Dorset grammar schools admissions timeline

Read to your child daily and build early numeracy through counting, puzzles and games.

Apply for a primary school place (deadline: January before your child starts Reception).

Some free childcare may be available, check gov.uk/find-free-early-education.

No applications at this stage.

Begin researching the four Dorset Consortium grammar schools: Bournemouth School, Bournemouth School for Girls, Parkstone Grammar School, and Poole Grammar School. Note that three of the four are single-sex — check which schools are relevant for your child.

Look up Ofsted reports at reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Be aware that some schools have defined catchment areas (Poole Grammar, for example, prioritises applicants from the Poole Grammar SchoolBorough of Poole and specific BH postcodes), so checking eligibility early is worthwhile.

Attend school open days.

Begin light skill-building with age-appropriate GL Assessment materials. CGP and Bond books (age 8–9) are well suited to this stage.

The Dorset test covers English, Mathematics, and Verbal Reasoning, all via GL Assessment. A general KS2 primary tutor can support the curriculum.

Consider beginning specialist 11+ tuition, gently. Once a fortnight is appropriate at this stage.

Use GL Assessment-focused materials (CGP or Bond, age 9–10). Online platforms such as Atom Learning are useful supplements and are partnered with several of the Dorset schools. If your child requires access arrangements (extra time, enlarged print, etc.), begin a conversation with their school SENCO now, well before Year 5 registration opens.

Registration for the entrance test opens in mid-April of Year 5. For the 2027 entry cycle, registration opened on Monday 13 April 2026. You can register via the admissions page of any of the four consortium schools . You do not need to register separately with each. All parents must register; there is no automatic enrolment. If your child requires access arrangements for the test, an Access Arrangements Application Form opens at the same time as registration.

Attend grammar school open evenings. These typically take place in the summer term of Year 5 (Parkstone Grammar’s 2026 open evening, for example, was held in July). Increase tuition to weekly sessions. Keep reading every day.

Consider a mock test in the Summer Term before Year 6 begins, as this is the last full term of preparation before the real exam. Use timed practice papers to build familiarity with the three-paper format and the GL Assessment multiple-choice style.

Registration closes at midday on Friday 4 September 2026 for the 2027 entry cycle. This is the hard deadline, and late registrations are only accepted in exceptional circumstances (illness, bereavement, or a recent move to the area), for which evidence is required. Do not leave registration until September; the preferred deadline is well before this point.

Final tuition sessions should focus on exam technique, timing, and confidence. Your child should be comfortable working through the three papers (English 45 min, Mathematics 50 min, Verbal Reasoning 50 min) in sequence with short breaks.

The Dorset Consortium entrance test takes place on Saturday 26 September 2026. All four schools use the same three papers on the same day. Your child sits the test at the school with which you registered, but the result is shared across all four consortium schools, so one test covers applications to all of them. Test details (location, time, what to bring) are emailed to registered families in advance.

The test consists of three multiple-choice GL Assessment papers: English (45 minutes), Mathematics (50 minutes), and Verbal Reasoning (50 minutes). All answers are recorded on pre-printed answer sheets marked electronically. Scores are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged.

Results are emailed to parents in mid-October. For the 2026 entry cycle this was 10 October; the equivalent date for 2027 entry is expected to be similar. Results confirm whether your child is eligible or ineligible for a place at each consortium school. There is no fixed pass mark: the consortium sets a qualifying score each year based on the ranked list of standardised scores. Being deemed eligible does not guarantee a place; the schools are typically oversubscribed, and places are then allocated using each school’s individual oversubscription criteria.

Common Application Form (CAF) deadline: 31 October. Submit to your home local authority: BCP Council (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) if you live in that area, or your own local authority if you live elsewhere. Name each preferred Dorset grammar school on the form in order of preference. Passing the test alone is not sufficient; you must also complete the CAF. Include at least one non-selective school as a safeguard.

National Offer Day is on or around 1 March. School allocations confirmed by your home local authority. If your preferred school is not offered, you have the right to appeal via an independent panel.