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Parkstone Grammar School
Parkstone Grammar School is a selective girls' grammar in Poole, Dorset. The 11+ entrance exam uses the GL board and does not include an interview stage. While there is no fixed catchment, priority is given to eligible girls residing in Poole postcodes.
If you want academic challenge for your daughter without the hot-house feel that puts some families off, Parkstone Grammar School is worth getting to know. It is a selective girls' grammar in Poole, drawing pupils from across the borough and well beyond, with a sixth form run jointly with neighbouring Poole Grammar School. The Good Schools Guide calls it an unpretentious academic environment and describes girls who are happy and confident in their friendship groups and fully accepting of those around them.
The school expects a lot, but the Good Schools Guide notes no sense of pressure from teachers and homework demands kept refreshingly light, which is the sort of balance many parents are quietly hoping for. There is plenty going on beyond lessons. Music is a real strength, with more than 250 girls playing in groups that run from orchestra and concert band to strings, guitar ensembles and choirs of every kind, and sport is taken seriously too, with teams picking up county and regional honours in netball, cross country, cricket and football. The Guide sums the place up as an ideal home for self-motivated girls willing to learn and join in across school life.
Parkstone has been on its present site on Sopers Lane since 1961, and around 1,300 girls aged 11 to 18 are taught there today. It suits a curious, hard-working girl who will make the most of the music, sport and clubs on offer rather than just the classroom. It is led by headteacher David Hallsworth, who became head in 2019 after serving as deputy and acting head, so he knows the school well. For the right girl, it is a place to work hard and still feel relaxed.
Key facts
Admissions
Registration form
View registration detailsSibling policy
No
What this school tests
Dorset Consortium 11+ Entrance Test
English15 question types
Maths23 question types
Verbal Reasoning26 question types
Catchment area
Does Parkstone Grammar School have a catchment area?
There is no fixed catchment, and applications are welcomed from across the local authority and beyond. After looked-after children, priority in the oversubscription criteria goes to eligible girls living within the historic Borough of Poole or Poole postcodes (BH12 to BH18 and BH21), then to those living further away ranked by entrance test score.
Previous exam results
GCSE results
In 2025 students achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 68.5 across their GCSEs. 90.3% gained a grade 5 or better in both English and Maths. 41.4% achieved the English Baccalaureate at grade 5 or above. Reference: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/
A-level results
In 2025 students achieved a B+ average grade per A-Level entry. 26.4% gained AAB or better including two facilitating subjects. Reference: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/
Frequently asked questions
What exam board does Parkstone Grammar School use for the 11+?
Parkstone Grammar School uses the GL exam board for its 11+ entrance examination.
Is Parkstone Grammar School co-educational or single-sex?
Parkstone Grammar School is a single-sex school for girls. It offers places for girls in Year 7.
Does Parkstone Grammar School interview as part of the 11+ process?
No, Parkstone Grammar School does not include an interview stage as part of its 11+ entrance process.
What is the 11+ pass mark for Parkstone Grammar School?
The specific 11+ pass mark for Parkstone Grammar School is not disclosed.
Does Parkstone Grammar School have a catchment area for 11+ entry?
While there is no fixed catchment, priority is given to eligible girls living within the historic Borough of Poole or Poole postcodes (BH12 to BH18 and BH21).
What is Parkstone Grammar School's official website?
The official website for Parkstone Grammar School is https://www.parkstone.poole.sch.uk/.
How do you get a place at Parkstone Grammar School?
Your daughter first needs to reach the required standard in the entrance test, which is shared across the Poole-area Consortium of selective schools and made up of GL verbal reasoning, maths and English papers. Places are then offered in priority order: looked-after and previously looked-after children first, then girls in the historic Borough of Poole (or the listed Poole postcodes) who are entitled to Pupil Premium, then other girls in that area, then Pupil Premium girls living outside it, then other girls further away in score rank order. A girl with an EHCP naming the school who has met the standard is admitted first. Distance settles ties. There's no fixed pass mark; it depends on demand each year.
What happens if my child is ill on 11+ test day at Parkstone Grammar School?
If your daughter can't sit the test in September because of illness or another acceptable reason, she can take it at the catch-up test date in late September or early October. You need to discuss the reason with the school at the earliest opportunity. For special educational needs, a disability or a temporary injury, you can apply for access arrangements such as extra time using the school's Access Arrangements Application Form, which sets out the full details and deadlines.
Location
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