About Tonbridge Grammar School
Tonbridge Grammar School is a selective girls' grammar school in Tonbridge, Kent, admitting 180 girls per year (with a co-educational Sixth Form). It uses the Kent Test (GL Assessment) — the same test used by all 32 Kent grammar schools. Tonbridge Grammar is consistently ranked among the top girls' grammar schools in England.
Tonbridge Grammar School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Tonbridge Grammar School
Tonbridge Grammar School 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 180 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 your local 11+ consortium 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 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.
Tonbridge 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 (180 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 Tonbridge Grammar School
Tonbridge Grammar School Admissions Criteria
Tonbridge Grammar School is a selective girls' grammar school in Tonbridge, Kent, admitting 180 girls per year (with a co-educational Sixth Form). It uses the Kent Test (GL Assessment) — the same test used by all 32 Kent grammar schools. Tonbridge Grammar is consistently ranked among the top girls' grammar schools in England.
- ✓Register for the Kent Test via Kent County Council (kentonlineadmissions@kent.gov.uk) — opens early June, closes early July (Year 5).
- ✓Sit the Kent Test: two one-hour multiple-choice papers (English/Maths + Reasoning) plus 40-minute writing task.
- ✓Achieve the qualifying threshold: total score 332+, no single subject below 106.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Girls within the school's priority area (Tonbridge and surrounding postcodes) who have achieved the qualifying standard.
- ✓All other qualifying girls, ranked by distance from school.
Tonbridge Grammar School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 180 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 Tonbridge 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 — Tonbridge Grammar School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 (varies by school) |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | September 2026 (English + Maths + Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) |
| 📌 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 Tonbridge 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. Default) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026 (varies by school). There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Tonbridge 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 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 Tonbridge 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 Tonbridge Grammar School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment (Kent Test) Subjects Tested at Tonbridge Grammar School
Tonbridge Grammar selects through the Kent Test (GL Assessment), taken by all Kent grammar applicants — standardised scores with no fixed pass mark, but a high effective threshold given how oversubscribed the school is.
- Reasoning: verbal, spatial and non-verbal reasoning (one combined paper).
- English: comprehension and literacy, plus a writing task (borderline cases only).
- Mathematics: Key Stage 2 arithmetic and problem-solving.
GL Assessment (Kent Test) Practice Papers for Tonbridge Grammar School
Tonbridge Grammar School uses the GL Assessment (Kent Test) 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 Tonbridge 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 Tonbridge Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Tonbridge Grammar School (TGS) is consistently one of the top-performing grammar schools in Kent, with outstanding GCSE and A-Level results and strong progression to leading universities.
- GCSE: around 94% of pupils achieving five or more grades at 7–9 in a recent year.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, with around 91% of grades at A*–B equivalent.
- Ofsted: rated Outstanding.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Tonbridge Grammar School
Admission to Year 7 is through the Kent Test (the county's PESE test, set by GL Assessment) — the school sets no test of its own. It is taken in two parts: a one-hour reasoning paper (split into verbal, spatial and non-verbal reasoning) and a one-hour English and mathematics paper, plus a writing task used in borderline cases. Each child receives standardised scores plus a combined total; the usual threshold is a total of around 332 with no single score below about 106. As a super-selective school, TGS is heavily oversubscribed.
The school admits 180 girls to Year 7 across two streams: around 135 Area Places for girls living in Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks, and around 35 Trustee Places for applicants outside that priority area. After children with an EHCP and looked-after children, places in each stream are offered to the highest-scoring qualified applicants, with distance as a tie-break. Register for the Kent Test via Kent County Council and name the school on the Secondary Common Application Form by 31 October. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Tonbridge Grammar School is a selective girls' grammar for ages 11–18, with a co-educational sixth form, on Deakin Leas in Tonbridge, Kent (TN9 2JR). Founded in 1905 and an academy since 2011, it is widely regarded as one of the leading grammar schools in the county and is rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
The school takes a forward-looking, internationally minded approach — reflected in its IB sixth form — and places strong emphasis on wellbeing through its dedicated Wellbeing Hub, alongside a broad co-curriculum. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tonbridge Grammar School
How do I apply to Tonbridge Grammar School for Year 7?
Applications to Tonbridge 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 late June 2026 (varies by school)), then list Tonbridge Grammar School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Tonbridge Grammar School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Tonbridge Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in September 2026 (English + Maths + Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Tonbridge Grammar School?
Tonbridge 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 180 places.
How many Year 7 places does Tonbridge Grammar School have?
Tonbridge Grammar School admits 180 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 Tonbridge 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 Tonbridge Grammar School's waiting list.
Is Tonbridge Grammar School a state school or fee-paying?
Tonbridge 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 Tonbridge 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 Tonbridge Grammar School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Tonbridge 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.