Stroud High School

Stroud High School

Stroud High School 11 Plus Guide

If you’re thinking about Stroud High School for your daughter, this 2026 admissions guide provides all the key information. It outlines how to apply, what to expect from the entrance exam, and offers practical tips to help your child feel confident and well-prepared.

At a Glance

Assessment: GL Assessment

Fees Type: Free

Boarding: Day school

Admissions: Girls Only

Places per year: 150

Ofsted Rating: Outstanding

Introduction to

Stroud High School

Stroud High School is a selective grammar school for girls in Gloucestershire, known for its academic excellence and nurturing learning environment. The school combines high expectations with strong pastoral care, encouraging pupils to achieve both academically and personally.

Students are supported to develop confidence, independence and leadership skills, with impressive outcomes at GCSE and A level. The sixth form is co-educational, welcoming both boys and girls and offering a broad, inclusive community for post-16 study.

As part of the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Consortium, Stroud High uses the same 11 Plus entrance test format as other grammar schools in the area.

Stroud High School Key Information

Here, we enlist key information regarding Stroud High School including addresses and contact details, to be used by prospective students and their parents in the application and admission process.

School Address

Full Address:

Stroud High School, Beards Lane, Caincross Road
Stroud
Gloucestershire
GL5 4HF

Contact Information

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Admissions and Administration Officer Mrs Lynn Poole
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Telephone (Main Office) 01452 847111

Parking in the school

There is no parking available at Stroud High School or on Beards Lane. Instead, visitors are directed to park at Stratford Park Car Park, a short walk from the school.

Additional parking off site

  • Cainscross, Westward Road, Stroud, GL5 4JW (Opening Times: Mon-Sun All Day)
  • Cainscross St Matthews, Cainscross Street, Stroud GL5 4LH (Opening Times: Mon-Sun All Day)

Stroud High School Ofsted Report

Outstanding

Based on the inspection date:

7 and 8 November 2023

View Report
The quality of education Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding
Personal development Outstanding
Leadership and management Outstanding
Sixth-form provision Outstanding

Quick Summary

Overall rating: Outstanding across all areas, including the sixth form.

Academic strength: Pupils achieve exceptional outcomes through a challenging and well-sequenced curriculum that promotes deep understanding and independence.

Teaching and curriculum: Lessons are expertly taught, with teachers using strong subject knowledge and precise assessment to build pupils’ skills and confidence.

Behaviour and culture: Behaviour is exemplary, with a respectful, inclusive environment where pupils support one another and thrive personally and academically.

Leadership and safeguarding: Leadership is ambitious and collaborative, ensuring high-quality teaching, excellent staff development and effective safeguarding throughout the school.

Stroud High School 11+ Format

Admission to Year 7 at Stroud High School is determined by performance in the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools’ entrance test, which is administered by GL Assessment and shared across all grammar schools in the county.

Stroud High School 11+: Overview

The entrance test is made up of two multiple-choice papers that assess a range of skills. Each paper lasts approximately 45 to 50 minutes, and both are taken on the same day with a short break in between. Time is also provided before each paper to review instructions and sample questions.

Paper One

Verbal Reasoning: Tests vocabulary, comprehension and logical thinking.

Paper Two

Non-Verbal Reasoning and Mathematics: Focuses on numerical reasoning and the ability to recognise visual patterns and sequences.

The Gloucestershire Grammar Schools CEM 11+ - CEM 11 Plus Assessment Criteria

English Numerical Reasoning Verbal Reasoning Non-Verbal Reasoning Additional

Pass Mark

There is no fixed pass mark. Scores are standardised and ranked, with places offered based on the school’s published admissions criteria. Typically, pupils must achieve a score within the top 25% of entrants to be considered for a place.

Catchment Area

Stroud High School does not operate on a catchment area. However, as contained in the oversubscription criteria below, students with equal rank scores will be prioritised by distance from the school.

Additional Eligibility

Stroud High School does not operate a formal catchment area, though distance from the school may be used as a tie-breaker if there are more qualifying candidates than available places.

Places are allocated in the following order:

  1. Pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

  2. Looked-after or previously looked-after children.

  3. Students eligible for or previously in receipt of Pupil Premium or Service Pupil Premium during Year 11.

  4. Students currently attending Stroud High School.

  5. Applicants with the highest average GCSE points score across their best eight subjects graded 9–5.

For full details, refer to the official Stroud High School Admissions Policy.

Preparing for the 11 Plus Test at Stroud High School

Starting preparation early can make a real difference to your daughter’s confidence and performance in the 11 Plus. Here are some effective ways to help her prepare:

Useful Tips

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Start Early

Begin preparation in Year 4 or the start of Year 5. This allows plenty of time for steady progress without creating too much pressure.

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Use Exam Papers

Work through timed exam papers together to build familiarity with the question style and develop exam technique.

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Target Weak Areas

Keep track of their performance and focus extra time on any topics or question types they find more difficult.

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Encourage Daily Reading

A regular reading habit helps expand vocabulary, improve comprehension and boost analytical thinking – all vital for the 11 Plus.

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Make Use of Online Resources

Digital learning tools can provide personalised practice and clear feedback to make study time more effective and engaging.

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Best Chance of Success

Keeping preparation steady, organised and encouraging will help your child feel confident and well-prepared when exam day arrives.

COMING SOON

11 Plus Mock Exams in Your Area

We’re currently working on setting up a network of local test centres to offer in-person 11 Plus mock exams that closely match the format used by Stroud High School. These sessions will provide a valuable opportunity for your child to practise under real exam conditions, helping to build confidence and improve performance. Although this service isn’t available just yet, you can register your interest by completing the form below. We’ll get in touch as soon as mock exams become available in your area.

Stroud High School’s Key Dates and Application Information

Dates for open evenings and deadlines for registration are vital to keep to in the application process for Stroud High School. For this reason, we have collated key dates and deadlines to be used by prospective students and their parents.

Test Registration Opens

Monday 19th May 2025
Date passed

Registration Deadline

Friday 27th June 2025
Date passed

Entrance Examination

Saturday 13th September 2025
Date passed

Results Issued

Mid October 2025
Date passed

Common Application Form Deadline

Friday 31st October 2025
Date passed

Offer Day

Monday 2nd March 2026
100 days to go
How to Apply

Stroud High School Application Process

To apply for a Year 7 place at Stroud High School, families need to complete both the school’s registration form and the local authority’s application process.

1

Admissions Policy 2026

Make sure you read the Stroud High School Admissions Policy PDF to ensure you and your child understand the process and eligibility criteria.

View Admissions Policy
2

Entrance Test Entry Form

Register for the entrance exam through the Gloucestershire county council website. Registration usually opens in spring and closes shortly before the September test date.

Visit Council Website
3

Common Application Form (CAF)

This form must be submitted to your local authority, with Stroud High School listed as one of your preferences. The CAF deadline is 31st October 2025. Both forms must be completed, failure to submit either will result in an incomplete application.

Stroud High School FAQs

To apply, parents must register their child for the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test through the Stroud High School website. Once registration is complete, you must also submit the Common Application Form (CAF) to your local authority by 31 October, listing Stroud High as one of your preferences. Both steps are essential for the application to be valid.

The entrance test consists of two multiple-choice papers set by GL Assessment. These assess verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning. Each paper lasts about 45 to 50 minutes and both are taken on the same day with a short break in between.

Admission is highly competitive. Pupils are ranked by their standardised test scores, and typically, only those who score within the top 25% of all candidates are considered for a place. The exact qualifying score can vary each year depending on results and demand.

The school does not operate a formal catchment area, but distance from the school may be considered if there are more qualified applicants than available places. In such cases, places are allocated based on the school’s published oversubscription criteria.

Schools Nearby

7 schools found within 25 miles of Stroud


Stroud High School

Stroud High School, Beards Lane, Caincross Road, Stroud
Assessment: GL Assessment
Fees Type: Free
Boarding: Day school
Admissions: Girls Only
0.6 Miles Away View School

Marling School

Marling School, Cainscross Road, Stroud
Assessment: GL Assessment
Fees Type: Free
Boarding: Day school
Admissions: Boys Only
0.8 Miles Away View School

The Crypt School

The Crypt School, Podsmead Road, Gloucester
Assessment: GL Assessment
Fees Type: Free
Boarding: Day school
Admissions: Mixed Boys and Girls
6.6 Miles Away View School

Ribston Hall High School

Ribston Hall High School, Stroud Road, Gloucester
Assessment: GL Assessment
Fees Type: Free
Boarding: Day school
Admissions: Girls Only
7 Miles Away Very-high Competition View School

Sir Thomas Rich's School

Sir Thomas Rich’s School, Oakleaze, Gloucester
Assessment: GL Assessment
Fees Type: Free
Boarding: Day school
Admissions: Boys Only
8.8 Miles Away View School

Denmark Road High School

Denmark Road High School, Denmark Road, Gloucester
Assessment: GL Assessment
Fees Type: Free
Boarding: Day school
Admissions: Girls Only
8.8 Miles Away Very-high Competition View School

Pate's Grammar School

Pate’s Grammar School, Princess Elizabeth Way,, Cheltenham
Assessment: GL Assessment
Fees Type: Free
Boarding: Day school
Admissions: Mixed Boys and Girls
11.9 Miles Away High Competition View School