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Are you considering Mayfield Grammar School for your daughter? We've collated everything you need to know about 2024 entry. Keep reading to learn about key dates, how to apply, what's on the Kent Test 11 plus and how to help your child excel.
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
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
The term dates at Mayfield Grammar School for 2023–2024 are:
Autumn term: 4th September – 15th December 2023
Half term: 23rd–30th October 2023
Spring term: 3rd January – 28th March 2024
Half term: 12th–16th February 2024
Summer term: 15th April – 19th July 2024
Half term: 27th–31st May 2024
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.
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.
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.
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.
All girls who are applying for a place in Year 7 at Mayfield Grammar School will take the Kent Test on Thursday 7th September 2023. If your child attends a primary school outside of Kent, they will take the test on the weekend of the 9th September 2023.
The Kent Test consists of two papers. Both papers take around one hour to complete and consist of multiple-choice questions.
English and maths
Verbal and non-verbal reasoning
Children taking the Kent Test also complete a creative writing exercise. This isn’t formally marked and doesn’t form part of the total scores, but it may be used by a local headteacher panel in borderline cases or in an appeal. 40 minutes will be allowed for the writing task, including 10 minutes of planning time.
Find out more in our comprehensive guide to the Kent Test and access free 11 plus resources to help your child prepare.
The Mayfield Procedure is an optional exam which can be taken in addition to the Kent Test. Girls who are registered for the Mayfield Procedure will take the exam on Saturday 9th September 2023.
The Mayfield Procedure has two parts:
CEM Select: an online test set by CEM Durham. This multiple-choice test will assess verbal ability, numerical reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.
English: a written paper set by Mayfield Grammar School. All questions require full answers (there are no multiple-choice options).
You may find the following resources helpful:
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.
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:
Looked after and previously looked after children
Girls with a sibling currently attending Mayfield Grammar School
Girls who live within the 1st priority area (with priority given first to girls in receipt of free school meals)
Girls who live within the 2nd priority area (with priority given first to girls in receipt of free school meals)
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 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.
Here are our top tips on how to best prepare your child for the Kent Test.
The 11 plus assesses a large breadth and depth of learning objectives across the Key Stage 2 national curriculum and beyond.
We recommend that your child starts revising content at least one year before the test. Setting aside study periods using a 'little and often' approach will give them time to build the skills and knowledge they need. When preparing, avoid falling into the trap of over-focusing on either the topics your child enjoys or the topics they find hardest.
Atom Nucleus is an 11 plus online course that tailors your child's personalised learning journey to cover all elements of the Kent Test at the right pace for them.
Your child will encounter lots of unfamiliar types of questions in the 11 plus exam. Building exam technique with 11 plus test papers will help your child to feel fully confident with the styles of questions they'll encounter in the exam, reducing the potential for stress on the day.
Setting regular goals and celebrating achievements will help keep motivation high. Atom Nucleus offers data-driven insights into your child’s progress towards mastering the 11 plus curriculum, making it easy to see where they need to focus next.
Wondering how to make sure your child covers the depth and breadth of the entire 11 plus curriculum, stays on track with their progress, and gets help when they're stuck? Online learning is a particularly efficient, cost-effective (and fun) way to do this!
Atom Nucleus is the award-winning online 11 plus practice platform that gives your child everything they need to prepare for grammar school exams.
Children work independently through over 90,000 interactive practice questions in English, maths and reasoning. Teacher-created helpsheets and videos help them discover new concepts and consolidate their learning.
Atom's algorithm keeps children on their ideal learning path, tailored to their unique learning style and pace to keep them challenged and motivated.
Atom Nucleus gives children access to online 11 plus practice papers. Our online tests are designed to mirror the format and style of the real Kent Test as well as CEM Select, so your child will go into the exam knowing exactly what to expect.
And what's more, everything is automatically marked for you.
Begin your child's journey to Mayfield Grammar School today. Use the full features of Atom Nucleus free for 5 days – cancel anytime.
We know how keen you are for your child to do well in the 11 plus, to give them every chance of securing a place at their school of choice. Our dedicated team of Education Experts are on hand to support you and your family every step of the way:
We're happy to help with any questions you may have about admissions processes and helping your child prepare for entry to Kent grammar schools.
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