Kent Grammar Schools

I went to one of the Canterbury grammars mentioned. Very easy bus routes even though I lived 9 miles away and some of my friends lived even further. I'm not sure the non grammars are great though if DC don't pass the 11+ (though lots of pupils got in on appeal). Chaucer was so bad it was closed and Canterbury high and spires didnt have the best reputation.

It is definitely easier to get in to a grammar in east Kent than west Kent. Less population and the Thames/sea stopping large catchment areas. Ashford and Folkestone grammars are single sex, Faversham and Canterbury mixed so that might narrow down what you might prefer. It’s the same test for all the schools in this part of Kent.

Canterbury has Barton Court and Langton girls both as non super selective. Langton boys is super selective.

However lots of the other secondary schools in the area offer a grammar stream as well.

I live in Wye near Ashford. The Ashford grammars are not super selective and the non-selective school in Wye also has very good results. We are waiting for our son's Kent test results tomorrow but even if he does pass we may well put Wye School as our first option. The Ashford boys' grammar, Norton Knatchbull, also has a wealth of information on its website about admissions and appeals processes which can be applied to any Kent grammar.

True it might be an hour by bus. Just over 30 minutes by train though and they are very regular. Times attached for you if it’s something that you would consider.

I don’t know Ashford extremely well but DH has family there. The town itself really isn’t very attractive but house prices are cheaper as a result. I think there might be some pretty villages surrounding it though.

Kent is a big county that varies a lot by house prices, demographics, geography and commutability. Strood for instance is hugely different to say Sevenoaks. A good place to start would be what your house budget is and what you’d look to get for that.

Secondly, only 25% of children pass the Kent test. Coaching/tutoring often starts in Year 4. While I’m sure there are some DC who pass the Kent Test without external tutoring or parental coaching, I don’t personally know any. So if your DC are one of the 75% who fail then you need a good Secondary Modern back up. This we are in short supply of so you need to pick your area wisely. Or go private which if you’ve gone to the max on the mortgage in the more expensive parts of Kent might be a strain.

Non Supers in my area (outer Sevenoaks) are Tunbridge Wells for Boys Annex (Sevenoaks) and it’s parent in TW, Weald of Kent Girls (Tonbridge & Sevenoaks Annex), Oakwood in Maidstone (Boys), Invicta and Maidstone grammar school for girls both in Maidstone and Maidstone Grammar School (Boys). As the PP has said, the Maidstone Grammars are the least oversubscribed with the exception of Maidstone Grammar for Boys (which if it isn’t now, definitely was until recently).

The Maidstone Grammar Schools are not 'Super-Selective' . Also the Sixth Form requirements at the Maidstone are not daunting, For instance Invicta Grammar only require 4 Grade 6's and 4 grade 5's @ GCSE for Sixth Form Entry. These relatively low entry requirements can be both positive and negative factors. The positive being pupils don't spend endless time emoting, their fear of not attaining the grades required for 6th form entry. The negatives being that perhaps some students admitted, are not capable of 'Grammar' school grades @ A Level. Invicta Grammar I know a few years ago, got into trouble for refusing some girls entry to year 13 because these girls were working at D grade A Level standard.

Sir Roger Manwoods in Sandwich
Both Dover Grammars