Gloucestershire's move to FSCE: the Year 5 July test

Which children does the change affect?

The change covers all 7Source for Gloucestershire: School countGloucestershire: School countCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Gloucestershire grammar schools (G7), hosted by Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: The Entrance Tests are the same for all seven grammar schools in Gloucestershire and are sat on the same day.View the official source grammar schools that share the county test: Denmark Road High School, Marling School, Pate's Grammar School, Ribston Hall High School, Sir Thomas Rich's School, Stroud High School and The Crypt SchoolSource for Gloucestershire: Member schoolsGloucestershire: Member schoolsCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Gloucestershire grammar schools (G7), hosted by Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: Denmark Road High School, Gloucester www.denmarkroad.org | Marling School | www.marling.school | Pate’s Grammar School | www.patesgs.org | Ribston Hall High School | www.ribstonhall.gloucs.sch.uk | Sir Thomas Rich’s School | www.strschool.co.uk | Stroud High School | www.stroudhigh.gloucs.sch.uk | The Crypt School | www.cryptschool.orgView the official source. The schools announced it on Wednesday 15 April 2026Source for Gloucestershire: Announcement dateGloucestershire: Announcement dateCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Crypt School.The source says: 15 April 2026 ... Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Appoint New Provider for Admissions TestView the official source: The G7 appointed FSCE as the new admissions test provider for entry to Year 7 from 2028 onwards, after a competitive tender.Source for Gloucestershire: Provider change statementGloucestershire: Provider change statementCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Pate's Grammar School (Gloucestershire).The source says: The seven Gloucestershire Grammar Schools (G7) have appointed Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE) as their new admissions test provider for entry to Year 7 from 2028 onwards, following a comprehensive competitive tender process.View the official source

What that means for your child depends on their school year now.

Children now in Year 6 sat the last GL test on Saturday 12 September 2026Source for Gloucestershire 2027 entry: Test dateGloucestershire 2027 entry: Test dateCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Gloucestershire grammar schools (G7), hosted by Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: The Entrance Test will take place on Saturday 12 September 2026.View the official source. Children now in Year 4 or younger will also face FSCE, as the schools appointed FSCE for 2028 entry onwards, but no dates have been published for them yet.

Why is the test moving to Year 5?

In the schools' own words, the test moves from September of Year 6 to the latter part of the summer term of Year 5, from summer 2027 for September 2028 entrySource for Gloucestershire: Test move to year5Gloucestershire: Test move to year5CloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Pate's Grammar School (Gloucestershire).The source says: As part of the new arrangements, the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools have also taken the decision to move the test date from September of Year 6 to the latter part of the summer term of Year 5. This will reduce pressure on pupils beginning Year 6, and provide families with earlier results.View the official source.

The schools explain the wider change as a move to tests drawing on Key Stage 2 content, accessible to children from any primary school and reducing reliance on specialist tutoringSource for Gloucestershire: Change rationaleGloucestershire: Change rationaleCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Pate's Grammar School (Gloucestershire).The source says: FSCE’s approach draws heavily on Key Stage 2 curriculum content, ensuring accessibility for children from a wide range of primary schools and reducing reliance on specialist 11+ tutoring.View the official source. Under the new arrangements, FSCE designs, develops and delivers the papers, including scoring, analysis, age-standardisation and reporting of resultsSource for Gloucestershire: Fsce roleGloucestershire: Fsce roleCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Pate's Grammar School (Gloucestershire).The source says: Under the new arrangements, FSCE will design, develop, and deliver the test papers - including scoring, analysis, age‑standardisation, and secure reporting of resultsView the official source.

What does the new timetable look like?

Here are the two years side by side, so you can see how far each step moves.

Three things stand out for families with a child in Year 5 now.

1. Registration is in the spring term. It opens and closes before the summer term starts, so it is easy to miss if you are expecting the later window used for the GL test. The schools also say: Exact dates published on school websitesSource for Gloucestershire 2028 entry: Dates published byGloucestershire 2028 entry: Dates published byCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: The test is usually held in the summer term of Year 5. Exact dates will be published on the school website.View the official source.
2. The test comes before the summer holiday. Your child sits it in Year 5, so it covers only what has been taught by then.
3. The results arrive in Year 6. The test is in July, but results come in the autumn, before the October application deadline. There is a long wait over the summer, and your child moves into Year 6 before you know the outcome.

What stays the same is the end of the process: results still come before you apply to your home council, and offers still come on national offer day.

What will my child sit?

The Gloucestershire FSCE test has 3Source for Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): Paper countGloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): Paper countCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Pate's Grammar School (Gloucestershire).The source says: The Entrance Test will consist of three FSCE papers:View the official source papers: Adventure (English and Maths; multiple choice); Beacon (English and Maths; short written answers); Compass (Art & Design, Computing, Design & Technology, English, Geography, History, Languages, Maths, Music, Physical Education and Science; multiple choice)Source for Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): PapersGloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): PapersCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Pate's Grammar School (Gloucestershire).The source says: Adventure Paper: English and Maths, with Multiple Choice Answer options; Beacon Paper: English and Maths, where you respond with Short Written Answers; Compass Paper: any of the following subjects you learn at school: Art & Design, Computing, Design & Technology, English, Geography, History, Languages, Maths, Music, Physical Education, Science, with Multiple Choice Answer options.View the official source. The content is the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum taught up to the end of Year 5Source for Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): Curriculum basisGloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): Curriculum basisCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: It assesses a range of academic abilities, all inspired by (and not beyond) the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum taught up until the end of Year 5.View the official source.

A few local details are worth knowing well before the day:

• Where: at one of the Gloucestershire grammar schoolsSource for Gloucestershire 2028 entry: Test venueGloucestershire 2028 entry: Test venueCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: All written elements will be tested on one day and will take place at one of the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools.View the official source.
• One attempt: a child may take the test only once; all written elements on one day at one of the grammar schoolsSource for Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): Single attemptGloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): Single attemptCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: Please note – a child may only take the test once. All written elements will be tested on one day and will take place at one of the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools.View the official source.
• Equipment: Two black pens; no pencils, rulers, scrap paper, calculators or watches; clocks in room; breaks between papersSource for Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): EquipmentGloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): EquipmentCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: Two black pens (either black biros or black ballpoint pens – Frixion Pens are permitted); ... × Paper (no study notes or scrap paper); × Stopwatches or timers; × Calculators (including calculator watches);View the official source.
• Paper length: each paper typically 45-60 minutes; three papers, possibly in any order, with a break possible between themSource for Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): Paper minutesGloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): Paper minutesCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: There are three separate papers which might be sat in any order; • Each paper typically lasts 45–60 minutes; • A break may be scheduled between papers.View the official source.
• Marking: marked by computer and age-standardisedSource for Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): StandardisationGloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): StandardisationCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: All papers are marked by computer and age-standardised.View the official source.
• Results: emailed to parentsSource for Gloucestershire 2028 entry: Results methodGloucestershire 2028 entry: Results methodCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Gloucestershire grammar schools (G7), hosted by Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: October 2027 – results emailed to parentsView the official source.

For a fuller comparison of the old and new papers, and what that means for preparation, see our guide to GL vs FSCE.

Where is the official practice material?

The schools say there will be familiarisation materials on every Gloucestershire grammar school website from the end of September (2026)Source for Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): Familiarisation materialsGloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): Familiarisation materialsCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Pate's Grammar School (Gloucestershire).The source says: All grammar schools in Gloucestershire will provide familiarisation materials on their websites from the end of September.View the official source. That material is written for this test, so it is the place to start.

On other material, the schools' FSCE information says no commercial 11+ books or past papers are endorsed by FSCESource for Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): Practice materials soldGloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): Practice materials soldCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: There are NO commercial 11+ books or past papers endorsed by FSCE.View the official source. Does the content change every year? YesSource for Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): Content varies yearlyGloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (FSCE: Adventure, Beacon, Compass): Content varies yearlyCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: The Entrance Test content changes each year therefore the Familiarisation Guide is NOT definitive and the inclusion of any question types does NOT guarantee that they will be found in the actual test.View the official source. FSCE's own view is that children do not need a tutor, and its website and familiarisation guides give all the information neededSource for FSCE: what it says about tutoringFSCE: what it says about tutoringCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise).The source says: All the information you and your child will need can be found on this website and in our Familiarisation Guides.View the official source. Whether to use extra help is your family's choice.

What has not been published yet?

When we last checked, the schools had not published these details for 2028 entry:

• the range of birth dates for children in the year group
• the deadline for asking for access arrangements
• the date of any alternative test for children who are ill on the day
• whether there will be a late test for children who miss registration

For comparison, the 2027-entry arrangements offered an alternative sitting for illness (Children ill on 12 September (Test Centre informed) may sit the alternative date about 10 days later; doctor's letter may be requested.Source for Gloucestershire 2027 entry: Alternative test ruleGloucestershire 2027 entry: Alternative test ruleCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Gloucestershire grammar schools (G7), hosted by Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: An alternative date is set aside (approximately 10 days later) for children whom the Test Centre were assured were ill on 12 September. You may be asked to provide a letter from your Doctor.View the official source) and a late test in late January 2027 for those who missed registration; it leads only to the waiting list, not a place on National Allocation DaySource for Gloucestershire 2027 entry: Late registrationGloucestershire 2027 entry: Late registrationCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: Please note that the Late Test is to give your child an opportunity to join the Waiting List for your chosen grammar school(s). Regrettably, they will not be able to be offered a grammar school place on National Allocation Day, due to the timescales involved.View the official source. Please don't assume these will be repeated in the same form for the July test. Our Gloucestershire 11+ dates page adds them as they appear.

What about pupil premium support?

The schools run the Shaping Futures programme (with a partner online platform) at all seven grammar schools for able Pupil Premium pupils in Years 4 and 5; free partner-platform familiarisation for PP-eligible children.Source for Gloucestershire: Support programmeGloucestershire: Support programmeCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: The Shaping Futures Programme is run at all seven Gloucestershire grammar schools to enable us to offer this opportunity to all Pupil Premium students in our community.View the official source With the test now in July of Year 5, the Year 5 part of that support falls in the months just before the test. If your child may be eligible, ask your primary school about it early in Year 5, or in Year 4 for younger children.

When you register, parents must say on the test registration form if the child is eligible for pupil premium; the test centre checks eligibilitySource for Gloucestershire: Registration flagGloucestershire: Registration flagCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Gloucestershire grammar schools (G7), hosted by Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: You must indicate on the test registration form if your child is eligible for Pupil Premium. The Allocated Test Centre will confirm your child’s eligibility by making appropriate enquiries through your child’s primary school and/or the Local Authority.View the official source. Our guide to pupil premium and the 11+ explains the general rules.

Do past qualifying standards still apply?

Not directly. In Gloucestershire, each school's qualifying standard is Set by each school after results are knownSource for Gloucestershire: Qualifying standard timingGloucestershire: Qualifying standard timingCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Ribston Hall High School.The source says: The qualifying standard is not a pre-defined pass mark but is set after the test is taken and the results are known.View the official source. Past standards came from the GL test, sat in Year 6. The new test has different papers and is sat at the end of Year 5 rather than the start of Year 6, so past standards are a poor guide to the new ones.

One registration rule carries over and matters more than ever with an early registration window: parents choose at registration which G7 schools receive the result; a school that is not sent the result cannot rank the childSource for Gloucestershire: Scores shared withGloucestershire: Scores shared withCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Gloucestershire grammar schools (G7), hosted by Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: There is a facility to share your child’s result with more than one Gloucestershire Grammar School. Please be aware that you must share your child’s result with each School at which you are interested in a place.View the official source.

What can families do now?

If your child is in Year 5:

• Read the familiarisation material on the schools' websites together, calmly, so the three papers and the written-answer boxes feel familiar.
• Put the registration window in your calendar now.
• If your child needs access arrangements, gather evidence from school in the autumn and spring terms, ready for when the deadline is published.
• Keep the focus on secure Year 5 English and maths, and broad reading and curiosity for the wider-curriculum paper.

If your child is in Year 4: expect the same early timetable a year later. Our guide to the 11+ in Year 4 looks at sensible pacing.

If an older child sat the GL test: much of what helped them still helps, but non-verbal reasoning practice can be set aside, and the calendar is a different shape.

Related pages

• Gloucestershire 11+ guide
• Gloucestershire 11+ dates
• Gloucestershire 11+ results explained
• GL vs FSCE: how preparation changes
• FSCE 11+: format, schools and how to prepare
• The 11+ in Year 5

Sources

Facts on this page come from archived official sources checked on 13 October 2026: the Gloucestershire grammar schools (G7), including Pate's Grammar School, Sir Thomas Rich's School, Denmark Road High School, Ribston Hall High School, Stroud High School and The Crypt School, and FSCE.

ExamKind is independent and is not connected with the Gloucestershire grammar schools, Gloucestershire County Council, GL Assessment or FSCE. How we make our content.