Thousands of practice questions and up to 6 mock papers, all in the exact Marling 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 Marling School 11+ format, on one simple plan. It starts with a free diagnostic.
If you have a capable, self-assured son who is happiest somewhere calm rather than fiercely competitive, Marling School in Stroud is well worth considering. It takes boys from 11 to 18, opening its sixth form to girls as well, and has shaped boys from across the Five Valleys since 1887, when local cloth manufacturer Sir Samuel Marling founded it. His name is still over the door. Two solid Victorian buildings, linked by a charming cloister, give the place an unhurried, settled feel, and pupils come in from a wide area on a web of public and private buses.
The Good Schools Guide describes a school that is not too pressurised, where the boys seem happy and confident without being arrogant. The worst behaviour one pupil could name was 'tomfoolery'. Parents and pupils alike told the Guide the place is genuinely all-rounded, with music, drama, art and sport each holding their own rather than one crowding out the rest. Music in particular is on the up, helped by a link with the Carducci String Quartet, while rugby, football, cricket and athletics anchor the sport. None of it comes with the high-stakes intensity some grammars carry, which is part of why so many families warm to it.
The school has been led since September 2025 by Acting Principal Duncan Cook, who also heads the Cotswold Beacon Academy Trust. For the right boy, the appeal is simple: a school that expects a lot academically while leaving him room to stay grounded, try things, and enjoy himself.
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Does Marling School have a catchment area?
No. Marling School does not have a catchment area. Entry is based on performance in the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools' Entrance Test, with distance from the school used only as a tie-breaker between equally ranked candidates.
Marling School uses the GL exam board for its 11+ entrance test.
No, Marling School does not have an interview stage as part of its 11+ admissions process.
Marling School is a single-sex school for boys from 11 to 18. Its sixth form is open to girls as well.
No, Marling School does not have a catchment area. Entry is based on performance in the entrance test, with distance from the school used only as a tie-breaker.
The official website for Marling School is https://www.marling.gloucs.sch.uk/.
Your son first needs to reach the required standard in the Entrance Test, which Marling runs itself. Places are then offered in priority order: looked-after and previously looked-after children first, then boys who attract Pupil Premium funding, then other qualifying boys in test rank order. Where boys are tied, those who attended a primary school in the Cotswold Beacon Academy Trust come first, then those living nearest the school. A boy with an EHCP naming the school who has met the standard is admitted first. There's no fixed pass mark; the qualifying standard reflects where a boy ranks each year, so it depends on demand.
If your son is ill and can't sit the Entrance Test, Marling will arrange a replacement test, usually about 10 days after the original date. You must contact the school's Admissions Officer before the test starts, and the school may ask for evidence of the illness. For a disability or specific need, give the details on the Entrance Test Registration Form, or contact the school in advance, so any access arrangements such as extra time can be considered.
