About Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS)
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) is a selective girls' grammar school in Maidstone, Kent, admitting 186 girls per year. It uses the Kent Test (GL Assessment). MGGS is rated Outstanding by Ofsted and achieves consistently excellent academic results.
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 47.4%. A-Level A*–B: 57.2%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS)
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) is a girls state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 186 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.
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) 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 (186 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 Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS)
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) Admissions Criteria
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) is a selective girls' grammar school in Maidstone, Kent, admitting 186 girls per year. It uses the Kent Test (GL Assessment). MGGS is rated Outstanding by Ofsted and achieves consistently excellent academic results.
- ✓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).
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Girls within the Maidstone priority area who have achieved the qualifying standard.
- ✓All other qualifying girls, ranked by distance.
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 186 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 Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS))
- 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 — Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) 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 Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) 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 Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS)
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 Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) 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 Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS)'s waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS)
MGGS selects through the Kent Test (GL Assessment), shared across Kent's grammar schools — multiple-choice papers plus a writing task, age-standardised, with a minimum standard required in each section and an overall aggregate.
- 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 Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS)
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) 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 Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) 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 Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) is an Outstanding-rated grammar with a strong record of academic achievement at GCSE and A-Level and a healthy Progress 8 score, alongside a broad co-curricular programme and a science specialism.
- GCSE & A-Level: consistently strong results across a broad curriculum.
- Sixth form: a large mixed sixth form admitting boys as well as girls.
- Specialism: a science specialism, with awards including Investors in People.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
Admission to Year 7 is through the Kent Test (the PESE assessment), produced by GL Assessment and used across Kent. It assesses English, mathematics and reasoning (verbal, non-verbal and spatial), with a short writing task used in borderline cases; a child must meet a minimum standard in each section as well as a required total aggregate, with broadly the top 25% reaching the standard. Families register through the Kent County Council portal and name the school on the Secondary Common Application Form.
The school does not operate a geographic catchment. After children with an EHCP and looked-after children, priority runs through Pupil Premium pupils, then a number of Governor places (the top 30 qualified girls by total aggregate score), then siblings of pupils at MGGS or Maidstone Grammar School, with remaining places allocated by straight-line distance. Always confirm the current criteria in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) is a selective girls' grammar for ages 11–18, with a large mixed sixth form, on Buckland Road in Maidstone, Kent (ME16 0SF), with around 1,250 pupils. Founded in 1887, it is an Outstanding-rated school with a science specialism, whose ethos centres on integrity, resilience, leadership and scholarship.
The school combines rigorous academic standards with an extensive co-curricular programme — from debating to scientific research projects — and has earned awards including Healthy Schools and Investors in People. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
How do I apply to Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) for Year 7?
Applications to Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) 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 Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) 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 Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS)?
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) 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 186 places.
How many Year 7 places does Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) have?
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) admits 186 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 Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) 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 Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS)'s waiting list.
Is Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) a state school or fee-paying?
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) 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 Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) 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 Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS)'s official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) 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.