About Highsted Grammar School
Highsted Grammar School is a selective girls’ grammar school (with a co-educational sixth form) in Sittingbourne, Kent, admitting 120 pupils per year. It uses the Kent Test (GL Assessment). Like Borden Grammar, Highsted also offers an additional bespoke 'safety net' assessment for pupils who narrowly miss the Kent Test qualifying threshold.
Highsted Grammar School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 75%. A-Level A*–B: 70%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Highsted Grammar School
Highsted Grammar School is a co-educational state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 120 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The Kent test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2027 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in Thursday 11 September 2026 and results are released to parents on mid-October 2026 — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
Highsted Grammar School is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (120 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Highsted Grammar School
Highsted Grammar School Admissions Criteria
Highsted Grammar School is a selective girls’ grammar school (with a co-educational sixth form) in Sittingbourne, Kent, admitting 120 pupils per year. It uses the Kent Test (GL Assessment). Like Borden Grammar, Highsted also offers an additional bespoke 'safety net' assessment for pupils who narrowly miss the Kent Test qualifying threshold.
- ✓Register for the Kent Test via Kent County Council — opens June, closes July (Year 5).
- ✓Sit the Kent Test: two one-hour multiple-choice papers plus 40-minute writing task.
- ✓Achieve the qualifying threshold (total 332+, no subject below 106).
- ✓Highsted also offers a separate bespoke test for pupils who score just below the threshold — contact school for details.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Children within the school's priority area (Sittingbourne) who have achieved the qualifying standard.
- ✓All other qualifying children, ranked by distance.
Highsted Grammar School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 120 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 GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by Highsted Grammar School)
- 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 measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — Highsted Grammar School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | early July 2026 |
| 📌 Registration closes | early July 2026 |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Thursday 11 September 2026 (in-school for state primary pupils); Saturday 13 September 2026 (for independent/out-of-county pupils) |
| 📌 Test results released | mid-October 2026 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to Highsted Grammar School via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Kent) when registration opens. Closes early July 2026. There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Highsted Grammar School
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in Thursday 11 September 2026. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents on mid-October 2026, BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List Highsted Grammar School as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2026. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Highsted Grammar School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Highsted Grammar School
Highsted Grammar School selects through the Kent Test (GL Assessment) or its own Highsted Test (equal status). The Kent Test is two multiple-choice papers plus a writing task, age-standardised, with a typical grammar-qualifying total of around 332 and no score below about 107.
- English & mathematics: Key Stage 2 comprehension, literacy and numeracy.
- Reasoning: verbal, non-verbal and spatial reasoning.
- Writing task: a short piece used mainly for borderline and appeal cases.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Highsted Grammar School
Highsted Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. 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 Highsted Grammar School 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 Highsted Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Highsted is consistently among the top-performing schools in Kent. In a recent year around 82% of pupils gained grade 5 or above in English and maths, with around 98% achieving the English Baccalaureate, alongside strong A-Level results and a broad, knowledge-rich curriculum spanning STEM, languages and the arts.
- GCSE: around 82% grade 5+ in English and maths in a recent year.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form welcoming a small number of boys.
- Specialism: a science specialism, with an 'Aim High' STEM club for local primary pupils.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Highsted Grammar School
Admission to Year 7 can be gained through the Kent Test (GL Assessment) or the school's own Highsted Test, which has equal status. The Kent Test is two multiple-choice papers (one covering English and mathematics, the other verbal, non-verbal and spatial reasoning) plus a 40-minute writing task; it is age-standardised, with a typical grammar-qualifying total of around 332 and no single score below about 107. The Highsted Test combines a computer-based paper with a written English paper (with verbal reasoning weighted most heavily) and sets its qualifying standard each year at broadly the top 25%.
The school does not operate a catchment or priority area; after children with an EHCP naming the school, places go to qualified girls (via either test) by nearest straight-line distance, with looked-after children, Pupil Premium and siblings prioritised first. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Highsted Grammar School is a selective girls' grammar (with a co-educational sixth form) on Highsted Road in Sittingbourne, Kent (ME10 4PT). Established in 1904 (originally as a girls' grammar school in Sittingbourne) and on its current site since 1959, it is an academy with a science specialism and the motto 'To be, rather than to seem', and has earned recognition including the Investors in People and ECO-Schools awards.
Learning at Highsted goes beyond the classroom, with a wide range of extracurricular activities spanning sport, music, drama and public speaking. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Highsted Grammar School
How do I apply to Highsted Grammar School for Year 7?
Applications to Highsted Grammar School are made through your home Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) — not directly to the school. Your child must sit the GL Assessment 11+ test (registration closes early July 2026), then list Highsted Grammar School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Highsted Grammar School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Highsted Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Thursday 11 September 2026 (in-school for state primary pupils); Saturday 13 September 2026 (for independent/out-of-county pupils). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Highsted Grammar School?
Highsted Grammar School sets its own qualifying mark each year. 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 the admission number of 120 places.
How many Year 7 places does Highsted Grammar School have?
Highsted Grammar School admits 120 Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places fairly.
When are GL Assessment results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, GL Assessment test results are released on mid-October 2026 — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
When is National Offers Day for Highsted Grammar School in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 secondary school places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by your home Local Authority — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Highsted Grammar School's waiting list.
Is Highsted Grammar School a state school or fee-paying?
Highsted Grammar School is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the GL Assessment 11+ test, but pupils who pass the test do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the Highsted Grammar School 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete GL Assessment 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all GL topic areas — English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find Highsted Grammar School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Highsted Grammar School 2027 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, qualifying mark, supplementary forms (if any), and any school-specific application requirements.