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Marling School 11+ Guide 2026

Choosing a grammar school is an important step in your child's education. This independent guide by Rurera explains how entry to Marling School works, what the 11+ assessment involves. In addition, it provides students with structured practice, expert guidance, and progress tracking to improve exam readiness.

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Marling School 11+ Guide 2026

60-SECOND SUMMERY

  1. Type: Marling School is a selective Boys Only in Gloucestershire with 150 places per year.
  2. Exam: Admission is based on the 11+ covering No, No, and No.
  3. Registration: Opens Sunday, 17 May 2026 and closes Thursday, 25 June 2026.
  4. Catchment: No areas may get priority for admission (check the admissions policy).
  5. Offers: Depend on scores and oversubscription rules.
  6. Test date: Friday, 11 September 2026; results: Monday, 9 February 2026.
  7. CAF deadline: Submit school preferences by Thursday, 30 October 2025 through the CAF system.
  8. Preparation: Rurera provides mock tests, practice papers, and progress tracking.
  9. Ofsted: Rated Good on Tuesday, 19 November 2024.
  10. Tip: Start early to build confidence and reduce exam stress.

Marling School Overview

Marling School is a selective boys' grammar school in Stroud, Gloucestershire, for ages 11-18, known for strong academics and student wellbeing. It offers a broad curriculum with extensive extracurricular opportunities, including sports, arts, and leadership development. Rated Good by Ofsted in 2024, it uses the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools 11 Plus test for admissions.

Local authority
Gloucestershire
Catchment area
No
Fees
State-funded
School type
Day School
Types
Boys Only
Places per year
150
Ofsted rating
Good
Admission type
High
Exam format
GL Assessment

Grammar Schools in Same Consortium

Marling School Contact Information

School address

Marling School

Cainscross Rd, Stroud GL5 4HE, United Kingdom

Key Dates for Your Calendar

Keeping track of admission dates and deadlines can be challenging. The timeline below highlights the key milestones to help you plan ahead and ensure nothing is missed.

  • Registration window opens:
  • Registration window closes:
  • 11+ assessment takes place:
  • Results shared with parents:
  • Kent Test (Out-of-County Schools):
  • Application deadline (CAF):
  • National offer day:

Marling School Admissions Process

Applying to Marling School for Year 7 is a clear, step-by-step process. Following each stage carefully ensures your child's application is complete and considered on time. Being familiar with the process helps parents plan ahead and avoid missing key deadlines.

Admissions Policy 2026

It is important to read the Marling School Admissions Policy PDF carefully. The document explains the eligibility criteria and provides full details of the admission process.

Read Policy

Register for the entrance assessment

Parents must complete registration for the entrance assessment within the published registration window. This registration is handled separately from the local council application. Making sure all information is correct will secure your child's place for the assessment.

Register Now

Submit your secondary school preferences

If your child meets the required standard, you must list Marling School on your Common Application Form (CAF) before Thursday, 30 October 2025.

What to Expect in the Marling School 11+ exam?

The Marling School 11 Plus exam is administered by FSCE and takes place in early autumn of Year 6. All test papers are completed in one day at the school. The exam includes a mix of multiple-choice and written response questions, designed to assess reasoning and core academic skills.

Children are tested on Key Stage 2-level content, focusing on knowledge taught up to the end of Year 5, so no unfamiliar curriculum content is included.

Exam papers typically include:

English

The English paper consists of reading comprehension and creative writing tasks. It tests students' ability to understand written texts and answer questions accurately. Pupils are also assessed on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary. The creative writing section evaluates imagination, structure, and clarity of expression. Strong reading and writing skills are essential for success in this paper.

Maths

The Mathematics paper is based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum, covering topics from Year 5 and Year 6. It includes questions on arithmetic, fractions, decimals, percentages, and problem-solving. Students are expected to show clear working and logical thinking. Accuracy and time management are important throughout the test. This paper measures both mathematical understanding and reasoning ability.

Verbal Reasoning

This test shows how well your child can use letters, numbers, and words to solve problems.
For example, they may find patterns in sequences or choose words with the same meaning.

Non Verbal Reasoning

These sections use shapes, diagrams, and patterns.
Your child will spot similarities and differences, complete sequences, and mentally rotate shapes.

AD1

All children will complete a short creative writing task. Although it is not marked as part of the main test, it may be considered if your child's results are reviewed by a headteacher panel or during an appeal.
Duration: 40 minutes in total, including 10 minutes for planning and 30 minutes for writing.

AD2


AD3


AD4


In addition to subject knowledge, the assessment considers verbal and non-verbal reasoning skills. There is no fixed pass mark; instead, pupils must meet the required standard, with final offers determined by scores, available places, and oversubscription criteria.

Take control of your child's 11+ preparation.

Rurera Dashboard Worksheet

Not sure if your child is on track for the grammar school 11+? You don't need to guess what to cover or whether they're ready. Rurera shows you exactly what to practise each week and how they're performing, so you can stay ahead of the process without the stress.

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How does place allocation work at Marling School?

If there are more applications than places available, Marling School applies oversubscription criteria. Priority may be given to children who meet one or more of the following criteria:

  1. Children whose Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans name the school.
  2. Children who have a sibling living at the same address who currently attends the school.
  3. Looked After Children and previously Looked After Children.
  4. Children who are eligible for pupil premium funding (free school meals).
  5. Children who have been eligible for pupil premium funding (free school meals) at any point in the last six years.
  6. Children who have a parent who is a member of staff at the school.
  7. Children with health or special access reasons that require attendance at the school.
  8. Other children, ranked in order of distance from the school, measured in a straight line.

Marling School [does not] operate a catchment area. This means that children are not prioritised based on how close they live to the school.

Preparing for the 11+ Entrance Exam with Rurera

The 11 Plus is a competitive entrance exam for grammar schools, testing skills in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Rurera is designed to help pupils prepare effectively for these core areas, with structured practice that reflects the demands of real 11 Plus exams.

Why Rurera Is Good for Learning

Rurera is a powerful learning platform designed to support students from early learning through advanced academic preparation. By combining child-friendly design, interactive learning, structured academic resources, and strong progress tracking, Rurera offers a complete learning experience for both children and parents.

Age-Appropriate and Learner-Centred Design

Rurera is built with age-appropriate design principles that match a child's language level and cognitive development. The platform uses simple navigation, clear instructions, and structured layouts to ensure learners can focus on learning without distractions. As students progress to higher levels, Rurera adapts by offering more structured academic content and exam-focused layouts.

Interactive and Gamified Learning Experience

Rurera integrates interactive tools, games, animations, and engaging activities to make learning enjoyable. These features help younger learners stay motivated while reinforcing key concepts. Gamified elements encourage regular practice and help students develop confidence through continuous engagement.

Rurera delivers an interactive and gamified learning experience by integrating engaging tools, games, animations, and activities that make learning enjoyable and motivating for younger learners, while reinforcing key concepts and building confidence through regular practice. Alongside this, Rurera offers a high-quality, exam-focused curriculum with a wide range of structured resources, including practice and past papers with detailed step-by-step solutions, time management guidance, hints, and exam techniques, as well as subject-specific materials for Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning, complemented by Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG) and vocabulary-building resources to help learners master core concepts and develop strong exam skills.

Early Preparation and Structured Learning Pathways

Rurera supports early academic preparation by offering learning materials from Year 3 onwards, including age-specific practice papers for younger learners. This allows students to build familiarity with exam-style questions gradually, reducing pressure and improving performance over time.

Rurera supports early academic preparation by offering structured learning materials from Year 3 onwards, including age-specific practice papers that help younger learners gradually build familiarity with exam-style questions, reduce pressure, and improve performance over time. Its learning content is organised into clear, well-defined modules such as past paper-based learning, revision-focused courses, beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, as well as dedicated scholarship and exam preparation pathways, making it easy for parents and educators to identify and select the most appropriate support for each learner.

Parental Involvement and Monitoring Tools

Rurera encourages strong parental involvement by providing tools that allow parents to monitor learning progress, lesson completion, and performance trends. Parents can stay informed about what their child is learning and provide additional support at home, creating a strong partnership between learners, parents, and educators.

Measuring Progress and Learning Outcomes

Rurera includes robust tracking and assessment tools to measure student progress accurately. Features such as diagnostic assessments, mock exams, quiz scores, lesson completion rates, and time spent on tasks allow educators to understand each learner's strengths and areas for improvement. This data-driven approach helps personalise learning and ensures students receive the right level of support.

Expert Guidance and Personalised Support

Rurera offers personalised tuition and online tutoring supported by expert educators. Learners benefit from tailored teaching strategies based on performance data, ensuring continuous improvement and targeted support.

Get your free 11+ learning plan and topic list

Find out exactly what your child needs to study for their target grammar school. Simply enter the school, and Rurera will generate a personalised 11+ learning plan and topic list aligned to that school's exams so you can focus on what really matters.

Try Rurera for free

Marling School Ofsted Report

Marling School was last inspected by Ofsted on Tuesday, 19 November 2024. The inspection lasted one day, and the published report rated the school as Good. A summary of the inspection outcomes is shown below, along with a link to the full Ofsted report.

The quality of education Good
Behaviour and attitudes Good
Personal development Good
Leadership and management Good
Sixth-form provision Good

Ofseted Report Summary

Marling School was rated Good in all areas in its November 2024 Ofsted inspection, maintaining strong academic standards and positive student behaviour. Inspectors praised the school's high expectations, calm environment, and engaging teaching, especially in the sixth form. The curriculum is broad and ambitious, with strong support for reading, SEND pupils, and personal development. Areas for improvement include embedding recent curriculum changes and strengthening communication with parents and stakeholders.

Grammar Schools Near Marling School

Stroud High School

Beard's Ln, Cainscross Rd, Stroud GL5 4HF, United Kingdom

0 miles away

The Crypt School

Crypt Grammar School, Podsmead Rd, Gloucester GL2 5AE, United Kingdom

7 miles away

These distances are calculated in a straight line. The actual route and distance may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

The 11+ exam assesses English comprehension, vocabulary and spelling, Maths based on KS2 topics, and creative writing. It evaluates understanding, problem-solving, and communication skills rather than memorisation of advanced material.

You must register your child during the official registration window (often May-June). Registration is completed directly with the school and is separate from the local authority secondary school application. Check the school website for the registration link, deadlines, and eligibility rules.

No. Passing the test usually means your child has met the required standard, but places are allocated using the school's oversubscription criteria (for example: score ranking, catchment, distance, or priority groups) when there are more qualified applicants than available places.

Some schools apply a catchment area or priority zones, which can affect allocation after eligibility is met. Many grammar schools primarily rank by entrance exam performance, then apply rules like catchment or distance. Always check the school's latest admissions policy for the exact criteria.

Rurera provides structured study plans, practice papers, and guided revision to match the 11+ format. Regular short exercises build consistency, improve comprehension and problem-solving, and help children feel confident and prepared for exam day.

Many schools hold the 11+ in September, with results released before the secondary school application deadline. Exact dates vary by school and year, so check the school's admissions page for confirmed test and results dates.

Most 11+ entrance exams include English and Maths, and may include Verbal Reasoning and/or Non-Verbal Reasoning. Some schools also assess writing. The focus is usually on applying KS2-level skills accurately under time pressure.

Preparation works best with consistent practice: reading comprehension, vocabulary, timed Maths questions, and full mock papers. Build familiarity with the exam format, review mistakes, and keep a balanced routine with breaks and sleep to support performance.

Most schools do not allow retakes in the same academic year. Exceptions may be considered for documented illness or special circumstances, depending on the school's policy. Check the admissions guidance for rules on exceptional cases.

The required score varies by school and year, and some schools use standardised scoring. Many do not publish a fixed pass mark. The most accurate guidance is the school's admissions information, which may explain how scores are calculated and how offers are ranked.

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