GLOUCESTERSHIRE GRAMMAR SCHOOLS - FSCE FROM 2027
Gloucestershire grammar schools are switching to the FSCE entrance test
All seven Gloucestershire grammar schools, including Pate's Grammar School, have appointed FSCE as their new admissions test provider. The change takes effect from summer 2027 for September 2028 entry.
WHAT IS CHANGING
The Gloucestershire G7 grammar schools are moving from GL Assessment to FSCE
In April 2026, the seven Gloucestershire grammar schools - known collectively as the G7 - announced that Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE) will replace GL Assessment as their admissions test provider. FSCE was selected following a competitive tender process.
This is a significant change for families preparing for grammar school entry in Gloucestershire. The GL Assessment format tested verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning alongside English and Maths. FSCE tests at other schools focus on curriculum-based knowledge rather than abstract reasoning, though the Gloucestershire specification is bespoke and the full details have not yet been published.
The seven schools affected are:
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Pate's Grammar School (Cheltenham, co-ed)
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Denmark Road High School (Gloucester, girls)
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Sir Thomas Rich's School (Gloucester, boys)
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The Crypt School (Gloucester, co-ed)
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Ribston Hall High School (Gloucester, girls)
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Marling School (Stroud, boys)
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Stroud High School (Stroud, girls)
Each year, around 3,000 children register and approximately 2,500 sit the shared entrance test. Children take one test and their score is used for whichever G7 schools they list on their local authority application form.
KEY TIMING CHANGES
When the Gloucestershire FSCE test will take place
Alongside the change of test provider, the G7 schools have taken the decision to move the test date. Under the new arrangement, the entrance test will be sat in the latter part of the summer term of Year 5, rather than in September of Year 6 as it has been previously.
The G7 schools have stated that this change is designed to reduce pressure on children beginning Year 6 and to provide families with earlier results.
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First FSCE test: Summer term 2027 (exact date to be confirmed)
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Entry year: September 2028
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Children affected: Those currently in Year 4 (2025/26 academic year) or entering Year 5 in September 2026
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Eligible birth dates: Born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017 (to be confirmed by the consortium)
Full details of the new test format, registration process and exact test date are expected to be published on each school's website from September 2026 onwards.
The 2027 intake (testing in September 2026) still uses the GL Assessment format. The FSCE change applies from the 2028 intake onwards. Parents preparing children for the September 2026 test should continue to follow GL Assessment guidance.
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
How the Gloucestershire FSCE test is expected to differ from GL Assessment
The full specification for the Gloucestershire FSCE test has not yet been published. However, based on what has been confirmed by the G7 schools and on how FSCE operates at other grammar schools across the country, several key differences from the GL Assessment format are clear:
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Verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning are unlikely to feature. FSCE tests at other schools do not include abstract reasoning. However, the Gloucestershire specification is bespoke and has not yet been published, so this should not be treated as confirmed until the full details are available.
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Curriculum-based content. The test will focus on English and Maths drawn from the Key Stage 2 curriculum, assessing how well children can apply what they have learned at primary school.
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Age-standardised scoring. Results will be adjusted for a child's date of birth within the year group, ensuring fairness.
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Bespoke specification. The Gloucestershire FSCE test is being developed specifically for the G7 consortium. It will not necessarily be identical to FSCE tests used at other schools such as Reading School or Chelmsford County High School.
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No published past papers. FSCE does not publish past papers for any of its tests. The format is designed to assess genuine ability rather than how many practice papers a child has completed.
Parents who have prepared older children using GL Assessment materials — particularly those focused on verbal and non-verbal reasoning — should be aware that the approach to preparation is likely to change significantly. The full specification will confirm exactly what is tested, but the shift toward curriculum-based assessment is consistent across all FSCE schools.
PREPARATION GUIDANCE
How to begin preparing for the Gloucestershire grammar schools FSCE test
Although the full test specification has not yet been published, the confirmed details give a clear indication of where preparation effort should be directed. The FSCE format across all schools consistently focuses on applied English and Maths, and the Gloucestershire specification is expected to follow this pattern.
For children currently in Year 4 or early Year 5, preparation should focus on building strong foundations:
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Consistent, wide-ranging reading across fiction and non-fiction to build vocabulary, comprehension, inference and the ability to interpret unfamiliar texts
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Secure KS2 maths foundations, with particular attention to multi-step problems, fractions, decimals, percentages and mental arithmetic
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Focused vocabulary work, including synonyms, antonyms and understanding word meanings in context
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Strong engagement with the full primary curriculum, as FSCE tests tend to reward children who are curious and engaged across all subjects
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Regular creative writing practice, as FSCE tests at other schools include written expression tasks
Timed practice under exam conditions should be introduced later, once the full specification is known and underlying skills are secure. Beginning with skill-building rather than test-drilling is exactly what the FSCE format is designed to reward.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Which Gulliford Tutors books support Gloucestershire grammar school preparation
Gulliford Tutors publishes FSCE-aligned revision books covering English and Maths in the multiple-choice and short written answer formats used across FSCE entrance tests nationally. While the Gloucestershire specification is bespoke and not yet published, the core English and Maths skills these books develop are directly relevant to the kind of curriculum-based assessment FSCE delivers.
FSCE Practice Papers
Full-length practice papers in the FSCE multiple-choice and short written answer formats. Useful for building familiarity with FSCE-style question types, though the Gloucestershire test may differ in structure.
Maths and Skills
Targeted maths practice covering the core KS2 content that FSCE tests are built around. Useful now for building strong foundations well ahead of the Gloucestershire test date.
Verbal Reasoning
Practice in vocabulary, comprehension and word-level reasoning. Although verbal reasoning is not tested as a standalone subject under FSCE, these skills support the English comprehension demands of all FSCE tests.
The Gloucestershire FSCE test is being developed as a bespoke specification for the G7 consortium. It will not necessarily follow the same paper structure as FSCE tests at other schools. We will update this page once the full specification is published.
BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION NOW
Start building the English and Maths skills that matter for the Gloucestershire 11+
The full FSCE specification for Gloucestershire is expected from September 2026. In the meantime, building strong English and Maths foundations is the most effective preparation you can begin.