Stroud High 11 Plus Guide
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 Stroud High 11 Plus Exam? What kind of exam structure is it? What stores sell test papers? We’ve provided parents with a “Stroud High 11 Plus Tips” in this article that seeks to address all of your concerns.
Stroud High School
Stroud High School is an Outstanding all-girls grammar school located in Stroud, Gloucestershire. Frequently included on the nation’s league tables for the highest performing grammar schools, Stroud High School is wholly selective in admissions. This page has everything parents need to learn more about the school’s performance and admissions procedure; and information related to its 11+ entrance examination.
School details:
Address: Stroud High School. Beards Lane, Cainscross Road, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 4HF
County: Gloucestershire
Type of School: Girls’ Grammar School Academy Converter
Age range: 11-18
Ofsted rating: Outstanding (View full report)
Number of pupils: 992
Admissions to Year 7 (PAN): 150
Open day (2024 entry): June 2023
11+ exam date (2024 entry): September 2023
Exam board: CEM
Admissions phone number: 01453 764441
Admissions email address: admin@stroudhigh.gloucs.sch.uk
Brief Overview of Stroud High School and the School’s Performance
Founded as a girls’ secondary school in 1904 under the motto, “Trouthe and Honour, Fredom and Curteisye”, the present-day school, an academy, use the more modern “A learning partnership valuing respect, personal best … and a spirit of fun”. The school sits in a unique geographical location, with over 60 feeder schools from both the local area and scattered throughout the Cotswolds. Consequently, the school received many applications, thus increasing competition to secure a place in Year 7.
Another contributing factor to the high number of applications is the school’s solid academic performance. As the data below from gov.uk highlights, the School’s GCSE and A-LEVEL results exceed both the local authority and national average, in some cases by almost 100%.
Progress 8 score: 0.9: this means that, on average, pupils are likely to achieve almost an entire grade higher than expected than predictions made based on their primary school attainment. For instance, if based on your child’s KS2 SATs results, they were predicted a ‘B’ in GCSE maths, they are more likely to achieve an ‘A’ at this School.
Attainment 8 score: 75.7: Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications.
The school has a mixed sixth form, and boys are girls invited to join from both Gloucestershire and beyond. The sixth form is extensive, with over 500 students. This is because it is joint a neighbouring all-boys grammar school. Stroud High School’s Year 13 students perform very well in their A-LEVELS, with 80% of students scoring A*-B, comfortably placing it in the top 30 best performing state schools in the country on account of its impressive A-LEVEL results.
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Stroud High 11 Plus Admissions Process: 2024 Entry
The school can select the very highest talent; eligibility for admission to the school is based on candidates’ performance in the entrance exam. Please note that this is only one part of the admissions procedure, and passing the exam does not automatically guarantee admission. You can find full details on how to apply, in addition to key dates in the calendar, using the table below.
For more information, please refer to Stroud High School’s 2024 Admissions Policy.
Stroud High 11 Plus Exam
Like the other grammar schools in Gloucestershire, Stroud High School uses the CEM (Durham University) assessment as its 11 plus test provider. The CEM assessment is a more challenging 11 plus exam, as the questions vary each year, and there are significant time limitations. Candidates can expect to sit two 45-minute test papers (each with 15 mins allocated for practice questions), assessing verbal-reasoning, numerical, and non-verbal reasoning. Please note that CEM bases its exam questions on the style candidates will already be familiar with from their KS2 new national curriculum studies.
There is no pre-determined pass mark for this entrance exam; scores are standardised based on the performance of all candidates combined. For more information on preparing for the 11 plus exam, please refer to 11+ Exam, Our Top 10 Tips to Pass.
Most parents begin preparing their child for the 11 plus exam once they start Year 4, but with that said, there is no right or wrong time to start preparing. If your child will be sitting the 11 plus exam this September, this 11 Plus Guide: Six Month Countdown is a helpful resource for parents who may feel they have left things a little late.
Stroud High 11 Plus Exam Sample Test Papers and Resources
Sample or familiarisation papers are practical resources that can help Stroud High 11 Plus exam candidates feel more at ease when it comes to the test day. It is important to note that CEM purposely chooses not to publish past papers so that candidates do not rigorously practice in advance. CEM also believe that this makes the 11 plus exam fairer for all candidates. However, CEM does provide one set of familiarisation papers to schools each year.
Many parents believe that utilising these papers and more general mock tests can help their child better prepare. Because of the high number of questions that require answering in a relatively short timeframe, candidates are often unable to complete the test. For example, one past CEM test only gave pupils 15 minutes to answer 25 maths questions and 15 minutes to answer 60 verbal reasoning questions.
Therefore, we’ve included the official familiarisation papers for the 2023 CEM 11 plus entrance exam below (the same documents are available from the Stroud High School website). You will also find additional practice materials.
Official Familiarisation Papers for 2024 Entry
Comprehension Familiarisation Sheet 2024 Entry
Maths Familiarisation Sheet 2024 Entry
Non-verbal Reasoning Familiarisation Sheet 2024 Entry
Word Choice Familiarisation Sheet 2024 Entry
Additional Resources
Free CEM assessment maths papers:
Free CEM assessment English and verbal reasoning papers:
Free CEM assessment non-verbal reasoning papers:
Free CEM assessment general papers:
Additional Information about Stroud High School
The School’s website states that the curriculum on offer is both “broad and balanced”, and girls will learn a wide variety of subjects in both Key Stage 3 and 4. 50% of students learn a musical instrument, with many showcasing their talents during both radio and television performances! The school also encourages drama activities through plays, complete with trips to the theatre. For those students with an artistic flair, there are several art-related activities to enjoy. Students can choose to work with local artists, participate in photography competitions, and more!
There are also many language exchanges to France, Germany, Spain, and exciting trips abroad, such as the European Parliament in Strasbourg and even as far away as Myanmar!
Stroud High School’s Parent FAQs
What is the School’s Ofsted rating?
The school’s current Ofsted rating is ‘Outstanding’. You can access the full report here.
Is Stroud High School fee paid?
This school is a selective grammar school and is non-fee paying.
Where is the catchment area for Stroud High School?
This school does not have a catchment area.
What score do 11+ candidates need to achieve to receive an offer for admission?
There is no pre-determined pass mark. The score will be standardised once all candidates have taken the exam.
What if too many candidates apply?
In this instance, the oversubscription criteria will apply. Please refer to the 2024 Admissions Policy.
What is the Stroud High School appeals process?
The following is from the 2024 Admissions Policy: “There is a system of appeals against non-admission, and details of how to lodge a request for an appeal will be issued when places are offered. It is the school’s policy to accept only one appeal application for each student in an academic year unless there is a significant change of circumstances relevant to the application.” You can read more information about appeals here.
Stroud High School’s Uniform
Full details on the school uniform are here.
Where can I view GCSE and A-LEVEL results in further detail?
The school’s website has not published exam results, but information about school exams is available here.
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 2023
Meet the 11+ Online Tutors Delivering Results
When Should you Start to Prepare Your Child for the 11 Plus Exam