The Bournemouth and Poole 11+
Bournemouth and Poole’s four grammar schools share one test. GL Assessment set it in 2026; Quest Assessments sets it from Saturday 25 September 2027, in the same three subjects: English, maths and verbal reasoning.
At a glance
- The test
- The Bournemouth and Poole grammar schools' consortium entrance tests
- Set by
- GL Assessment (Quest Assessments from the September 2027 test, for 2028 entry)
- Subjects
- English, maths, verbal reasoning
- Answers
- Multiple choice, on a separate answer sheet
The papers
Three GL Assessment multiple-choice papers sat in one morning at one of the consortium schools: maths (50 minutes), English (45 minutes: comprehension, vocabulary and punctuation) and verbal reasoning (50 minutes, with a built-in practice section), answers marked on a pre-printed sheet. From September 2027 Quest papers in the same three subjects, 40 minutes each, multiple choice, with no content beyond the Year 5 curriculum.
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Dates, results and scores
When is the 11+ in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
The 2027 test: Saturday 25 September 2027 (Parkstone Grammar School; the first Quest Assessments test) The 2026 test: Saturday 26 September 2026; catch-up test Friday 2 October 2026 for illness; late test Tuesday 23 February 2027.
How do you register for the 11+ in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
For the 2027 test (2028 entry): Monday 12 April 2027 to 12 noon Friday 3 September 2027 (Parkstone Grammar School) For the 2026 test (2027 entry): Monday 13 April 2026 to 12 noon Friday 4 September 2026 (register with one consortium school; the result counts for all four)
When do 11+ results come out in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
For the 2026 test: Emailed by 4pm on Friday 16 October 2026.
What score qualifies in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
The three age-standardised scores are added together and compared with a pass mark (the 'required standard') that is not published in advance; children are told whether they are eligible (Poole Grammar: Group A meets the standard, Group B does not), and Poole Grammar says each applicant's scores and the pass mark are issued to parents. Eligible children are then placed by each school's oversubscription criteria, in rank order of score within each group. Both Poole Grammar and Parkstone put looked-after children first and give priority to Pupil Premium children and to those living in the historic Borough of Poole or postcodes BH12-BH18 and BH21 (Parkstone: Pupil Premium in that area, others in that area, Pupil Premium outside, others outside; Poole Grammar: Pupil Premium in the area, Pupil Premium outside, sons of staff, others in the area, others outside).
Not confirmed yet
- The pass mark (required standard) for the September 2026 test or any earlier year: not published
- How many children sit the test each year
- Bournemouth School for Girls' own pages and policy, and Bournemouth School's 2027 policy, were not read (the four schools' shared arrangements were confirmed from the other three)
- The 2027 registration window and test date are confirmed only on Parkstone's page; Quest's consortium page says registration opens April 2027 and the exam is in September 2027
Check these on the official page: bournemouth-school.org/admissions-2/joining-year-7-in-september
Good to know
Late testing and moving to the area
Late registration opened on Monday 7 September 2026 and closes at 12 noon on Friday 29 January 2027; the late test is on Tuesday 23 February 2027 and late-tested children are considered after the first round of offers (1 March 2027), only if places remain
Who runs admissions
Each school is its own admission authority; the four run one shared set of tests (the consortium) and BCP Council coordinates offers
Grammar schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Each school sets its own admissions rules: check its admissions policy for places and priority areas.
More on the 11+
Sources
Every fact here comes from the official pages below. Dates and scores change from year to year, so check them there before you rely on them.
- parkstone.poole.sch.uk/information/admissions
- parkstone.poole.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Frequently-Asked-Questions-for-Admission-in-September-2027.pdf
- parkstone.poole.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Admissions-Policy-2027-Supplementary-Date-Sheet.pdf
- parkstone.poole.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Admissions-Policy-for-Entry-September-2027.pdf
- parkstone.poole.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/A-Students-Guide-to-the-Entrance-Test-2026-online-version.pdf
- poolegrammar.com/join-our-school/admissions
- poolegrammar.com/join-our-school/admissions/admissions-to-year-7
- poolegrammar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Admissions-Policy-2027-Entry.pdf
- bournemouth-school.org/admissions-2/joining-year-7-in-september
- questassessments.com/parent-guidance-consortium/dorset-consortium-11-assessment
- bcpcouncil.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-admissions/apply-for-a-secondary-or-upper-school-place
Checked 2 November 2026.
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