Atom Learning is partnered with Torquay Boys' Grammar School. You can read more about our partnership here.
Applying to Torquay Boys' Grammar School for September 2028? This guide covers the Torbay grammar schools' 11+ selection tests, the qualifying score, how the 168 Year 7 places are allocated and the key dates for September 2028 entry.
Number of places in Year 7: 168 (2027-entry figure — Torquay Boys' Grammar School confirms each year's admission number in its determined arrangements, published the spring before entry.)
Qualifying score: No fixed pass mark is published. Boys are ranked by their age-standardised score and places go from the highest score down until the 168 places are filled or the pass threshold is reached. Parents are told 'Yes' or 'No', not the score.
11+ test: Torbay grammar schools' 11+ selection tests (two tests of about 50 minutes each, one in English and one in maths)
Catchment or priority area: no — places are allocated by test score
Source: Torquay Boys' Grammar School Admission Policy 2027-28 entry (ratified 26 January 2026). Last checked October 2026.
Key dates for September 2028 entry
Torquay Boys' Grammar School confirms its exact dates in the spring before each cycle. The windows below follow the 2027-entry timetable: registration ran from Sunday 1 March 2026 to Wednesday 15 July 2026 (or midday Friday 4 September 2026 at the latest), the test took place on Saturday 19 September 2026 and results were due on or as soon as possible after Monday 12 October 2026. We'll update this page as soon as the school publishes its 2028-entry dates.
Key dates for Torquay Boys' Grammar School 11+ entry in September 2028, with expected windows where the school has not yet confirmed exact dates.
Date
What happens
Early March 2027
Test registration expected to open
Mid-July 2027
Preferred registration deadline expected
Early September 2027
Final registration deadline expected
Mid-September 2027
Torbay 11+ selection tests expected (usually a Saturday)
Mid-October 2027
Outcome letters expected
Sunday 31 October 2027
Deadline to apply for secondary school places through your home local authority. This date falls on a Sunday.
Wednesday 1 March 2028
National offer day for secondary school places
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Torquay Boys' Grammar School is selective, so your child needs to sit the 11+ test to be considered for a place.
You register directly with Torquay Boys' Grammar School using its online registration form. Register with just one Torbay selective school, which is where your child sits the test.
Once you have your child's result, you apply by naming Torquay Boys' Grammar School on your common application form, which goes to your home local authority. For September 2028 entry the deadline is Sunday 31 October 2027. As it falls on a Sunday, you may find it easier to submit your form in the days before.
Reaching the qualifying score makes your child eligible, but it doesn't guarantee a place. If more qualifying children apply than there are places, the school uses its oversubscription criteria, set out further down this page.
What will my child be tested on?
Torquay Boys' Grammar School shares its 11+ with the other selective schools in Torbay. Your child sits the test once, at the school you register with, and the same result is used for an application to any of the Torbay selective schools.
There are two tests of about 50 minutes each: one in English and one in maths. There are no verbal or non-verbal reasoning papers. The school's familiarisation page links to GL Assessment's free practice materials.
Raw scores are age-standardised, so younger children in the year group aren't at a disadvantage. The school doesn't publish whether questions are multiple choice.
How are places allocated at Torquay Boys' Grammar School?
If more children reach the qualifying standard than there are 168 Year 7 places, Torquay Boys' Grammar School offers places in the order below. This order comes from the school's admissions policy for 2027/28. The school sets its 2028-entry policy separately, and we'll update this table if anything changes.
Torquay Boys' Grammar School oversubscription criteria in priority order, from the 2027/28 admissions policy.
Priority
Who it covers
First
Boys with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) naming the school, who are eligible
Main rule
Eligible boys are ranked by test score and offered places from the highest score down until the places are filled or the pass threshold is reached
1 (equal scores)
Looked after and previously looked after boys
2 (equal scores)
Boys eligible for the Pupil Premium (a Supplementary Information Form is needed)
3 (equal scores)
All other boys
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The three categories are used to separate boys with the same score. There is no sibling priority. Boys tested late are only considered after everyone tested on time has been allocated.
Does Torquay Boys' Grammar School have a catchment area?
No. The policy says the school does not give priority to children living in a defined catchment area. Places depend on test score.
If boys are still level after the categories above, the boy living nearer the school is offered the place first, measured in a straight line from an entrance door of the home to the centre of the school's main entrance. If distances are equal, random allocation supervised by someone independent of the school decides.
If you don't live close to the school, it's worth thinking about how your child will get there every day. How long will the journey take? What transport options are available? Will they be travelling independently or with support?
A longer or more complex journey can affect your child's daily routine, including how much time they have for homework, rest and after-school activities. It's a good idea to think about how manageable the school run will be and whether it will work for your family day to day.
How can I help my child prepare for the test?
The Torbay Consortium 11+ can feel like a big milestone, but preparation doesn't have to be overwhelming. Here's how you can help your child prepare for test day.
Stay on track with a clear plan
One of the hardest parts of 11+ preparation is knowing what to focus on, when, and how to make steady progress without it taking over family life.
A clear, structured plan helps your child feel less overwhelmed and more in control. It ensures they build skills in the right order, cover everything they need, and avoid last-minute cramming.
Atom's exam plan makes this easier. Enter your child's exam date and target schools, and we'll create a personalised weekly plan tailored to the topics they'll be tested on. It shows them what to work on and when, adapts as they improve, and helps them build progress in a calm, manageable way — little and often.
That means less guesswork for you, less stress for them, and a clearer path all the way to exam day.
Build smart exam technique
As your child's knowledge grows, practice tests can help them feel more comfortable with the real exam format.
Atom's 11+ practice papers are built to match the format, timing and question styles of real 11+ exams. They're also unlimited — you can download the same paper again and again, and your child will get new questions each time. This helps them practise without repeating the same content.
We've made marking easy for you, too. Simply photograph your child's answer sheets and upload them to Atom. The papers are marked instantly, showing your child's standardised age score (SAS), where they're doing well, and what they should focus on next. You'll also learn how they compare to other children applying to the same school.
Encourage regular reading
Strong reading skills play a big role in 11+ preparation.
Encourage your child to read every day, even for just 10–15 minutes. The key is variety. Mix fiction and non-fiction, different genres, and a range of authors. This helps them become more confident in understanding tone, purpose, and meaning across different texts.
Over time, regular reading will broaden their vocabulary, improve comprehension and inference, and build confidence in tackling unseen texts. And just as importantly, it can help them enjoy reading — not just see it as exam preparation.
Looking for inspiration? Atom's recommended reading lists have suggestions spanning fiction and non-fiction for Years 3–6.
Celebrate progress, not just scores
When you're supporting your child through 11+ preparation, what really matters is knowing they're moving in the right direction — not just how they scored on a single test.
Atom's progress tracking gives you a clear, simple picture of how your child is doing in each topic and the direction they're moving in. You can see where they're on track, where they might need more practice, and spot progress as it happens.
That makes it easier to give meaningful encouragement, keep motivation steady, and focus on what matters most: consistent improvement, not just one-off results.
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Take control of your child’s 11+ preparation.
Not sure if your child is on track for the grammar school 11+? You don’t need to guess what to cover or whether they’re ready. Atom shows you exactly what to practise each week and how they’re performing, so you can stay ahead of the process without the stress.
