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Ribston Hall High School 11+ entrance test
Ribston Hall High School is a girls’ state grammar school in Gloucester for ages 11 to 18. Children applying for a Year 7 place sit the Gloucestershire 11+ test (FSCE format). This page explains that test and how to prepare. Admission rules change, so always check the school’s own admissions policy.
School at a glance
- School
- Girls’ state grammar school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Area
- Gloucester (Gloucestershire)
- Website
- www.ribstonhall.gloucs.sch.uk
Source: Get Information about Schools (Department for Education), read 1 November 2026. NITU is not connected with the school.
The test
What we know about the Gloucestershire 11+ test (FSCE format). Each detail is labelled with where it comes from.
- Published
- Paper names Adventure, Beacon and Compass; cross-curricular content up to the end of Year 5; multiple-choice papers answered by shading ovals in black pen; a short-answer paper with one digit or one capital letter per box; no penalty for wrong answers; instructions given by audio. These follow the FSCE candidate guide.
- Reported
- Gloucestershire’s 2028-entry test is planned for Saturday 3 July 2027, in the summer term of Year 5, with registration from noon on 8 February to noon on 19 March 2027. It has three papers of 45 to 60 minutes each.
- Reported
- Scores are age-standardised, with rank-order qualifying.
- Not published
- Question counts, about 45 minutes per paper, four answer options per question and the mix of subjects in Compass. These are not published.
- Not published
- The FSCE guide also describes a fourth, creative paper; whether Gloucestershire schools use it is unconfirmed, and sources disagree on three or four papers.
The FSCE guide describes a creative-writing paper (Discovery), but whether Gloucestershire schools use it is unconfirmed.
Check with each school’s website before relying on any detail.
Other schools that use this test
- Denmark Road High School, Gloucester
- Marling School, Stroud
- Pate’s Grammar School, Cheltenham
- Sir Thomas Rich’s School, Gloucester
- Stroud High School, Stroud
- The Crypt School, Gloucester
How to prepare
- Practise filling in a separate answer sheet, so marking the right box becomes automatic and no time is lost on test day.
- Practise writing answers in full, showing working in maths and using evidence from the text in English: marks are given for method and explanation, not just the final answer.
- Sit full mock tests under timed conditions only every week or two, and spend the time in between on the question types that cost marks.
Read our full guide to this test.
Practice papers for this test
Original mock papers based on the published format, with answers explained. Every option has a free sample.
Four full mock tests in the Adventure, Beacon and Compass format, with a parent guide.
Four more full mock tests in the same format as Set 1, with new questions throughout, answer sheets, answers and the parent guide.
A revision handbook for the Gloucestershire (FSCE format): 53 lessons teaching the methods for maths and English, with worked examples, practice questions, must-know lists and a 12-week plan.
Everything for this test in one download: Set 1 and Set 2 (eight full mock tests) and the revision handbook. £39.97 if bought separately.
Questions parents ask
Which 11+ test does Ribston Hall High School use?
Children applying for a Year 7 place sit the Gloucestershire 11+ test (FSCE format). Arrangements can change from year to year, so check the school’s admissions policy.
Is Ribston Hall High School a boys’, girls’ or mixed school?
The Department for Education’s register lists it as a girls’ school for ages 11 to 18. It has a sixth form. Some schools admit other pupils into the sixth form, so check the school’s website.
Does a good test score guarantee a place?
No. A test score on its own does not guarantee a place. Places are offered under the school’s admission rules, which can include a qualifying score, distance or other criteria. Read the school’s admissions policy for the year you are applying.
Are your papers produced by the school?
No. NITU is independent. Our papers are original practice material based on the published format of the test; they are not produced or endorsed by Ribston Hall High School or any test provider.
Sources: check these yourself
The facts on this page come from these official pages. Use them to check anything before you rely on it.
- Department for Education register: Ribston Hall High School
- Ribston Hall High School: school website
- Gloucestershire County Council: grammar schools
Links checked in November 2026. Schools and councils update their pages each year, and the school’s current admissions policy always comes first.