About the school
Marling School is a selective boys’ grammar school in Stroud, Gloucestershire, with a co-educational sixth form. It is an academy and serves pupils from Year 7 upwards, combining a long-standing reputation for academic achievement with a strong focus on student wellbeing.
Marling School encourages pupils to aim high in their studies while developing skills beyond the classroom, with a strong emphasis on creativity, leadership and teamwork through sport, music, drama and clubs. The sixth form is co-educational and offers a wide range of A level choices.
Marling School is part of the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Consortium and selects pupils through the shared Gloucestershire Grammar Schools’ Entrance Test for Year 7 entry. The school has around 150 places available in Year 7.
School type
Boys' Grammar (co-ed Sixth Form)
Exam date
Saturday 12 September 2026 (Gloucestershire Consortium)
Exam board
GL Assessment (Glos. Consortium)
Address
Cainscross Road, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 4HE
Age range
11–18 (Years 7–13)
Our Marling School 11 plus tuition supports pupils through Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 with structured lessons, intensive courses, full-time mock exams, and free practice papers
Year 3 Preparation
Foundational Skills for Success
Year 4 Preparation
Building Confidence and Competence
Year 5 Preparation
Intensive Exam Practice and Strategy
Year 6 Preparation
Path to Success
Intensive Course
Accelerated 11+ Revision and Mock Testing
Free Practice Paper
Gain a real insight to the exam
Mock Exams
Book Now
Admissions information
The Marling School entrance test is the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools’ Entrance Test, shared across the county’s grammar schools. Here is everything you need to know about the Marling School admissions criteria and exam structure.
Marling School belongs to the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Consortium and selects pupils on academic ability through the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools’ Entrance Test. The test is provided by GL Assessment and consists of two multiple-choice papers taken on the same day, with a short break in between. One paper covers verbal skills and the other covers non-verbal reasoning and mathematics.
Each of the two papers lasts around an hour, with about 45 minutes of actual testing time after instructions and worked examples. The verbal paper assesses comprehension, vocabulary and verbal reasoning, while the second paper assesses non-verbal reasoning and mathematics. There is no fixed pass mark; scores are standardised for age and pupils are ranked, with roughly the top 25 per cent reaching the qualifying standard.
Parents register their child for the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools’ Entrance Test online through any of the Gloucestershire grammar schools’ websites. For September 2027 entry, registration is open from noon on Monday 18 May 2026 to noon on Friday 26 June 2026. Parents must also name Marling School on their local authority Common Application Form, which is due by the 31st October.
Test results are emailed to parents in mid-October, after which families confirm their secondary school preferences through their local authority. National Allocation Day is in early March. There is no fixed pass mark, as places are allocated by rank order of standardised score against each school’s qualifying standard, so qualifying does not guarantee a place.
Key admissions details
Marling School has around 150 places available in Year 7 each year.
Marling School does not operate a catchment area, and entry is based first on performance in the entrance test. Where qualifying applicants exceed the places available, priority is given after looked-after children, siblings and pupil premium pupils, with straight-line distance from home to the school used as a tie-break.
Our tutors know the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools’ Entrance Test format inside out. Book a free assessment today and let us build a personalised preparation plan for your child starting wherever they are right now.
Hi-Tech Learning Platform
Subject Specialist Tutors
Live & Recorded Lessons
1-to-1 Live Classes
3 Lessons Per Week
GL Assessment Curriculum
Regular Homework
Real-Time Results
Weekly Assessments
Regular Feedback Reports
Unlimited Mock Practice
Exam Technique Coaching
In-Person & Online
Great Parent Support
Affordable Tuition Plans
“Jag is a profound tutor with excellent teaching skills and infectious sense of humor. He uses these skills to engage and motivate with students to achieve their full potential. My daughter was enrolled with Jag for 7 months in preparation for her 11 plus exam and she passed brilliantly!”
Jade
Parent
“I wanted to boost my English grade… they connected closely with parents, which kept me motivated and on track.”
Ayva
Student
“I decided to give Pass 11 Plus Grammar a try as it was cheaper than other services I had tried before. I ended up getting an A grade — great value for money.”
Yousif
Student
“I attended the course in June and finally felt satisfied after trying several tutoring services.”
Aurora
Student
“Strongly recommend 11+ Plus Grammar Preparation Success. It helped me reach my full potential and pass my exam. The support and resources from the tutor are excellent.”
Jovan
Student
“I wanted to boost my English grade, so I enrolled in Pass 11 Plus Grammar. It was a great investment and I got a grade much better than I imagined. Their regular contact with parents kept me motivated.”
Jennifer
Student
Marling School is located on Cainscross Road in Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 4HE. It is a selective boys’ grammar school with a co-educational sixth form, and is an academy within the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Consortium.
Marling School has around 150 places available in Year 7 each year. Entry is competitive and places are allocated by rank order of standardised score, making thorough 11 plus preparation essential.
Marling School uses the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools’ Entrance Test, provided by GL Assessment. It consists of two multiple-choice papers taken on the same day, one covering verbal skills and the other covering non-verbal reasoning and mathematics.
Marling School does not operate a catchment area, so entry is based first on performance in the entrance test. Straight-line distance from home to the school is used as a tie-break when there are more qualifying applicants than places.
For September 2027 entry, registration for the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools’ Entrance Test is open from noon on Monday 18 May 2026 to noon on Friday 26 June 2026, through the grammar schools’ websites. The Common Application Form is due to the local authority by the 31st October.
Yes. Marling School is part of the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Consortium, so a single sitting of the shared Entrance Test can be used to apply to more than one of the county’s grammar schools, provided you ask for the score to be shared with them.
Yes, all our tuition is available both in-person at our Edgbaston, Birmingham centre and online via live video sessions. Online tuition gives families across Gloucestershire and the wider region access to our expert tutors without the need to travel. The quality and personalisation of sessions is identical in both formats.
Other grammar schools
We prepare children for grammar school entry across Northern Ireland and the wider UK. Explore other schools or browse all locations.
Loading schools…
Book a free assessment and get a personalised GL Assessment preparation plan for your child.