Thousands of Gloucestershire families preparing for grammar school entry will face a new-look entrance exam after the county’s seven selective schools switched providers and moved the test to an earlier date — a change headteachers say will make selection fairer for children from all backgrounds.
What Is Changing
The seven Gloucestershire Grammar Schools — known collectively as the G7 — have appointed Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE) as their new admissions test provider, replacing the long-standing GL Assessment. The arrangement takes effect from summer 2027, with the first cohort entering Year 7 under the new system in September 2028.
The most significant practical change is the timing: children will now sit the 11-plus at the end of Year 5, during the summer term, rather than at the start of Year 6 in September. Around 2,500 children sit the Gloucestershire grammar school entrance test each year, and a single test result is shared across all seven schools so families do not need to sit multiple exams.
The new test format will include two English and maths papers alongside one broader paper covering subjects such as art, science, history and geography — and will drop the non-verbal reasoning sections, including coding, shapes and pattern-spotting, that critics say disproportionately reward children who receive intensive private tutoring.
Cheltenham School’s Headteacher Backs the Overhaul
Dr James Richardson, headteacher of Pate’s Grammar School in Cheltenham — widely regarded as one of the highest-performing state schools in the country — welcomed the move, saying it will allow “fairer and more accessible testing.”
“Our statement of intent is clear: children attending our local primary schools, regardless of background, should feel Pate’s Grammar School is a welcoming and achievable option for their secondary schooling,” Dr Richardson said.
He added that moving the test to summer term of Year 5 creates a “level playing field” for pupils who cannot afford specialist coaching over the summer holidays, which typically separates children who receive tutoring from those who do not. By basing the new test on the national curriculum — particularly English and maths — the schools aim to reward what children learn in ordinary lessons rather than test-specific preparation.
Mixed Reaction From Parents and Tutors
Not everyone has welcomed the changes without reservation. Artem Marie-Magdeleine, a parent whose child is sitting the exam under the new July format, said they felt “a bit left in the dark.” Their main concern was that without enough familiarisation materials, children might feel “lost” on the day.
Local private tutor Adam Rush, who helps pupils prepare for the 11-plus, said the date change is broadly positive — children can be “sluggish” returning from summer holidays and struggle to focus for a September test — but acknowledged that this year’s cohort has had less lead time to adapt to the new format.
“The old format required children to learn skills specifically to pass the exam but wouldn’t be much use once they had done so,” Rush explained. “The new format is more in line with asking children to apply the knowledge they have learned in school.”
Background: Gloucestershire’s Grammar School System
Gloucestershire is one of the few remaining fully selective counties in England, with grammar school places highly sought-after across Cheltenham, Gloucester and Stroud. The G7 schools — Pate’s Grammar in Cheltenham, The Crypt School, Denmark Road High School, Ribston Hall High School and Sir Thomas Rich’s School in Gloucester, and Stroud High School and Marling School in Stroud — operate a coordinated admissions test, meaning a single sitting unlocks consideration for all seven.
The shared system, which processes registrations for approximately 3,000 children annually, has been criticised in recent years for favouring children whose families can afford tutoring. FSCE, the new provider, says it designs assessments to “identify true potential, not just prior advantage” and actively discourages intensive preparation.
What Happens Next
Full details of the new test specifications are expected to be published by the grammar schools and FSCE in the coming months, with familiarisation materials made available to families ahead of the 2027 test sitting. Schools have stressed the transition will be managed carefully to ensure a “secure and smooth” switch from the current provider.
For families with children currently in Year 4, the new arrangements will apply. Those with children in Year 5 or above and targeting 2027 Year 7 entry will sit the existing September 2026 test under the current format. Further guidance is available on individual school websites.
This is a developing story and further details on the new test specifications are expected to be released later this year.
