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If you live in Kent and are considering a grammar school for your child, 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 2025.
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
Do Kent grammar schools have a catchment area?
Out of 163 grammar schools in the UK, around half have catchment areas, meaning families need to live within a defined area around the school to be eligible for admission.
For grammar schools in Kent, this is no different. Many of them do have a catchment area and it's always advisable to check the admissions policy when researching your target schools.
Kent schools with a catchment area include
Borden Grammar School, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Cranbrook School, Kent - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Dover Grammar School for Boys, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Dover Grammar School for Girls, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Fort Pitt Grammar School, Medway - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Gravesend Grammar School, Kent - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Maidstone Grammar School, Kent - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Mayfield Grammar School, Kent - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
The Folkestone School for Girls, Kent - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
The Harvey Grammar School, Kent - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
The Judd School, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
The Langton Grammar School for Boys, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
The Skinners' School, Kent - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Tonbridge Grammar School, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Weald of Kent Grammar School, Kent - The child and parent/carer must live within the catchment area at the time of application submission. This is usually 31st October every year.
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys, Kent - Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
Wilmington Grammar School for Girls, Kent- Check with the school for details about when you need to live in the catchment area to apply.
This list is not exhaustive, check your target schools' admissions policy for more information.
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The 10 best grammar schools in Kent
1. Dartford Grammar School
© rsacademics.com
Dartford Grammar School is a boys' grammar school with a mixed sixth form on the south coast. It was founded in 1576, making it one of the oldest grammar schools in the county. Like Tonbridge Grammar, students can choose to take either A levels or the IB Diploma in the sixth form.
Town: Dartford
Local authority: Kent County Council
Entry gender: boys
Number of pupils: 1,500+
National rank: 14
2024 GCSE results: 77.9% A*/A/9/8/7
2024 A level results: 91.9% A*–B
Entrance exam: The Kent Test
2. Tonbridge Grammar School
© tgs.kent.sch.uk
Tonbridge Grammar School is a girls' grammar school with a mixed sixth form. The IB Diploma is on offer alongside A levels, and The Sunday Times has named the school the International Baccalaureate School of the Year 2024. Tonbridge Grammar is currently ranked within the top 10 girls' state schools in the UK.
Town: Tonbridge
Local authority: Kent County Council
Entry gender: girls
Number of pupils: 1,100+
National rank: 14
2024 GCSE results: 81.7% A*/A/9/8/7
2024 A level results: 90% A*–B
Entrance exam: The Kent Test
3. The Judd School, Tonbridge
© wikipedia.org
The Judd School is a boys' grammar school with a mixed sixth form in Tonbridge. It's consistently rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted. In the last year, more than two thirds of students secured places at Russell Group universities, with 23 going on to Oxbridge.
Town: Tonbridge
Local authority: Kent County Council
Entry gender: boys
Number of pupils: 1,500+
National rank: 25
2024 GCSE results: 82.2% A*/A/9/8/7
2024 A level results: 83.2% A*–B
Entrance exam: The Kent Test
4. The Skinners' School, Tunbridge Wells
© wikipedia.org
The Skinners' School is a boys' grammar school with a mixed sixth form in Tunbridge Wells, founded in 1887. There is a strong focus on sport – the school is ranked as one of the top 100 in the UK for cricket. More than 200 students take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and CCF.
Town: Tunbridge Wells
Local authority: Kent County Council
Entry gender: boys
Number of pupils: 1,100+
National rank: 47
2024 GCSE results: 66% A*/A/9/8/7
2024 A level results: 83.1% A*–B
Entrance exam: The Kent Test
5. The Rochester Grammar School
© fejobs.com
The Rochester Grammar School is a girls' grammar school with a mixed 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. In 2023, The Rochester Grammar School was awarded a Silver Rights Respecting Schools' Award (RSSA) by Unicef.
Town: Rochester
Local authority: Medway Council
Entry gender: girls
Number of pupils: 1,150+
National rank: 49
2024 GCSE results: 62.5% A*/A/9/8/7
2024 A level results: 84.1% A*–B
Entrance exam: The Medway Test
6. Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School
© twggs.kent.sch.uk
Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School is a selective girls' state school. It was founded in 1095 and is consistently rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted. It also has the largest all-female state school group in the Combined Cadet Force (CCF).
Town: Tunbridge Wells
Local authority: Kent County Council
Entry gender: girls
Number of pupils: 1,000+
National rank: 63
2024 GCSE results: 62.7% A*/A/9/8/7
2024 A level results: 81.5% A*–B
Entrance exam: The Kent Test
7. Dartford Grammar School for Girls
© dartfordgrammargirls.org.uk
Dartford Grammar School for girls is a selective state school for girls aged 11–18. It's the home of 'Thinking Hard' – a national teaching programme designed to encourage critical thinking. Dartford Grammar is also a Specialist Science school. It holds an annual community Science Fair and has partnerships with local businesses and universities.
Town: Dartford
Local authority: Kent County Council
Entry gender: girls
Number of pupils: 1,200+
National rank: 83
2024 GCSE results: 72.3% A*/A/9/8/7
2024 A level results: 73% A*–B
Entrance exam: The Kent Test
8. Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, Rochester
© sjwms.org.uk
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School is an all boys' grammar with an academy status and co-ed sixth form. The school is locally referred to as the Math. It was also one of the first 100 schools in the country to have been designated a National Teaching School.
Town: Rochester
Local authority: Medway
Gender at 11 plus: boys
Number of pupils: 1,500
National rank: 100
2024 GCSE results: 55.3% A*/A/9/8/7
2024 A level results: 76.6% A*–B
Entrance exam: The Medway Test
9. Invicta Grammar School, Maidstone
© nicelocal.co.uk
Invicta Grammar School is a large girls' state selective school with a mixed sixth form in Maidstone. It has a strong reputation for academic achievement and a supportive environment. Ofsted rate the school as 'outstanding'.
Town: Maidstone
Local authority: Kent County Council
Entry gender: girls
Number of pupils: 1,600+
National rank: 111
2024 GCSE results: 62.3% A*/A/9/8/7
2024 A level results: 69.7% A*–B
Entrance exam: The Kent Test
10. Dane Court Grammar School, Broadstairs
© kentonline.co.uk
Dane Court Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school in Broadstairs. A newly completed £20 million rebuilding programme provides students with state-of-the-art learning facilities. In the sixth form, students study the IB Diploma instead of A levels.
Town: Broadstairs
Local authority: Kent County Council
Entry gender: boys
Number of pupils: 1,100+
National rank: 81
2024 GCSE results: 56.7% A*/A/9/8/7
2024 A level results: 70.4% A*–B
Entrance exam: The Kent Test
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