About Chatham Grammar School for Girls
Chatham Grammar School for Girls is a selective grammar school in Chatham, Medway. From September 2026 the school is co-educational. Entry uses the Medway Test (provided by GL Assessment) — the same test used by all six Medway grammar schools. Three papers: English, Mathematics and Reasoning. Pass mark approximately 488 (top 25–26% of Medway Year 6 cohort). 150 Year 7 places.
Chatham Grammar School for Girls offers an outstanding education with excellent academic standards, small class sizes and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities. GCSE 9–7: 70%.
About the Medway Test (11+) for Chatham Grammar School for Girls
Chatham Grammar School for Girls is a state grammar school in Chatham, Medway — historically girls‑only and becoming co‑educational from September 2026. Entry is by the Medway Test (Medway 11+), now provided by GL Assessment (the Medway Test was previously CEM‑based and moved to GL Assessment), for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 150 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF).
The Medway Test traditionally consists of one or two papers covering English (comprehension, cloze passages, vocabulary), Mathematics (numerical reasoning, problem-solving), Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Medway Test scores are age-standardised so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. GL‑style practice papers are well suited to preparing for it.
For 2026 entry, the test is sat in Wednesday 17 September 2025 and results are released on Mid-October 2025. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2025, with National Offers Day on Monday 2 March 2026.
Chatham Grammar School for Girls is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (150 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria to allocate places fairly. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Chatham Grammar School for Girls
Chatham Grammar School for Girls Admissions Criteria
Chatham Grammar School for Girls is a selective grammar school in Chatham, Medway. From September 2026 the school is co-educational. Entry uses the Medway Test (provided by GL Assessment) — the same test used by all six Medway grammar schools. Three papers: English, Mathematics and Reasoning. Pass mark approximately 488 (top 25–26% of Medway Year 6 cohort). 150 Year 7 places.
- ✓Register for the Medway Test via Medway Council's Parent Portal (medway.gov.uk) — opens May 2026, closes June 2026.
- ✓Children at Medway primary schools sit the test at their own school on a weekday (16th–17th September 2026).
- ✓Children NOT at Medway primaries sit at a designated test centre on the weekend (20th–21st September 2026).
- ✓Sit three Medway Test papers: English (comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, grammar — 40 min), Mathematics (50 min), Reasoning — Verbal, Non-Verbal and Spatial (50 min).
- ✓Scoring: English raw score ×2, Maths raw score ×2, Reasoning raw score ×1 = total weighted score (max 700). Historical pass mark approximately 488 (top 25–26% of Medway Year 6 cohort).
- ✓Results released Wednesday 15th October 2026.
- ✓Complete Supplementary Information Form (SIF) if eligible for Free School Meals — submit to the school.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Pupil Premium / Free School Meals pupils given priority at most Medway schools.
- ✓All qualifying children ranked by distance from the school.
- ✓Apply via Medway Council Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF) by 31st October 2026.
- ✓Note: All six Medway grammar schools are co-educational from September 2026.
Chatham Grammar School for Girls Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 150 Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the Medway Test (11+).
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the Medway Test set by Chatham Grammar School for Girls
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — Chatham Grammar School for Girls 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2025 |
| 📌 Registration closes | Friday 30 June 2025 (Medway Test registration) |
| 📌 Medway Test (11+) | Wednesday 17 September 2025 (Medway Test — English + Maths + VR) |
| 📌 Test results released | Mid-October 2025 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2025 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 2 March 2026 |
How to Apply to Chatham Grammar School for Girls via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register for the Medway Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal when registration opens. Closes Friday 30 June 2025 (Medway Test registration). There is no fee to sit the test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Chatham Grammar School for Girls
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to assess fit before listing this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the Medway Test (11+)
Test held on Wednesday 17 September 2025. Covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with age-standardised scoring.
Step 4 — Receive standardised test results
Test results released on Mid-October 2025, BEFORE the CAF deadline.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List Chatham Grammar School for Girls as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit by Friday 31 October 2025. Late applications are processed only after on-time ones.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers issued on Monday 2 March 2026 via your Local Authority.
Subjects Tested at Chatham Grammar School (Medway Test) for Girls
11+ Practice Papers for Chatham Grammar School for Girls
Chatham Grammar School for Girls sits the Medway Test (GL Assessment). Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Chatham Grammar School for Girls 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at Chatham Grammar School for Girls (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Chatham Grammar (formerly Chatham Grammar School for Girls) is a selective grammar in Chatham within the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, with strong academic outcomes.
- GCSE: strong results across a broad curriculum.
- A-Level: a wide sixth-form offer supporting competitive university applications.
- Progression: high rates of progression to leading universities.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school’s website.
Catchment Area for Chatham Grammar School for Girls
Admission to Year 7 is by the Medway Test, administered by Medway Council on the school’s behalf and produced by GL Assessment: papers in English, Mathematics and Reasoning (verbal, non-verbal and spatial). A qualifying standard is set each year at roughly the top 25% of the cohort, and reaching it makes a child eligible but does not guarantee a place. From September 2026 Chatham Grammar becomes fully co-educational, admitting both girls and boys into Year 7 (previously girls only). It is the largest of the three Chatham grammars, with a Published Admission Number of 180, and has no catchment area.
Families register for the Medway Test with Medway Council in late May/June, sit it in September, receive results in October, and then name the school on the Medway Common Application Form by 31 October. Always confirm the current dates, qualifying score and oversubscription criteria with the school and Medway Council. Where the school is oversubscribed, places are allocated by test score after looked-after children, with distance to the school used as the tie-break.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Chatham Grammar is based on Maidstone Road in Chatham (with an additional entrance via Letchworth Avenue) and is part of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust. It combines academic challenge with a strong pastoral ethos, and from September 2026 becomes fully co-educational at Year 7.
Pupils take part in a wide range of sport, music, drama and other activities. For the full list of clubs and teams, see the school’s own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chatham Grammar School for Girls
How do I apply to Chatham Grammar School for Girls for Year 7?
Applications to Chatham Grammar School for Girls are made through your home Local Authority's Common Application Form (CAF), not directly to the school. Your child must sit the Medway Test (11+) (registration closes Friday 30 June 2025 (Medway Test registration)), then list Chatham Grammar School for Girls on the CAF by Friday 31 October 2025.
What entrance test does Chatham Grammar School for Girls use?
Chatham Grammar School for Girls uses the Medway Test (Medway 11+), now provided by GL Assessment. The Medway Test moved from CEM to GL Assessment in recent years. Practice papers in the GL Assessment format remain valuable preparation as the topic areas (English, Maths, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) are still tested in most formats.
What's the difference between CEM and GL Assessment?
Both test similar subjects (English, Maths, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) but differ in style: CEM was designed to be less coachable with broader vocabulary and varied question types per paper; GL Assessment has more structured, predictable papers per subject area. The Medway Test, including its reasoning paper, is now provided by GL Assessment.
How many Year 7 places does Chatham Grammar School for Girls have?
Chatham Grammar School for Girls admits approximately 150 Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria to allocate places fairly.
When is the 11+ test for Chatham Grammar School for Girls?
For 2026 entry, Chatham Grammar School for Girls's 11+ entrance assessment is held in Wednesday 17 September 2025 (Medway Test — English + Maths + VR). Registration closes Friday 30 June 2025 (Medway Test registration).
What's the pass mark / qualifying score for Chatham Grammar School for Girls?
Chatham Grammar School for Girls sets its own qualifying mark each year based on the standardised score distribution of applicants. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) up to 150 places.
Is Chatham Grammar School for Girls a state school or fee-paying?
Chatham Grammar School for Girls is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the Medway Test (11+).
How can my child prepare for the Chatham Grammar School for Girls 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question, and downloadable resources covering English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the test for best results.
Where can I find Chatham Grammar School for Girls's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Chatham Grammar School for Girls 2026 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, current test format, qualifying mark, supplementary forms, and any school-specific application requirements.