About the school
The Crypt School is a co-educational selective grammar school for pupils aged 11 to 18, located in Gloucester, Gloucestershire. Established in 1539, it is one of the oldest schools in the country and is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, with a long tradition of academic excellence, strong pastoral care and an inclusive ethos.
The Crypt School address is Podsmead, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL2 5AE. The school became an academy in 2011 and fully co-educational in 2018, having previously been a boys' school. It organises its pupils into five houses and offers a broad curriculum alongside a wide range of clubs and activities.
The Crypt School admissions are part of the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Consortium, and the school uses The Crypt School 11 plus exam, the shared Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test, to select pupils for Year 7. The school is consistently oversubscribed, which makes early, well-structured exam preparation valuable.
School type
Co-educational Grammar (Selective)
Exam date
Saturday 12 September 2026 (Gloucestershire Consortium)
Exam board
Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (GL Assessment)
Address
Podsmead, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL2 5AE
Age range
11–18 (Years 7–13)
Our tuition for The Crypt School supports pupils through Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 with structured lessons, intensive courses, full-time mock exams, and free practice papers.
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Admissions information
The Crypt School entrance test is the shared Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test. Here is everything you need to know about The Crypt School admissions and the exam structure.
The Crypt School is part of the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Consortium, which uses a shared entrance test provided by GL Assessment. A child sits one test that can be used for the county's grammar schools. Entry is on the basis of academic ability, and there is no fixed pass mark; instead, candidates are ranked by their standardised scores.
The Crypt School 11 plus exam consists of two multiple-choice papers, each lasting approximately 45 to 50 minutes and taken on the same day with a short break between them. The papers cover English and verbal reasoning in one and mathematics and non-verbal reasoning in the other, including spatial reasoning. Scores are age-standardised, and the test is sat in September of Year 6.
For The Crypt School 11 plus registration, families must complete the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools central registration form, available through the school's website during the registration window, which typically runs from late May to late June. Families must also submit their Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF), naming the school, by 31 October.
Entrance test results are sent to parents in October, ahead of the 31 October application deadline, with allocations made on National Offer Day on 1 March 2027. There is no fixed pass mark; places are allocated in rank order according to the school's admissions criteria, and meeting the qualifying standard does not guarantee a place.
Key admissions details
The Crypt School has a Published Admission Number of 150 places for Year 7, with over 1,000 pupils on roll across the school. The school is regularly oversubscribed, so performance in the entrance test combined with The Crypt School admissions criteria determines who is offered a place. Pupil Premium and looked-after children may qualify at a lower standard.
The Crypt School does not operate a catchment area, so children are not prioritised by how close they live to the school. Entry is based first on test performance; where qualifying applicants exceed places, priority follows looked-after children, Pupil Premium pupils and children of staff, with distance used only as a tie-breaker. This means The Crypt School catchment area is effectively countywide, and families from across Gloucestershire can apply.
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.
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The Crypt School was established in 1539, making it one of the oldest schools in the country. It became an academy in 2011 and fully co-educational in 2018, and today educates over 1,000 pupils aged 11 to 18, including a sixth form.
The Crypt School has a Published Admission Number of 150 places for Year 7. Demand is high and the school is regularly oversubscribed, making thorough The Crypt School exam preparation essential.
The Crypt School 11 plus is the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test. It consists of two multiple-choice papers, each around 45 to 50 minutes, covering English and verbal reasoning in one and maths and non-verbal reasoning in the other. There is no fixed pass mark, and the test is sat in September of Year 6.
The Crypt School does not operate a catchment area, so children are not prioritised by distance. Entry is based first on test performance, with distance used only as a tie-breaker, so families from across Gloucestershire can apply.
For The Crypt School 11 plus registration, families must complete the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools central registration form on the school's website, usually between late May and late June. The Common Application Form, naming the school, must be submitted to your Local Authority by 31 October.
Yes. The Crypt School offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including drama, science, athletics and engineering clubs, supported by its five-house system and a long tradition of academic and personal development.
Yes, all our The Crypt School 11 plus tuition is available both in-person at our Edgbaston, Birmingham centre and online via live video sessions. Online tuition gives families across Gloucestershire and beyond access to our expert tutors without the need to travel. The quality and personalisation of sessions is identical in both formats.
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