstone Grammar School including past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers.
About Parkstone Grammar School
Parkstone Grammar School is a selective secondary school in Dorset. For children to get into Parkstone Grammar School they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, Parkstone Grammar School is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.
Parkstone Grammar School is an exceptional selective school for girls situated in the picturesque coastal town of Poole, Dorset. As an academy, PGS is dedicated to providing its students with an outstanding education that extends beyond the classroom. With a focus on science and languages, the school offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to inspire a lifelong passion for learning.
At PGS, the well-being of each student is of utmost importance. The school actively encourages participation in a wide array of extracurricular activities, including sports, music, theatre, public speaking, and charitable endeavours. These opportunities allow girls to develop their talents, build confidence, and cultivate a strong sense of community. Additionally, the school's commitment to healthy eating ensures that students are nourished both intellectually and physically.
The school's partnership with the local boys' grammar school, Poole Grammar School, enhances the sixth form experience by providing a diverse range of A level subjects. This collaboration prepares students for the challenges and opportunities that await them in higher education and beyond. With an emphasis on fostering independence and resilience, PGS equips its students with the skills necessary to succeed in their future endeavours.
Parkstone Grammar School's outstanding reputation is a testament to its effective leadership, dedicated staff, and the unwavering commitment of its students. The school's supportive and inclusive environment encourages girls to strive for excellence while maintaining impeccable behaviour and a genuine enthusiasm for learning. At PGS, every student is valued, nurtured, and inspired to reach their full potential.
School Information
Below you will find further information about Parkstone Grammar School together with their admissions contact details.
Address |
Parkstone Grammar School, Sopers Lane, Poole, Dorset BH17 7EP |
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School Website | https://www.parkstone.poole.sch.uk/ |
Telephone | 01202605605 |
Email Address | office@parkstone.poole.sch.uk |
Gender | Girls only |
Total Year 7 Places | 192 |
Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 1224 (1224 Girls / 0 Boys) |
Headteacher | Mr David Hallsworth |
Parkstone Grammar 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 1,224 pupils attend Parkstone Grammar School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr David Hallsworth.
Parkstone Grammar School Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Parkstone Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.
GCSE Subjects Offered |
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A-Level Subjects Offered |
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Dorset 11+ Information
In order to get into Parkstone Grammar School, 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 assessment consists of three separate papers designed to evaluate a child's abilities in key areas. The exam includes a 50-minute Maths test, a 45-minute English test, and a 50-minute Verbal Reasoning test.
All the questions in the Dorset 11 plus exam are presented in a multiple-choice format. Pupils will be provided with individual answer sheets on which they will indicate their selected responses. These answer sheets are then electronically marked to determine the child's score in each subject area.
The Dorset 11 plus exam aims to assess a student's academic potential and suitability for admission to Bournemouth School. Success in this competitive entrance exam requires a solid foundation in Maths, English, and Verbal Reasoning skills, as well as effective time management and test-taking strategies.
Other Schools using Dorset 11+
As well as Parkstone Grammar School, 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 Parkstone 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!
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 Parkstone Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
Ofsted Information
Parkstone Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 11/10/2017 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 17/11/2017, 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 | 11/10/2017 | 1 | 17/11/2017 | Outstanding | Full Report |
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GCSE & A-Level Performance
Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Parkstone 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 | |||||||||
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U | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
Art & Design (Fine Art) | 42 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 |
Astronomy | 17 | - | - | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | - |
Biology | 174 | - | - | - | 1 | 11 | 11 | 33 | 37 | 39 | 42 |
Business Studies:Single | 62 | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 18 | 14 | 10 |
Chemistry | 174 | 3 | - | 1 | 2 | 13 | 24 | 40 | 32 | 27 | 32 |
Computer Studies/Computing | 28 | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
Design & Technology | 43 | - | - | - | 2 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 2 |
Economics | 23 | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
English Language | 175 | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 18 | 44 | 37 | 49 | 24 |
English Literature | 173 | - | - | 2 | - | 7 | 23 | 39 | 41 | 36 | 24 |
D&T Food Technology | 20 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
French | 56 | - | - | 1 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 8 |
Geography | 81 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 23 | 19 |
German | 26 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
History | 59 | - | - | 1 | - | 2 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 19 | 9 |
Mathematics | 175 | - | - | - | 2 | 14 | 29 | 42 | 48 | 25 | 15 |
Music | 17 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Physics | 174 | 2 | - | - | - | 9 | 27 | 38 | 49 | 23 | 26 |
Religious Studies | 40 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 21 |
Spanish | 52 | - | - | - | 4 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 14 | 11 | 4 |
Drama & Theatre Studies | 54 | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 15 | 8 | 1 |
Physical Education/Sports Studies | 50 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 8 |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
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U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
Art and Design (Fine Art) | 6 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 4 | |||
Biology | 69 | - | 3 | 11 | 12 | 27 | 10 | 4 | |||
Business Studies:Single | 28 | - | - | 3 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 4 | |||
Chemistry | 39 | - | 3 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 2 | |||
Economics | 8 | - | - | 1 | - | 3 | 2 | 2 | |||
English Language | 16 | - | - | 2 | 5 | 8 | - | 1 | |||
English Literature | 30 | - | - | 2 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | |||
French | 6 | - | - | 2 | 1 | 2 | - | 1 | |||
Geography | 13 | - | - | - | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | |||
Government and Politics | 10 | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |||
History | 15 | - | - | - | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | |||
Mathematics | 46 | - | 4 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 6 | |||
Mathematics (Further) | 9 | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | |||
Media/Film/Tv Studies | 11 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 6 | 1 | |||
Music | 6 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 1 | |||
Physical Education / Sports Studies | 8 | - | - | 1 | 4 | 3 | - | - | |||
Physics | 13 | - | - | 5 | - | 3 | 2 | 1 | |||
Psychology | 75 | - | 1 | 2 | 19 | 24 | 23 | 6 | |||
Religious Studies | 10 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | |||
Sociology | 31 | - | - | 2 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 8 |
Past 11+ Paper Downloads
Unfortunately, Parkstone Grammar School has not made any of their past 11+ papers publicly available.
Practice 11+ Paper Downloads
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 Parkstone Grammar School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.
GL Assessment
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by GL Assessment themselves. They remain useful and we would encourage parents to download and use them with their children.
Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Marking Scheme (Answers) |
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GL Assessment | English | |||
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
GL Assessment | Maths | |||
GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
Owl Tutors
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by Owl Tutors.
Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Marking Scheme (Answers) |
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GL Assessment | English | ||
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
GL Assessment | Maths | ||
GL Assessment | Writing |
Bond
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by Bond.
Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Marking Scheme (Answers) |
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GL Assessment | English | ||
GL Assessment | Maths | ||
GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | ||
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
CGP
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. They are up to date and extremely useful.
Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Marking Scheme (Answers) |
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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. Grammar schools no longer use CEM for any of their 11+ entrance tests. However, as a general practice tool these tests remain useful.
Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Marking Scheme (Answers) |
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CEM | Maths | |||
CEM | Verbal Reasoning | |||
CEM | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
FAQ
Is Parkstone Grammar School hard to get into?
Yes, Parkstone 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 Parkstone Grammar School a private school?
No, Parkstone Grammar School is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is Parkstone Grammar School free?
Yes, Parkstone Grammar School is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Parkstone Grammar School won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into Parkstone Grammar School?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Parkstone 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.
Is Parkstone Grammar School a girls-only school?
Yes, Parkstone Grammar School is a girls-only school.