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The grammar schools in Gloucestershire are delighted to be working with the Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE) to provide the entrance test to be completed in July 2027 for entry in September 2028.

What will be in the test?

The test is designed to align closely with the work students experience in their primary schools. Maths and English form the main part of the assessment, so preparation can focus on developing the maths skills they are learning in school, along with reading a wide and exciting range of books across different genres.
The test has been developed alongside primary school experts, ensuring there are no surprises or the need for specialist preparation beyond the core curriculum.
As part of the assessment, there will also be an opportunity for young people to demonstrate their passion for learning through the lens of the foundation subjects studied at primary school. No specific prior knowledge is required, but the topics are designed to engage and interest those taking the test.
To support this, activities such as visiting museums, exploring new genres of books, and applying mathematical learning to everyday life can all be valuable ways to prepare.
All grammar schools in Gloucestershire will provide familiarisation materials on their websites from the end of September.

Registration for the September 2026 Entrance Test is now closed

The registration deadline for the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools' Entrance Test (September 2026) has now passed.

If you missed the registration deadline, a Late Test will be held in January 2027. If you would like your child to be considered for The Crypt School, please email admissions@crypt.gloucs.sch.uk to register your interest. Please note that the Late Test gives your child an opportunity to join the waiting list for your chosen grammar school(s). They will not be able to be offered a grammar school place on National Allocation Day.

Please check our website during December 2026 and January 2027 for the final Late Test arrangements and registration details.

For further information, please see our Late Test Guidance.

ENTRANCE TEST

The test assesses students’ verbal and non-verbal abilities, English skills and mathematics, and is provided by GL Assessment. 

All questions are multiple choice style questions.

In one paper, students will be tested on their verbal skills (including comprehension, vocabulary and verbal reasoning).

The other test paper assesses non-verbal reasoning and mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding. 

Each test session will take around an hour. 

At the beginning of each session there is time built in for the sharing of instructions and, for the non-verbal reasoning element, some worked examples. Students are allocated a total of 45 minutes to complete the tests themselves.

GL Assessment is the largest independent provider of educational assessments in the UK, also providing assessment materials to schools in over 100 countries worldwide.  They have been developing selection assessments for over 40 years and provide tests to the majority of grammar schools in the country.  GL Assessment works hard to develop its material such that all children are able to demonstrate their levels of attainment and academic potential without excessive preparation. 

There are free downloadable familiarisation materials produced by GL Assessment available via link on this page. 

TEST DAY

The entrance test will take place on the morning of Saturday, 12th September 2026

RESULTS

Parents/carers will be informed of their child’s result by email in mid October. Results will be sent home before parents/carers have to make a decision on which schools to put on their Local Authority Common Application (Preference) Form.  If parents/ carers have elected (on the Grammar School Registration Form) to share their child’s result with more than one school, a separate result email or letter will be sent from each school.  

The late entrance test was sat on Saturday 31st January.  Results of the late test will be emailed to parents on Monday 2nd March.  If a child has achieved a qualifying ranking, they can request, via the Local Authority, to go on the school's waiting list.  

Details on how to appeal are available on a tab to the right of this page.  

Information on the Entrance Test

The test assesses students’ verbal and non-verbal abilities, English skills and mathematics, and is provided by GL Assessment. 

All questions are multiple-choice style questions.

In one paper, students will be tested on their verbal skills (including comprehension, vocabulary and verbal reasoning).

The other test paper assesses non-verbal reasoning and mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding. 

Each test session will take around an hour. 

At the beginning of each session there is time built in for the sharing of instructions and, for the non-verbal reasoning element, some worked examples. Students are allocated a total of 45 minutes to complete the tests themselves.

GL Assessment is the largest independent provider of educational assessments in the UK, also providing assessment materials to schools in over 100 countries worldwide.  They have been developing selection assessments for over 40 years and provide tests to the majority of grammar schools in the country.  GL Assessment works hard to develop its material such that all children are able to demonstrate their levels of attainment and academic potential without excessive preparation. 

Familiarisation materials are available on the GL Assessment website via this link.

Please note that since 11+ tests vary from one area to another, the free familiarisation materials are generic and may differ from your own test's exact specifications. These differences may include the length of papers, the types of questions covered, and/or the level of difficulty.
 

Free Pupil Premium 11+ Familiarisation and KS2 Support

The Grammar Schools of Gloucestershire are committed to widening access through an extensive programme of outreach and support.

For the 11+ test, there are several providers offering familiarisation materials; accessing resources of this kind is a good way to familiarise children with the style of questions they may be asked in the 11+ and help build confidence ahead of their test.

We work with Atom Learning, an online 11+ preparation and Key Stage 2 learning platform, to provide children who are eligible for Pupil Premium with free familiarisation materials, including learning resources and practice questions covering English, Maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, along with mock tests.

If your child has been eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years, please fill in the request form by clicking the button below; you will be given free access to Atom Home when your child’s Pupil Premium status has been verified by their primary school.
Access Free 11+ Familiarisation Materials

There are currently no places available at The Crypt School

Places arise only when the total number of students in a particular year group falls below our Published Admission Number (PAN). This happens very rarely and, as a result, it is highly unlikely that a place will become available.

We operate an in-year admissions process but, as a selective grammar school, applicants are required to sit an entrance assessment. If you wish to apply despite there being no current places available, please complete and return the In-Year Application Form, together with proof of your child's date of birth and proof of your current address, by emailing them to admissions@crypt.gloucs.sch.uk. The "In-year application form" and further information about applying for an in year school place in Gloucestershire can be found here. 

We are unable to process your application until we have received the completed local authority In-year application form and both supporting documents. We will respond to all complete applications within 15 school days.

As the school is currently full in all year groups, at this time an application will be refused under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 on the grounds that admitting an additional pupil would prejudice the provision of efficient education and the efficient use of resources.

The in-year assessment consists of CAT4 (Cognitive Abilities Test) and an English Language paper. These assessments take place in October, February and May and are used to determine whether a child meets the qualifying standard for the school. Although a child may reach the qualifying standard, a place, at the moment, will be refused. Following the refusal of a place, you do have the legal right to submit an independent appeal. If your child achieves the qualifying standard, you may also request that they are placed on the waiting list.

Many students join the school in Year 12 from other local schools and colleges and they find a welcoming and supportive environment.  Students new to the school quickly establish themselves making friends with our existing students who joined Year 12 from Year 11.  

The entrance requirements for our Sixth Form in September 2026 are as follows:

• minimum point score of 48 across a student's best eight GCSE results.  The point value for each of the eight grades are derived from the numerical results of the GCSE.  For example, 9=9, 8=8, etc.
• Grade 5 or above in Mathematics and English Language GCSE
• In all subjects a minimum of a grade 6 at GCSE is required to study the subject at A Level.  Access to certain courses will require a higher minimum level of entry (see Sixth Form Information booklet).
• A minimum of 3 A levels must be studied.

Although not a condition of entry (which is always based on 48 points from best eight GCSE results as set out above), where a students wishes to study an additional (4th) A level, in order to do so they will be required to have achieved a minimum 58 points from their best eight GCSE results. 

For most A Level courses it is advisable to have studied the same or a related course at GCSE. You should not take more than two completely ‘new’ A Level subjects – i.e. ones that you have not studied at GCSE.

Option Blocks for 2026 Entry: 

On line application for Sixth Form 2026 entry is now live -  SIXTH FORM APPLICATION