About Medway Grammar Schools
Medway has six grammar schools, all using the single Medway Test (the ‘Medway 11+’, a GL Assessment test). Your child sits the test once in September of Year 6 and can use the result to apply to any of the six.
Registration is through Medway Council (the window runs from roughly mid-May to mid-June; the council confirms 2027 dates each spring). The test is sat in September, results follow in October, and you then list your preferred schools on the Medway Secondary Common Application Form by 31 October; offers are issued on National Offer Day (1 March).
From September 2026, Chatham Grammar, Fort Pitt Grammar and Holcombe Grammar become co-educational (joining the already co-ed Rainham Mark); The Rochester Grammar School remains girls’ and Sir Joseph Williamson’s remains boys’ (with a co-ed sixth form).
Medway Grammar Schools
Medway’s six grammar schools sit around the Medway towns (Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham), all using the single Medway Test. Click any school for its detailed admission guide, catchment and key dates:
All six Medway grammar schools use the same Medway Test result. Chatham Grammar also accepts the Kent Test. To apply to grammar schools in neighbouring Kent or Bexley you must register separately for their tests.
About the Medway Test
The Medway Test (often called the ‘Medway 11+’) is the entrance test used by all six grammar schools in the Medway Council area. Produced by GL Assessment, it assesses English, Mathematics and Reasoning (verbal and non-verbal).
Format: three multiple-choice papers — English, Mathematics and Reasoning — each lasting no more than an hour, with answers recorded on an OMR sheet. Raw scores are age-standardised and then weighted (English ×2, Mathematics ×2, Reasoning ×1) to give a total weighted score.
The pass mark is set to select roughly the top 25% of the Medway cohort (the 26th percentile for recent entry). Meeting the standard does not guarantee a place: popular schools are oversubscribed, and distance-based oversubscription criteria favour local children.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Medway Grammar Schools
Medway runs a single area-wide test: register your child for the Medway Test with Medway Council during the registration window (roughly mid-May to mid-June — confirm the 2027 dates with the council). Your child sits the test once in September; results arrive in October. You then list your preferred Medway grammar schools on the Medway Secondary Common Application Form by 31 October, and offers are issued on National Offer Day (1 March). Scores are weighted (English ×2, Maths ×2, Reasoning ×1); each school sets its own oversubscription criteria, with distance often decisive.
What the Medway Test Covers
The Medway Test assesses English, Mathematics and Reasoning (verbal and non-verbal) across three one-hour multiple-choice papers. Scores are weighted towards English and Maths (each ×2). Practising realistic GL-style papers in these areas is the most effective preparation.
Medway Test Practice Papers for Medway Grammar Schools
Medway Grammar Schools 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 Medway Test
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.
Medway Grammar Schools — Frequently Asked Questions
How many grammar schools are in Medway?
Six: The Rochester Grammar School, Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, Fort Pitt Grammar, Chatham Grammar, Holcombe Grammar and Rainham Mark Grammar — all using the Medway Test.
What is the Medway Test?
The 'Medway 11+', a GL Assessment test of English, Mathematics and Reasoning — three multiple-choice papers, each up to an hour, sat in September of Year 6.
How is the Medway Test scored?
Raw scores are age-standardised and then weighted (English ×2, Mathematics ×2, Reasoning ×1) to give a total weighted score; the pass mark selects roughly the top 25% of the Medway cohort.
Do I sit a separate test for each school?
No — you sit the Medway Test once and can apply to any of the six Medway grammars. Chatham Grammar also accepts the Kent Test.
How do I register?
Register with Medway Council during the window (roughly mid-May to mid-June). Children at Medway primary schools sit the test at school; others sit at a test centre at the weekend.
How do I apply for a place?
List your chosen Medway grammars on the Medway Secondary Common Application Form by 31 October; offers are made on National Offer Day (1 March).
Are the schools single-sex or co-ed?
From September 2026 Chatham, Fort Pitt and Holcombe become co-educational (joining Rainham Mark); The Rochester Grammar School remains girls' and Sir Joseph Williamson's remains boys' (co-ed sixth form).
Can children from outside Medway sit the test?
Yes — any child can register regardless of where they live, though distance-based oversubscription criteria tend to favour local residents.