Formal consortium
Dorset Grammar Schools 11+ guide
September 2027 entryEvidence reviewed 24 October 2026The schools, administrator, assessment stages and dates for this entrance route, with each school's admissions evidence status shown separately.
- Schools in directory
- 4
At a glance
- Route type
- Formal consortium
- Administrator
- The Dorset Consortium of Grammar Schools: Bournemouth School, Bournemouth School for Girls, Parkstone Grammar School and Poole Grammar School.
- Assessment provider
- GL Assessment for the September 2027 entry round. Bournemouth School says the provider changes to Quest Assessments after September 2027, for the next entry cycle.
- Delivery
- One shared test sitting for the four consortium schools. Applicants register with a member school and sit the in-person paper tests at that school on the shared date.
What to do with a 2026 Dorset test result
- Read the result from the school where you registered for the shared test. Parkstone Grammar School scheduled its result email by 4pm on 16 October 2026. Check your own school's message and admissions policy; a qualifying result is not a place offer.
- Name each grammar school you want on your separate home-council secondary application. BCP residents have an on-time deadline of 31 October 2026; families elsewhere should check their home council's date. BCP issues on-time school offers on 1 March 2027.
- Use the GL Assessment information on this page for September 2027 entry. The move to Quest Assessments below applies to the following entry year.
Provider change for September 2028 entry
For September 2028 entry, the Dorset Consortium will use Quest Assessments for the test sat in September 2027. Quest describes three 40-minute papers in maths, English and verbal reasoning. Use the 2027-entry information elsewhere on this page only for that earlier cohort, and check the schools for exact new registration dates.
Dorset Consortium's 2028-entry assessment informationSubjects and stages
- English
- Mathematics
- Verbal reasoning
1. Dorset Consortium entrance test
Registered Year 6 pupils sit the shared test in September 2026 for Year 7 entry in September 2027.
Registration and dates
Dates for September 2027 entry
| Date | When |
|---|---|
| Registration opens | When13 April 2026 |
| Registration closes | When4 September 2026 |
| Entrance test | When26 September 2026 |
| Results emailed | When16 October 2026 |
| Secondary school application deadline | When31 October 2026 |
| Late registration closes | When29 January 2027 |
| Late entrance test | When23 February 2027 |
Scoring and eligibility
The test results determine eligibility for a place at a consortium school. Eligibility does not guarantee an offer because the schools can be oversubscribed; a separate application is made through the applicant’s home local authority.
Schools in this directory using the route
| School | Selection type | Boys, girls or mixed intake | Admissions guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth School | Selection typeFully selective state school | Boys, girls or mixed intakeBoys for Year 7 admission | Admissions guideEvidence-limited admissions guide |
| Bournemouth School for Girls | Selection typeFully selective state school | Boys, girls or mixed intakeGirls for Year 7 admission | Admissions guideVerified admissions guide |
| Parkstone Grammar School | Selection typeFully selective state school | Boys, girls or mixed intakeGirls for Year 7 admission | Admissions guideVerified admissions guide |
| Poole Grammar School | Selection typeFully selective state school | Boys, girls or mixed intakeBoys for Year 7 admission | Admissions guideVerified admissions guide |
Areas covered
Relevant skills and exercises
- Build English comprehension skills
Draw one supported conclusion that is not directly stated.
- Try Comprehension X-Ray
Free interactive practice relevant to English comprehension.
- Build maths and numerical reasoning skills
Select and perform a short sequence of operations in context.
- Try Step Builder
Free interactive practice relevant to maths and numerical reasoning.
- Build verbal reasoning skills
Choose the option closest in meaning to a target word.
- Try Synonym Spectrum
Free interactive practice relevant to verbal reasoning.
Questions families ask
Who administers the Dorset Grammar Schools 11 Plus?
The Dorset Consortium of Grammar Schools: Bournemouth School, Bournemouth School for Girls, Parkstone Grammar School and Poole Grammar School. administers the Dorset Grammar Schools 11 Plus for September 2027 entry.
Which schools use the Dorset Grammar Schools 11 Plus?
4 schools use this route in the current catalog: Bournemouth School, Bournemouth School for Girls, Parkstone Grammar School, and Poole Grammar School.
What does the Dorset Grammar Schools 11 Plus assess?
The verified subjects are English, Mathematics, and Verbal reasoning.
Where do families register for the Dorset Grammar Schools 11 Plus?
Check the registration dates in this guide, then read the official registration page for the relevant entry year. The verified destination is https://www.bournemouth-school.org/admissions-2/joining-year-7-in-september/.
How current is the information for Dorset Grammar Schools 11 Plus?
Smart Cub Learning reviewed 3 attached evidence sources by 2026-10-24. Unknown facts stay labelled and should be checked again before applying.
Official sources
- Joining Year 7 in September 2027
Bournemouth School. Accessed 26 August 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Joining Year 7 in September
Bournemouth School. Accessed 24 October 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Admissions
Parkstone Grammar School. Accessed 24 October 2026. September 2027 entry.
Explore the verified directory
- Schools near a town
Compare nearby state selective schools and their entrance routes.
- Applications and offers
Compare historic DfE school preferences and offers.
- Schools
Compare verified selective schools.
- Areas
Compare selective schools by area, with assessment routes shown only where verified.
- Tests and consortiums
See which schools share each assessment route.
Turn the shortlist into a preparation plan
Start with a free four-subject diagnostic, then focus practice on the skills that need attention.