Summary
Parents hoping to secure a grammar school place in Gloucestershire for children starting Year 7 in September 2027 have been given the latest entrance test timetable, with a warning that passing the test does not automatically secure a place.
What has changed
Gloucestershire County Council says the registration window for the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools’ Entrance Test will open at noon on 18 May 2026 and close at noon on 26 June 2026.
The entrance test is planned to take place on Saturday 12 September 2026.
The council says the entrance test is administered by the grammar schools themselves, meaning parents and carers must contact the schools directly with questions about registration, test arrangements and results.
However, council guidance also makes clear that achieving a qualifying score is only one part of the admissions process.
Parents must still list their chosen grammar school or schools on their secondary school application form by 31 October 2026. If a grammar school is not named on that form, a child will not be offered a place there, even if they have achieved a qualifying score.
In Cheltenham, the grammar school listed on the county council’s page is Pate’s Grammar School. The remaining grammar schools are in Gloucester and Stroud.
Key dates for parents
- 18 May 2026, noon – registration opens
- 26 June 2026, noon – registration closes
- 12 September 2026 – planned entrance test date
- 31 October 2026 – deadline to submit secondary school applications