"inform parents of the outcome of selection tests before parents make applications for other schools - while making clear that this does not equate to a guarantee of a selective place."

The selection or entrance tests take place for all schools in the Consortium on Saturday, 23 September 2023.  Parents wishing their children be considered for admission to a Bournemouth or Poole Grammar School must register with one of the schools by 12:00 midday on Friday, 8 September 2023.  Late registration must be made by midday on Friday, 26 January 2024. Late Entrance Tests are scheduled for Tuesday, 20 February 2024.

The eligibility for admission to consortium schools will be determined on the basis of the entrance test results.  The tests may only be taken once by any pupil.  The tests will be taken at the school with whom the parent has registered their child.  The test outcomes will be used to determine the eligibility of the student for a place at a consortium school.  Parents then decide to which school they will apply for a place for their child.

In order to provide all parents with reliable information before submission of the Common Application Form, all applicants to a Consortium School must complete a registration form to attend the test day at one of the centres. 

The form to register to test at Bournemouth School is available here and must be completed by midday on Friday, 26 January 2024.  Paper registration forms are available from the school. 

A registration after the closing date for test registrations will only be accepted for the entrance tests where the Consortium is satisfied that illness, bereavement or other circumstance beyond the control of the parent(s) prevented a timely registration, or the child moved into the area after the closing date for test registration.  Evidence will be required in these circumstances.

Late notification of the testing timetable by a child's current school or otherwise will not be accepted as a reason why timely registration was not possible.  Where the Consortium is not satisfied that a timely registration was prevented, any preference expressed for a consortium school on a Local Authority common application form will not be considered alongside those who registered for testing within the published deadline as they have failed to meet the school’s admission criterion.  In such circumstances the application will be considered after the first round of allocations.

For children whose registration or common application form (or both) were submitted after the closing dates, there will be an opportunity to sit the school entrance tests in the following February for consideration after the first round of allocations on 1 March 2024.  This means that children who were registered for testing after 8 September 2023 and/or submitted their common application form after 31 October 2023, but completed both by 26 January 2024, will be tested in time for the second round of allocations on 24 March 2024.

Where a child is unable to sit the entrance tests through illness, bereavement or other circumstance beyond the control of the parent(s), the Consortium will make arrangements for testing to take place as soon as practicable.  Evidence will be required in these circumstances.  Children sitting these tests will be considered alongside those who sat the tests in September 2023.

Children will sit the entrance tests on Saturday, 23 September 2023 at either Bournemouth School or Poole Grammar School.  The tests may only be taken once by any child.  Details of the tests and arrangements for the day will be sent to parents and students by 15 September 2023.  Late Entrance Tests are scheduled for Tuesday, 20 February 2024. The results of the tests may be used to establish your child's eligibility for a place at both Bournemouth School and Poole Grammar School.

Students seeking admission into year 7 take tests in Mathematics, English and Verbal Reasoning.  All the tests are set to be appropriate for the students in their final year of the KS2 national curriculum.  It is acknowledged that candidates are unlikely to have covered all of the work that is tested - the tests take account of this.  Further details of the entrance tests are available on the Admissions Tests page.

The results of the tests will be emailed to parents by the end of the day on Friday, 13 October 2023.  The results of the late tests will be emailed to parents by the end of the day on Thursday, 7 March 2024. The school will advise parents whether, on the basis of the tests taken, their child is eligible, or ineligible for a place at a Bournemouth or Poole Grammar School. 

It is important to note that being considered eligible for a place at a consortium school does not mean that a place will be allocated as the schools are usually oversubscribed.

After sitting the entrance tests for Bournemouth School application must be made through your 'home' Local Authority application system (i.e. the Local Authority in whose area you reside).  In most Local Authorities it is possible to apply online.  If your 'home' authority is not Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole Council (BCP Council), your Local Authority will pass your expression of interest to BCP Council.

The closing date for completed on time applications to your "home" Local Authority is Tuesday, 31 October 2023.

Registration for the entrance tests does not replace making an application for admission through your Local Authority.  Application for admission cannot be made directly to the school.