Thousands of practice questions and up to 6 mock papers, all in the exact Churston Ferrers Grammar School 11+ format, on one simple plan. It starts with a free diagnostic.
Thousands of practice questions and up to 6 mock papers, all in the exact Churston Ferrers Grammar School 11+ format, on one simple plan. It starts with a free diagnostic.
If your child is bright and sociable but would wilt in a high-pressure grammar, Churston Ferrers is one of only two co-educational grammars in the South West — and that co-ed mix, from the school's very first day in 1957, is a genuine part of its character rather than a recent concession. It sits among the rolling hills above Brixham in South Devon, its playing fields famously divided from the rest of the school by a working steam railway line, which gives daily life a quietly surreal edge.
The alumni list has a standout name: Giselle Ansley, Olympic field hockey gold medallist, is a former pupil. Drama is a real strength too — a current student was recently accepted into the National Youth Theatre, inspired by school productions. The school ran its own Film Festival in 2026, with student documentaries tackling real-world ethical issues; it has partnerships with schools in Portugal, Germany, Norway and Peru; and Duke of Edinburgh is a flagship activity, with Gold Award holders recently celebrating at Buckingham Palace.
Parents single out the pastoral care as outstanding — there is always someone available, and the feel is warm rather than pressured. It suits a curious, sociable child who wants genuine academic challenge alongside the space to make films, travel, compete and lead — in a school where a steam train running past the cricket pitch is, somehow, entirely normal!
No
Does Churston Ferrers Grammar School have a catchment area?
There is no strict catchment, and qualified children can apply from anywhere, but the school gives priority to 15 named feeder primary schools in Torbay (mainly Paignton and Brixham). Most places go to children from these schools, so families outside Torbay are less likely to be offered a place.
Churston Ferrers Grammar School uses the GL exam board for its 11+ entrance exam.
Churston Ferrers Grammar School is a mixed-gender school, welcoming both boys and girls.
No, there is no interview stage as part of the 11+ admissions process at Churston Ferrers Grammar School.
The official website for Churston Ferrers Grammar School is https://churstongrammar.com/.
Churston Ferrers Grammar School is a grammar school located in Torbay, South Devon.
Your child first needs to reach the required standard in the Torbay 11+ test, which Churston runs in English and maths. Eligible children are then ranked in order: those with an EHCP naming the school and looked-after or previously looked-after children; the highest-scoring eligible children; then a social justice group covering Pupil Premium or Service Premium children, siblings already on roll, staff children, and children at the 15 named feeder primaries. Any remaining places go on score, with distance as the tie-break. There is no general catchment.
Contact the school as soon as you can. Children who cannot sit the main September test because of illness or another acceptable reason are offered a pre-arranged catch-up date, and are marked on the same basis as everyone else. If something affected your child before or on test day, you can put this in writing to the school within 14 days. For children with additional needs, special arrangements such as up to 25 per cent extra time can be approved with supporting paperwork, requested when you register.
