Maidstone Grammar School 11+ Exam

FAQs: Maidstone Grammar School for Girls Admissions Process

The questions below address the issues parents most commonly misunderstand when considering this school.

How hard is it to gain admission to Maidstone Grammar School?

Maidstone Grammar School is a selective grammar school and children must pass an entrance examination to be considered for admission. In recent years the number of applicants has exceeded the number of available places. In short, pupils need strong test performance and, when there are more eligible applicants than places, they must also meet the school’s oversubscription criteria to secure a place.

If my child passes the test, will they automatically be accepted?

No. Passing the Kent Test does not guarantee your entry to your first-choice school. Your acceptance will be based on the number of applicants and spaces available. 

What is actually tested in the entrance exam for Maidstone Grammar School?

Pupils looking to join Maidstone Grammar School will need to sit the Kent 11+. The Kent Test assesses English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. There is also a 40-minute writing exercise, but this is not marked as part of the standardised Kent Test score.

What does oversubscription to a school mean exactly?

Oversubscription means that more children apply for a school than there are places available.

When the school is oversubscribed, how does the school decide which children are given priority for admission?

Before oversubscription criteria are applied, children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) that names the school will be offered a place.

If the number of applications exceeds the number of places available, places will be allocated in the following order of priority:

1. Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children
   Children who are currently in care or who were previously in care.

2. Qualifying children who reside in one of the listed parishes, who achieved a pass mark of 360 or more in order of:

• in receipt of free school meals at the time of application

• siblings

• children of staff

• distance from school

3. Other qualifying children who reside in one of the listed parishes:

• in receipt of free school meals at the time of application

• siblings

• children of staff

• distance from school

4. Other qualifying children in order of:

• in receipt of free school meals at the time of application

• siblings

• children of staff

• distance from school

Listed Parishes:

Addington, Aylesford (includes Eccles), Barming, Bearsted, Bicknor, Birling, Borough Green,

Boughton Malherbe, Boughton Monchelsea, Boxley, Bredhurst, Broomfield and Kingswood, Burham,

Chart Sutton, Collier Street, Coxheath, Detling, Ditton, Downswood, East Farleigh, East Malling and

Larkfield, East Sutton, Frinsted, Harrietsham, Headcorn, Hollingbourne, Hucking, Hunton, Ightham,

Kings Hill, Langley, Leeds, Lenham (includes Lenham & Platts Heath), Leybourne, Linton, Loose,

Maidstone, Marden, Mereworth, Nettlestead, Offham, Otham, Platt, Ryarsh, Snodland, Stansted,

Staplehurst, Stockbury, Sutton Valence, Teston, Thurnham, Tovil, Trottiscliffe, Ulcombe,

Wateringbury, West Farleigh, West Malling, West Peckham, Wichling, Wormshill, Wrotham,

Wouldham, Yalding (includes Laddingford). 

Do I have to live in Kent to apply to Maidstone Grammar School?

No — you do not have to live in Kent to apply to Maidstone Grammar School.

Families living outside Kent are welcome to apply and register for the entrance assessments. However, if the school is oversubscribed, distance from home to school is one of the factors used in the oversubscription criteria, which can make it more competitive for applicants who live further away.

What is the admissions process for this school?

1. Register for the Kent Test (11+)
   Parents must register their child for the Kent Test through Kent County Council by the published deadline. 

2. Receive test results
   You will be informed whether your child has met the grammar school standard.

3. Submit the Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF)
   Parents must complete the SCAF through Kent County Council, ranking schools in order of preference.

4. Submit the Supplementary Information Form

If your child is registered for free school meals at the time of application, complete this form.

5. Offers are made
   School places are offered on National Offer Day - If more eligible children apply than there are places, oversubscription criteria are used to decide who is offered a place.

6. Waiting list or appeal (if needed)
   If a place is not offered, parents can choose to join the waiting list and/or submit an appeal.

My child has a learning difficulty - will the entrance exam be adjusted to meet their needs?

If your child has a disability or special educational needs which will affect their access to testing, you need to discuss this with their primary school's special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) before you register them for the test as the school will need to apply for any necessary access arrangements.

Does my child need to do 11-plus preparation prior to the exam?

It is helpful for pupils to practise the types of questions they may be asked, particularly verbal and non-verbal reasoning, as these question styles are often unfamiliar to many children. It is also beneficial to become familiar with exam techniques, such as working to time, understanding instructions and managing pressure on the day. Preparation can help identify and bridge any gaps in knowledge and support from an experienced tutor can guide pupils through all of these areas, building confidence and ensuring they are able to show their true ability in the test environment.