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Ribston Hall High School

School typeGrammar

Also known asRibston Hall

AddressStroud Road, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England, GL1 5LE

Ribston Hall High School is a girls' grammar school in Gloucestershire. It uses the GL 11+ exam for Year 7 entry and does not include an interview stage. Places are offered by rank order to girls who reach the qualifying standard, with priority for looked-after and Pupil Premium pupils.

If your daughter is ambitious but happiest learning at her own pace, Ribston Hall is the Gloucester grammar that tends to feel right to families the moment they walk in. The Good Schools Guide records exactly that, a comment it heard again and again, that it felt right. It calls Ribston a friendly girls' grammar where pupils quickly find kindred spirits, and notes it is on an upward trajectory academically. The school opened in 1921 and is one of seven grammars across Gloucestershire, with girls joining Year 7 through the county 11-plus and no fee to pay.

The character of the place is calm rather than pressured. The Good Schools Guide describes girls who are motivated but do not feel under strain, and praises a focus on wellbeing that runs through the school. Music has grown lively in recent years. New staff have brought in jazz, with performances at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, alongside rock bands, a whole-school orchestra and several choirs. Sport is described by pupils as inclusive rather than elite, with plenty of room on teams for those who want to play.

The school sits on Stroud Road and takes a broad view of what a girl can do, valuing each subject and the person alongside the score. Pastoral care has a warm reputation you feel in the everyday detail of school life. Led since February 2024 by headteacher Alec Waters, Ribston Hall suits a girl who wants strong teaching without the temperature being turned up, and who will settle quickly among others who feel the same.

Key facts

Gender

Girls

Year 7 places

150

Annual fees

None

Website

Visit school website

Admissions

Open day

Apr

Registration opens

May

Registration closes

June

CAF deadline

Oct

Admissions contact

rhhs@ribstonhall.gloucs.sch.uk

Admissions phone

0145 238 2249

Registration form

View registration details

Sibling policy

What this school tests

Gloucestershire Grammar Schools’ Entrance Test

English16 question types

PunctuationReading Comprehension - ComparisonReading Comprehension - EvaluationReading Comprehension - Grammar and punctuationReading Comprehension - Inference and DeductionReading Comprehension - Information RetrievalReading Comprehension - Language Techniques and ImageryReading Comprehension - Sentence-level ComprehensionReading Comprehension - SequencingReading Comprehension - Structure, Form, Voice and ToneReading Comprehension - SummarisingReading Comprehension - Text Classification and PurposeReading Comprehension - Types of Words and PhrasesReading Comprehension - Word Meaning / ChoiceSentence CompletionSpelling

Maths23 question types

AlgebraAngles and DegreesBIDMASCoordinate GridsEstimation and RoundingFactors and MultiplesFractions, Decimals and PercentagesMagic squaresMeasurementMoneyNumber and Place ValueNumber WallsOperationsPerimeter, Area and VolumePosition and DirectionProperties of ShapesRatio and ProportionReflection, Rotation and SymmetrySequencesSpecial NumbersSpeed, Distance and TimeStatisticsTime

Non-verbal Reasoning14 question types

Extended Figure SeriesFigure AnalogiesFigure MatricesFigure OperationsFigure SeriesGrid MatricesHorizontal CodesMost Like Three FiguresMost Like Two FiguresOdd Figure OutStar MatricesTriangle MatricesTriangle SeriesVertical Codes

Verbal Reasoning26 question types

AnagramsCompound WordsEmbedded WordsForm a WordInsert a LetterLetter AnalogiesLetter CalculationsLetter CodesLetter GridsLetter SequencesMove 1 / 2 LettersNumber AnalogiesNumber CalculationsNumber SequencesRelated WordsRhyming SynonymsShuffled SentencesSynonymsWord / Logic PuzzlesWord AnalogiesWord CompletionWord MatchWord OppositesWord PairsWord RelationshipsWords and Codes

Spatial Reasoning8 question types

2D RotationsBlock CountingCombining ShapesFold and PunchFolding CubesHidden ShapesMissing Face of CubeShape Completion

Catchment area

Does Ribston Hall High School have a catchment area?

No. The school states it does not have a catchment area. Girls must reach the qualifying standard in the Gloucestershire entrance test, and places are then offered by rank order after priority for looked-after and Pupil Premium pupils, with distance used only as a tie-break.

Previous exam results

GCSE results

In 2025 students achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 67.7 across their GCSEs. 90.5% gained a grade 5 or better in both English and Maths. 31.8% 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 C+ average grade per A-Level entry. 16.3% gained AAB or better including two facilitating subjects. Reference: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/

Frequently asked questions

What exam board does Ribston Hall High School use for the 11+?

Ribston Hall High School uses the GL 11+ exam for its Year 7 entry.

Does Ribston Hall High School interview as part of the 11+?

No, Ribston Hall High School does not have an interview stage as part of its 11+ admissions process.

Is Ribston Hall High School co-educational or single-sex?

Ribston Hall High School is a single-sex school for girls.

What is Ribston Hall High School's official website?

The official website for Ribston Hall High School is https://www.ribstonhall.gloucs.sch.uk/.

Does Ribston Hall High School have a catchment area for 11+ entry?

No, Ribston Hall High School does not have a catchment area. Places are offered by rank order after achieving the qualifying standard, with distance used only as a tie-break.

What type of school is Ribston Hall High School?

Ribston Hall High School is a grammar school in Gloucestershire.

How do you get a place at Ribston Hall High School?

Your daughter first needs to reach the qualifying standard in the school's entrance test, as only girls who meet that standard can be considered. Places are then offered in priority order: children in care or previously in care first, then a set number of Pupil Premium places (girls in Gloucester postcodes GL1 to GL4 first, then those outside), then all other girls by rank order in the test. If two girls tie, the place goes to whoever lives closest. A girl with an EHC plan naming the school is admitted first. The qualifying standard isn't a fixed pass mark; it's set after the test and depends on demand each year.

What happens if my child is ill on 11+ test day at Ribston Hall High School?

If your daughter can't sit the test on the day because of illness, accident or sudden bereavement, the school may arrange a similar replacement test, normally no later than the end of September. You'll need to contact the school's Admissions Officer before the normal test day to discuss it, and the school will ask for proof of illness or other evidence. The policy also asks you to flag any disability or specific need when you register, so facilities can be put in place for the test.

Location

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