Queen Mary’s Grammar 11 Plus
It might be difficult to find your way around the 11 Plus the first time as a parent. How do you aid your kid in getting ready for the Queen Mary’s Grammar 11 Plus Exam? What kind of exam structure is it? What stores sell test papers? We’ve provided parents with a “Queen Mary’s Grammar 11 Plus Tips” in this article that seeks to address all of your concerns.
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Queen Mary’s Grammar School, Walsall
School introduction
Queen Mary’s Grammar School is a grammar school for boys in Walsall in the West Midlands. The school has a coeducational Sixth Form, and a total of 1100 pupils aged 11 to 18.
Queen Mary’s Grammar School is an academy, meaning it has more control over its curriculum than most schools. The school specialises in languages, and was one of the first schools in the UK to offer Mandarin. It also organises a range of international trips each year. The school runs a space project entitled Project Horizon, which sends a balloon with cameras and other hardware on a journey to the stratosphere each year.
One of the oldest schools in the country, Queen Mary’s Grammar School was founded in 1554 by Queen Mary I. Since then it has moved three times, moving to its current site in the Mayfield area of Walsall in 1965. Most recently the school opened a new sixth form block and a set of new laboratories in the Science Block. The school owns a Welsh Centre in Snowdonia, which all pupils visit in Year 7. Field trips are also made there in later years.
The school has a close relationship with Queen Mary’s High School, a girls’ grammar school in Walsall; the two schools put on plays and musical performances together. The school has a range of choirs and musical ensembles. In sports, Queen Mary’s Grammar School is particularly strong in hockey but also has teams and clubs for a range of other sports. Sports facilities include a recently opened sports hall and a swimming pool. In more academic pursuits the school has done well in national maths and quizzing competitions for many years.
School performance
In 2019 at GCSE level, 77% of entries at Queen Mary’s Grammar School achieved a mark from 7 to 9, with nearly 90% of results in maths and science a 7 or better. 98% of pupils achieved 9-4 in at least five subjects.
The school’s Progress 8 score was 0.76, meaning that pupils achieve, on average, more than three quarters of a grade higher per subject in their GCSE examinations than other pupils with the same prior attainment.
At A-level in 2019 62% of grades were at A*-B, and the pass rate was 99%. 21 students achieved A* or A in all of their subjects, and three students attained Oxbridge places.
Queen Mary’s Grammar School has an Outstanding Ofsted rating.
In 2022, The Year 11 cohort of 2022 produced an exceptional set of GCSE results, of which we are very proud. 77% of all entries were graded at 7-9, with 56% at 8/9. Just under 90% of all results in maths and science were a 7 or better. In A levels, 72% of grades at A* / A / B, 49% of grades at A*/A, 99% pass rate, Average grade of A- across all academic entries, 65 candidates achieved A*/A grades in all of their subjects, 37 students achieved at least 2 A* grades, with 18 achieving 3 or more A*s, 7 students have been successful in attaining Oxbridge places.
Queen Mary’s Grammar 11 Plus Admissions information
Queen Mary’s Grammar School admits 180 boys into Year 7 each year. In order to gain a place, applicants must sit and pass an 11+ exam. Parents must register their child for the exam in the summer of Year 5, and the test itself is taken in September. Parents must also name Queen Mary’s Grammar School as one of their choices on their Common Application Form and submit it to their Local Authority.
The school is heavily oversubscribed, and not all boys who pass the 11+ exam can be offered a place. Priority is given to looked after children and children who qualify for Pupil Premium. Remaining places are offered in order of 11+ test score. No priority is given to applicants based on where they live. Full details are available on the school website.
Queen Mary’s Grammar 11 Plus 2024 Admissions timetable
| 25th April 2023 | Open Day |
| 27th April 2023 | 11+ registration opens |
| 12th June 2023 | 11+ registration closes |
| 16th September 2023 | 11+ Exam Date |
| 31 October 2023 | Common Application Form (CAF) deadline |
| 1 March 2024 | National Offer Day |
Queen Mary’s Grammar 11 Plus Examination 2024
Queen Mary’s Grammar School is part of a consortium of grammar schools in Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton that use the same 11+ exam. The exam is produced by exam providers CEM.
The 11+ exam, known as the Entrance Test, comprises two papers of about an hour each. They assess Verbal Reasoning, English, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Mathematics. The two papers are taken on the same day, with a break between them. Each paper comprises several individually timed sections and candidates will be told how much time they have for each section before that section begins. All questions are multiple-choice. Test scores are standardised based on the applicant’s age.
Queen Mary’s Grammar 11 Plus Sample test papers
The consortium of grammar schools in Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton has published a familiarisation paper, which is available on the school website.
CEM, the exam provider, has also published familiarisation booklets for the maths and non-verbal reasoning parts of the exam. For the verbal reasoning component they have produced separate familiarisation booklets for comprehension questions and word choice questions.
Think Academy UK has compiled a guide to the CEM Assessment, which includes a great range of free resources and sample test papers.
Additional information
- Location: Queen Mary’s Grammar School is located about a mile from the centre of Walsall, a large market town 9 miles north-west of Birmingham. The school sits in a suburban environment, next to its sizeable playing fields.
- House system: Queen Mary’s Grammar School operates a system of four houses.
Frequently asked questions
Does Queen Mary’s Grammar School have a catchment area?
No, Queen Mary’s Grammar School has no catchment area.
Share your experience!
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You can also access further 11 plus exam resources below:
A Guide to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning Tests
Best Private Schools in the UK: Top 100 in 2022
11+ Maths Exam: Helping Your Child to Prepare and Pass in 2021
Meet the 11+ Online Tutors Delivering Results
When Should you Start to Prepare Your Child for the 11 Plus Exam
King Edward Five Ways 11 Plus Exam