About Kent Grammar Schools
Kent operates the largest fully-selective Local Authority grammar school system in England, with 35 grammar schools serving children across the county. The Kent Test (GL Assessment) is the single largest 11+ in England by volume — over 16,000 children sit it annually. Famous Kent grammars include Tonbridge Grammar, Maidstone Grammar, Tunbridge Wells Grammar, and Dover Grammar Schools. Kent is uniquely structured: every child at a Kent state primary is automatically considered for the Kent Test in Year 6, though families can opt out.
History & Tradition
Kent's grammar tradition is among the oldest in England. The King's School Rochester (founded 604 AD) is the oldest still-functioning school in the English-speaking world. Maidstone Grammar dates from 1549, Tunbridge Wells Grammar from 1888. When the 1944 Education Act introduced the tripartite system, Kent retained its grammars; when most counties abolished selection in the 1960s-70s, Kent kept its system intact. Today Kent has the highest grammar school density of any English LA — approximately 30% of children attend a grammar.
The Entry Test
Kent uses the GL Assessment Kent Test — three papers covering English, Mathematics, and Reasoning (combined verbal and non-verbal). Tests are taken in school for Kent primary pupils on a specific September day; out-of-county pupils sit on the following weekend at designated test centres.
Kent 11+ at a Glance
7 Things You Should Know About Kent Grammar Schools
Researched facts about the region's selective schools — drawn from official sources, school websites and education research.
- 1Kent is the largest fully-selective grammar school LA in England — 35 grammars serving approximately 25% of Kent post-11 pupils. About 16,000 children sit the Kent Test each year.
- 2Kent primary school pupils are automatically registered for the Kent Test — families opt OUT rather than IN. Out-of-county families must register manually via kent.gov.uk before the 1 July deadline.
- 3Kent Test qualifying score is 320+ (combined raw score) or 109+ in each component (English, Maths, Reasoning) — the latter is more selective. Schools also operate panel review for borderline candidates.
- 4The Kent Test has three papers: English (40 minutes), Mathematics (50 minutes), and Reasoning (50 minutes combining verbal and non-verbal). All multiple-choice with computer-marked answer sheets.
- 5Highly-oversubscribed Kent grammars include Tonbridge Grammar (Times #14 in 2026), Skinners School Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone Grammar (boys), and the two Tunbridge Wells Grammars. Some have 4+ applicants per place.
- 6Kent operates an 'Out-of-County' test on the weekend following the in-school Kent Test — typically Saturday and Sunday — at designated test centres across Kent (often the grammar schools themselves).
- 7Kent grammar admissions use distinct oversubscription criteria — typically prioritising looked-after children, EHCPs, sibling priority, and distance from school. Kent has no 'super-selective' rank-order grammars; all use distance criteria after eligibility.
| Rank | School Name | Gender | PAN | 11+ Exam | GCSE 9-7 | A-Level A*-B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #14 | Tonbridge Grammar School#14 | Girls (Mixed 6th) | 180 | GL Assessment | 77.6% | 91.5% |
| #15 | Dartford Grammar School#15 | Boys | 180 | GL Assessment | 80.7% | 89.8% |
| #19 | The Judd School#19 | Boys | 180 | GL Assessment | 81.1% | 87.1% |
| #73 | Rochester Grammar School#73 | Mixed | 180 | CEM | 52% | 85.3% |
| #81 | Invicta Grammar School#81 | Girls | 210 | GL Assessment | 59.8% | 79% |
| #83 | Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School#83 | Girls | 192 | GL Assessment (Kent Test) | 67.0% | 75.0% |
| #92 | Dartford Grammar School for Girls#92 | Girls | 180 | GL Assessment | 75.5% | 68.5% |
| Barton Court Grammar School | Girls | 150 | GL Assessment | 47.3% | 60% | |
| Borden Grammar School | Boys | 150 | GL Assessment | 70% | 70% | |
| Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School | Boys | 290 | GL Assessment | 46.9% | 57.1% | |
| Chatham Grammar School for Girls | Girls | 150 | CEM | 70% | — | |
| Cranbrook School | Boys | 120 | GL Assessment | 53.5% | 67% | |
| D'Overbroeck's College | Mixed | — | Independent | 47.2% | 82.9% | |
| Dane Court Grammar School | Mixed | 180 | GL Assessment | 46.1% | 80.9% | |
| Dover Grammar School for Boys | Boys | 150 | GL Assessment | — | — | |
| Dover Grammar School for Girls | Girls | 150 | GL Assessment | — | — | |
| Fort Pitt Grammar School | Girls | 150 | CEM | 70% | — | |
| Gravesend Grammar School | Boys | 180 | GL Assessment | 44.2% | 65.2% | |
| Highsted Grammar School | Mixed | 120 | GL Assessment | 75% | 70% | |
| Highworth Grammar School | Girls | 180 | GL Assessment | 57.1% | 67.8% | |
| Holcombe Grammar School | Boys | 180 | CEM | 37.4% | 45.9% | |
| Kent College, Canterbury | Mixed | — | Independent | 45% | 59% | |
| Maidstone Grammar School | Boys | 180 | GL Assessment | 49.4% | 67.1% | |
| Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) | Girls | 186 | GL Assessment | 47.4% | 57.2% | |
| Oakwood Park Grammar School (OPGS) | Boys | 150 | GL Assessment | 54.4% | 66% | |
| Rainham Mark Grammar School | Mixed | 180 | CEM | 39.9% | 54.8% | |
| Sevenoaks School | Mixed | 200 | Independent | 88.7% | 97.4% | |
| Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School | Girls | 160 | GL Assessment | 70% | — | |
| Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys | Boys | 155 | GL Assessment | 75% | 80% | |
| Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, Rochester (The Math) | Mixed | 180 | CEM | 55.6% | 73.7% | |
| The Skinners' School | Boys | 180 | GL Assessment | 60.5% | 73.7% | |
| Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys | Boys | 180 | GL Assessment (Kent Test) | — | — | |
| Weald of Kent Grammar School | Girls | 210 | GL Assessment (Kent Test) | — | — | |
| Wilmington Grammar School for Boys | Boys | 155 | GL Assessment (Kent Test) | — | — | |
| Wilmington Grammar School for Girls | Girls | 150 | GL Assessment (Kent Test) | — | — |
Kent Grammar Schools — Frequently Asked Questions
Which are the top-ranked grammar schools in Kent?
In the 2026 Sunday Times Parent Power tables, the highest-ranked Kent grammar schools include Tonbridge Grammar School, Dartford Grammar School, The Judd School. Full rankings plus GCSE and A-Level results for every school are in the table above.
What 11+ exam do Kent grammar schools use?
Most Kent grammar schools admit pupils through the GL Assessment 11+. Check each school's row above, as some set their own entrance test or use a different exam board.
What makes Kent grammar schools distinctive?
Kent is the largest fully-selective grammar school LA in England — 35 grammars serving approximately 25% of Kent post-11 pupils. About 16,000 children sit the Kent Test each year.
What else should families know about the Kent 11+?
Kent primary school pupils are automatically registered for the Kent Test — families opt OUT rather than IN. Out-of-county families must register manually via kent.gov.uk before the 1 July deadline.
Nearby Regions
Many families consider grammars in neighbouring regions to maximise options. Explore: