Mayfield Grammar School 11 plus: 2024 entry guide

About Mayfield Grammar School

Mayfield Grammar School is a selective state school for girls aged 11 to 18 with a mixed sixth form in Gravesend, Kent. Founded in 1914, the school boasts a rich history and still occupies its original site, with many historic and idyllic features including its bell tower and walled playing fields.

Girls at Mayfield Grammar School study a bespoke extended curriculum programme – the Learning Excellence and Aspire Programme (LEAP) – which begins in Year 7. Students independently study subjects they are passionate about and are scored on a Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond or Platinum scale, which contributes to an overall award presented during an end-of-year celebration evening.

Mayfield Grammar School achieved ‘outstanding’ in all areas of its last Ofsted report, which notes excellent results, committed and uncompromising teaching and exemplary behaviour in its students.

• Address: Mayfield Grammar School, Pelham Road, Gravesend, Kent, DA11 0JE

• Local authority: Kent County Council

• School type: girls' grammar with mixed sixth form

• Headteacher: Elaine Wilson

• Number of pupils: 1,300+

• National rank (Sunday Times Parent Power): 200

• A level results: 70.5% A*–B

• GCSE results: 54.2% A*/A/9/8/7

Key info for Year 7 admissions

• Admissions contact: [email protected], 01474352896

• Number of places in Year 7: 210

• Open events: TBC

• 11 plus registration opens: Thursday 1st June 2023

• 11 plus registration closes: Monday 3rd July 2023 at midnight

• 11 plus exam date: Thursday 7th September 2023

• 11 plus exam type: The Kent Test and optional Mayfield Procedure

• Common application form (CAF) deadline: 31st October 2023

• National school offer day: 1st March 2024

How to apply to Mayfield Grammar School

1. Register for the Kent Test

Mayfield Grammar School uses the Kent Test to select pupils for entry in Year 7. The Kent Test is an 11 plus exam taken by 32 grammar schools in the county.

Registration for the Kent Test will open on Thursday 1st June 2023 and close on Monday 3rd July 2023 at midnight. You will be able to complete your child's registration on the Kent County Council website. If you are also considering grammar schools in Medway or the London Borough of Bexley, you will need to register separately because these schools do not use the Kent Test.

Supplementary information form

Children who are looked after or previously looked after, or eligible for the pupil premium, may be prioritised for places under the school's admission criteria. If your child falls into one of these categories, you should complete a supplementary information form (SIF) to indicate this. The supplementary information form is available to download from the school website.

The Mayfield Procedure

Mayfield Grammar School also runs an optional exam called the Mayfield Procedure, which can be taken in addition to the Kent Test. The advantage of taking the Mayfield Procedure is that the school will consider girls who have been successful in this test, even if they have not passed the Kent Test.

If you would like your daughter to take the Mayfield Procedure in addition to the Kent Test, you will need to register between 1st June 2023 and 3rd July 2023. The registration form will be available from the school office or to download from the school website.

2. Apply for a school place

You will receive your child's results after 4pm on Wednesday 18th October 2023. If your child has achieved the pass mark in either assessment, they will be eligible for a grammar school place. You can then name Mayfield Grammar School as one of your preferred schools on your common application form.

Before listing the school as a preference on your form, check its admissions policy and make sure your child is eligible. Passing the 11 plus will not be a guarantee of a place as more children reach the qualifying standard each year than there are places available.

The application form must be submitted to your home local council by 31st October 2023. The form must be completed for your home local authority – i.e. if you live in Kent you will need to complete the form on the Kent County Council website. If you live in a different local authority, make sure to apply through the relevant website for that council.

What is the pass mark for Mayfield Grammar School?

Your child will receive four scores on the Kent Test. The results from the English, maths and reasoning sections will all be age-standardised to produce three separate scores, in addition to one overall (aggregate) score.

Children typically need a total score of 332 or more out of the total 423, with no single score lower than 108, to be eligible for a place at a grammar school in Kent.

If your daughter takes the Mayfield Procedure, she will receive two scores. One score will come from the English test and the other from the CEM Select online test. The CEM Select test score will be an overall age-standardised score which is weighted (50% for verbal reasoning, 25% for maths and 25% for non-verbal reasoning). The pass mark for the Mayfield Procedure cannot be set in advance, as it will depend on the range of results achieved by the cohort.

Achieving a particular score doesn't guarantee a place at a grammar school, as schools are usually oversubscribed with qualified candidates. We always recommend researching the admission policies for your target schools, looking at their oversubscription criteria and their catchment area. We've included the admission criteria for Mayfield Grammar School below.

Mayfield Grammar School admission criteria

There are 210 places available in Year 7 at Mayfield Grammar School. Before applying any oversubscription criteria, children who have qualified for entry and have either a Statement of Special Educational Need (SSEN) or an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming Mayfield Grammar School will be allocated a place. The planned admission number will then be reduced accordingly.

If the number of children who have qualified for Mayfield Grammar School exceeds the number of places available, the school will prioritise places in the following order:

1. Looked after and previously looked after children

2. Girls with a sibling currently attending Mayfield Grammar School

3. Girls who live within the 1st priority area (with priority given first to girls in receipt of free school meals)

4. Girls who live within the 2nd priority area (with priority given first to girls in receipt of free school meals)

5. Remaining places will be allocated to girls who do not live within one of the two priority areas. Places will be allocated first to girls who have scored highest in the Kent Test, and then based on the proximity of the child's home to the school.

Mayfield Grammar School catchment area

Mayfield Grammar School has a catchment area to prioritise places for children who live close to the school. There are two 'priority areas':

• 1st priority area: postcodes DA2 6, DA2 8, DA3, DA4, DA9, DA10, DA11, DA12, DA13, ME3, TN15 7, TN15 6AR, TN15 6AT and TN15 6AS

• 2nd priority area: postcodes DA1, DA2 7, ME2, TN13, TN14, TN15 except TN15 7, TN15 6AR, TN15 6AT and TN15 6AS

Further details and a map of the two priority areas are available in the school admission policy.

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