Pate's Grammar School 11 plus: parents' guide for 2023

Nestled within the Cotswolds, Pate's Grammar School is a consistently Ofsted-rated 'outstanding' co-educational grammar school. It has been awarded the Sunday Times Schools Guide titles 'First for academic results in the South West' (2023) and 'State secondary school of the year' (2020).

Pate’s Grammar School offers an outstanding quality of teaching, resulting in exceptional progress for all students. In 2022, 95.4% of A level grades were A*–B and 95% of GCSEs were graded A*/A/9/8/7. These academic results place Pate's as the sixth highest-performing state school in the country.

11 plus exam information for Pate’s Grammar School

• Address: Pate's Grammar School, Princess Elizabeth Way, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 0HG

• County: Gloucestershire

• Admissions contacts details: [email protected], 01242 523169

• School type: co-educational grammar school

• Number of pupils: 1,200+

• Number of places in Year 7: 150

• Open day date: Tuesday 28th February, Tuesday 28th March, Monday 26th June and Thursday 29th June 2023. Book your place on an open event online

• 11 plus exam date: Saturday 16th September 2023

• Exam board type: Gloucestershire Grammar Schools 11 plus test

Pate’s Grammar School term dates

The term dates for Pate’s Grammar School in 2023–2024 are:

• Autumn term: 5th September – 20th December 2023

• Half term: 26th October – 3rd November 2023

• Spring term: 8th January – 22nd March 2024

• Half term: 12th–16th February 2024

• Summer term: 8th April – 12th July 2024

• Half term: 27th–31st May 2024

How and when to apply for Pate’s Grammar School

Students wishing to apply for Pate's Grammar School must complete the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools 11 plus entrance exam. Admissions to Pate's Grammar School are coordinated with Gloucestershire County Coordinated Admissions Scheme. The Gloucestershire Grammar Schools' Registration Form must be completed by parents/carers (usually in the summer term of Year 5) in order to register their child for the Entrance Test.

Students who have achieved a qualifying score must list Pate's Grammar School as one of their choices on the Common Application Form (CAF), which is due by 31 October. Those who live outside Gloucestershire may apply; however, parents/carers need to contact their local authority about the Common Application Form.

In Gloucestershire, results are usually released in mid-October, and school applications are usually due by the end of October.

Pate’s Grammar School 11 plus admissions process

Applicants will only be considered for admission if they meet the qualifying standard. Parents/Carers will be notified as soon as possible after the Entrance Test date if the required standard was achieved.

If the number of qualified candidates exceeds the number of positions, the following criteria will be applied in the order listed below:

• Any 'looked after child' or child who was previously looked after

• Pupil Premium Children

• Other ‘qualified’ candidates who have met the qualifying standard in test rank order until 150 places are filled

There is no catchment area for Pate’s Grammar School.

Pate's Grammar School maintains a waiting list based on the above criteria. The admissions policy on the school website provides more information on this.

What is the 11 plus exam format for Pate's Grammar School?

Pate's Grammar School will be using GL Assessment to administer its 11 plus test for pupils applying for entry in 2024 and beyond.

Children will take two tests at Pate's Grammar School on Saturday 16th September 2023. The two tests take around 2 hours in total to complete:

• Paper 1: Multiple-choice verbal reasoning, vocabulary and reading comprehension

• Paper 2: Multiple-choice non-verbal reasoning and maths

Each paper will begin with 15 minutes to read through the instructions and work through examples (non-verbal reasoning only). Children will then have 45 minutes to work through the questions for each test.

For more details, please see our guide to the Gloucestershire 11 plus test.

How to prepare your child for the Pate’s Grammar School 11 plus test

Starting 11 plus preparation towards the end of Year 4 or 5 will provide your child with familiarity with the test process and timed sections, as well as solid knowledge of all Key Stage 2 content.

Your child's school may not yet have covered a number of topics covered in the 11 plus. Verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning are not taught on the primary school curriculum, so practising questions in these subjects will help your child build confidence for the exam.

Atom Nucleus is an award-winning online learning platform that can help your child prepare effectively for the 11 plus. Groundbreaking technology is combined with industry-leading educational content to make 11 plus not only easy, but fun for your child!

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• Over 90,000 interactive questions in Key Stage 2 English, maths, science, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning

• Unlimited online practice papers that replicate the 11 plus, including tests set by GL Assessment

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• Automatic progress-tracking so you can see how your child is performing compared to their peers

• Access to expert advice from education specialists, with ongoing parent webinars and WhatsApp groups for your child’s cohort

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