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If you live in Kent and are considering a grammar school for your child's secondary education, you have plenty of choice – Kent has more grammar schools than any other county in the UK.
Several of Kent's grammar schools are among the best state secondary schools in the UK. Discover how to get into a grammar school in the area and learn more about the top 10 grammar schools in Kent in 2023.
What are grammar schools?
Grammar schools are a type of state secondary school in the UK. They are government-funded, which means they are free for all pupils to attend. The difference between grammar schools and other state secondary schools is that they are selective. Places are only offered to children who pass an academic test known as the 11+ (eleven plus).
How to get into a grammar school in Kent
Your child will need to take the 11 plus to be considered for a place at a grammar school. This usually takes place in September when your child is in Year 6. Children with the highest 11 plus scores will be eligible for a place at a grammar school in Year 7.
There are two 11 plus tests in Kent:
The Kent Test: used by all grammar schools in the Kent County Council area
The Medway Test: used by all grammar schools in the Medway Unity Authority area
Prepare for 11 plus exams in Kent
Unlock award-winning preparation for your local 11 plus exam. Build knowledge and exam skills with adaptive questions and unlimited 11 plus practice papers for the Kent Test and the Medway Test.
The 10 best grammar schools in Kent
1. Dartford Grammar School
© rsacademics.com
Dartford Grammar School is a boys' grammar school (with a co-educational sixth form) founded in 1576, making it one of the oldest grammar schools in the county. Unusually for grammar schools, students can choose to take either A levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) in the sixth form.
Dartford Grammar School was awarded the title 'IB Secondary School of the Decade' by the Sunday Times in 2020.
Town: Dartford
Local authority: Kent County Council
Gender at 11 plus: boys
Number of pupils: 1,486
National rank: 15
2022 GCSE results: 81.2% A*/A/9/8/7
2022 A level results: 96.1% A*–B
2022 IB results: 37.8 point average
2. Tonbridge Grammar School
© tgs.kent.sch.uk
Tonbridge Grammar School is a girls' grammar school with a co-educational sixth form (not to be confused with Tonbridge School – a boys' only independent school in the same area). Like Dartford Grammar School, students at Tonbridge Grammar can opt to take either A levels or the IB Diploma in the sixth form.
In 2014, Tonbridge Grammar School was named 'Secondary School of the Year' by the Sunday Times.
Town: Tonbridge
Local authority: Kent County Council
Gender at 11 plus: girls
Number of pupils: 1,134
National rank: 20
2022 GCSE results: 88.6% A*/A/9/8/7
2022 A level results: 89.4% A*–B
2022 IB results: 37.9 point average
3. The Skinners' School
© wikipedia.org
The Skinner's School is a boys' grammar school (with a co-educational sixth form) in Royal Tunbridge Wells. It was first opened in 1887 and aims to develop independent learners through academic excellence and co-curricular and extra-curricular activity.
Town: Tunbridge Wells
Local authority: Kent County Council
Gender at 11 plus: boys
Number of pupils: 1,180
National rank: 46
2022 GCSE results: 83.2% A*/A/9/8/7
2022 A level results: 84.3% A*–B
4. Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School
© twggs.kent.sch.uk
Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School is a selective girls' school. It was founded in 1095 and is consistently rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted.
Town: Tunbridge Wells
Local authority: Kent County Council
Gender at 11 plus: girls
Number of pupils: 1,023
National rank: 51
2022 GCSE results: 74.6% A*/A/9/8/7
2022 A level results: 87.1% A*–B
5. The Rochester Grammar School
© fejobs.com
The Rochester Grammar School is a girls' grammar school with a co-educational sixth form in the Medway area of Kent. It became an Academy of Excellence in 2010 under the government's academy programme for outstanding schools and was recently listed as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted.
Town: Rochester
Local authority: Medway Council
Gender at 11 plus: girls
Number of pupils: 1,450
National rank: 64
2022 GCSE results: 63.7% A*/A/9/8/7
2022 A level results: 90.1% A*–B
6. The Judd School
© wikipedia.org
The Judd School is a boys' grammar school with a co-educational sixth form in Tonbridge. It is consistently rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted.
Town: Tonbridge
Local authority: Kent County Council
Gender at 11 plus: boys
Number of pupils: 1,385
National rank: 71
2022 GCSE results: 73.5% A*/A/9/8/7
2022 A level results: 81.2% A*–B
7. Weald of Kent Grammar School
© kentlive.news
Weald of Kent Grammar School is a girls' grammar school with a co-educational sixth form in Tonbridge. Founded in 1982, the school is relatively young; in 2017, a second campus was opened in Sevenoaks with the Secretary of State's permission.
Town: Tonbridge
Local authority: Kent County Council
Gender at 11 plus: girls
Number of pupils: 1,817
National rank: 76
2022 GCSE results: 73% A*/A/9/8/7
2022 A level results: 80.3 A*–B
8. Highworth Grammar School
© wikipedia.org
Highworth Grammar School is a girls' grammar school in Ashford. It was founded in 1904 and became an academy in 2013. The school provides regular student mentoring and 'focus days' to help pupils develop their prospects.
Town: Ashford
Local authority: Kent County Council
Gender at 11 plus: girls
Number of pupils: 1,519
National rank: 98
2022 GCSE results: 69% A*/A/9/8/7
2022 A level results: 78% A*–B
9. Dane Court Grammar School
© kentonline.co.uk
Dane Court Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school in Broadstairs, rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted. The school recently completed a £20 million development programme to update its facilities.
Town: Broadstairs
Local authority: Kent County Council
Gender at 11 plus: co-educational
Number of pupils: 1,314
National rank: 118
2022 GCSE results: 53.5% A*/A/9/8/7
2022 A level results: 82.9% A*–B
10. Invicta Grammar School
© nicelocal.co.uk
Invicta Grammar School is a girls' state selective school, with co-educational sixth form, in Maidstone. It has a strong reputation for academic achievement and a supportive environment.
Town: Maidstone
Local authority: Kent County Council
Gender at 11 plus: girls
Number of pupils: 1,574
National rank: 121
2022 GCSE results: 54.8% A*/A/9/8/7
2022 A level results: 81.9% A*–B
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