About Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys (TWGSB) is a selective boys' grammar school in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, admitting 180 boys per year (co-educational Sixth Form). It uses the Kent Test (GL Assessment). TWGSB is consistently ranked among the top boys' grammar schools in Kent.
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys is a boys state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 300 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.
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 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 (300 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 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys Admissions Criteria
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys (TWGSB) is a selective boys' grammar school in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, admitting 180 boys per year (co-educational Sixth Form). It uses the Kent Test (GL Assessment). TWGSB is consistently ranked among the top boys' grammar schools in Kent.
- ✓Register for the Kent Test via Kent County Council — opens early June, closes early 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).
- ✓Boys within the Tunbridge Wells priority area who have achieved the qualifying standard.
- ✓All other qualifying boys, ranked by distance.
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 300 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 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys)
- 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 — Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 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 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 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 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
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 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 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 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment (Kent Test) Subjects Tested at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
TWGSB selects through the Kent Test (GL Assessment), taken by all Kent grammar applicants — standardised scores, with admission for any boy assessed as grammar-suitable (places then allocated on oversubscription criteria, not by rank of score).
- English: comprehension and literacy, plus a writing task.
- Mathematics: Key Stage 2 arithmetic and problem-solving.
- Reasoning: verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
GL Assessment (Kent Test) Practice Papers for Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 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 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 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 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys (TWGSB) is a high-performing Kent boys' grammar with strong A-Level results and good university progression.
- A-Level: around 65% of grades at A*–B, with about 80% of leavers gaining a place at their first-choice university.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form.
- Ofsted: rated Good.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
Admission to Year 7 is through the Kent Test (the county's PESE test, set by GL Assessment), taken by all Kent grammar applicants — a one-hour English and mathematics paper and a one-hour reasoning paper (verbal and non-verbal), plus a 40-minute writing task. A child must be assessed as suitable for grammar education; the usual threshold is a total of around 332 with no single score below about 107. Unusually for a Kent grammar, TWGSB does not then rank by Kent Test score — once a boy qualifies, places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria rather than on how high he scored.
The school is large, admitting around 300 pupils to Year 7 across two campuses — about 210 places in Tunbridge Wells and about 90 at its Sevenoaks site (it is one school, and parents cannot choose the campus). After boys with an EHCP naming the school (which reduces the number available) and looked-after children, priority runs through Pupil Premium pupils, then straight-line distance, with campus allocated by distance after offers are made. 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
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys is a selective boys' grammar for ages 11–18, with a co-educational sixth form, on St John's Road in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, with a second campus in Sevenoaks. Founded as a technical school in 1956, it became a grammar school in 1982 and is rated Good by Ofsted.
A £7.5 million expansion has added a teaching centre for mathematics, ICT and food technology, a six-court sports centre and the Sevenoaks annexe, alongside extensive sports facilities. The school offers a wide co-curriculum across sport, culture and the arts. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
How do I apply to Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys for Year 7?
Applications to Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 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 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 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 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys?
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 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 300 places.
How many Year 7 places does Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys have?
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys admits 300 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 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 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 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys's waiting list.
Is Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys a state school or fee-paying?
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 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 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 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 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 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.