In-year Grammar test Kent & Sutton

[KaterynaB]

Hi. I am new here. Trying to find the best way for my child and help her to get into Grammar school. We moved to UK 4 year ago and might not know everything...So she tried to get into Newstead Wood school in September 2025, but didn't get into by 7 points, same with Bexleyheath Grammar. We came to a point to try again with in - year application. I am now looking for a Kent Grammar schools and Sutton Borough. We have an invitation for test in September for Kent. For Sutton i am going to apply in September.
She has a tutor 2 times a week, we work with Atom learning. She is well-motivated and inspired. How else could I help her? Any tips? Any online education? Materials? We have Exam Paper + test papers. Please, give me something else that I don't know. Thank you

Just let her go to a local school. Kent and sutton are miles away from each other so you're obviously expecting her to commute.

Let her go to your local school and not have to spend 15 hours a week commuting.

There is the Kent test (I assume you're thinking Dartford) but you might also want to try the Medway Test if willing to travel further.

Commuting to Sutton from Kent every day? Of course not. Just focus on the ones nearby to you. The Sutton ones get good results because they take such a tiny % of the people who sit the tests. A bright kid would achieve the same results at any half decent local school. You have to think about things like ensuring your child has adequate rest, sleep, life work balance or its not healthy.

She might be better off at a local school, without the commuting and thrive, rather than struggle to keep up in a very competitive environment. She’s having a lot of extra tuition and she also needs time for hobbies and relaxation.

What score did she get on the Kent 11+?

Your DD has not met the minimum requirements for two entry tests and she also has a tutor twice a week and uses Atom Learning(?) This suggests that she is not suited for grammar school. There is no shame in that. It’s perhaps more of a shame that you’re trying to force her into an environment in which she would likely struggle. Are there no good schools local to you to which you could apply? That would likely be the best option for your DD. Sounds like she needs a break.

Secondary-admissions-book.pdf https://share.google/Hg4jDA3PmMVakXjhc

(Allocation stats for 2025 entry near the end of the document).

If you're dead set on a grammar school place for your DD, you could look at the Kent grammar schools that were undersubscribed for her year of entry and check what the process for establishing eligibility is.

Just being deemed 'suitable for grammar school', if she is successful in whichever test she takes, doesn't create an actual place in an oversubscribed year group. If you are looking at 'Kent' (a large geographical area and the 'commuter town' grammars likely to be full in all year groups) and the two girls' grammar schools in the London Borough of Sutton as alternative options, then presumably you are considering the need for a house move?

The Chatham and Clarendon School in Ramsgate and Highsted in Sittingbourne appear to have been very undersubscribed for 2025 entry.

Apply to Weald of Kent directly but move house. It is CAT4 type testing, suits a child who cannot meet superselective better. 7 points off Newstead is not close. It is done on a bell curve, I assume you know that. Avoid anything too selective like Sutton schools.

https://www.wealdofkent.kent.sch.uk/about/admissions/in-year-admissions

I know several girls who failed Newstead/Bexley etc who got into Weald and are happy there. You want to be aiming for a school where your DC is comfortably at least average or it is not great for their confidence. Also as others have said, it is much better for a child to have a reasonable commute and local friends.

As others have said you're looking at schools across Sutton, Kent, Orpington and Bexley. Where do you live?
If your DD isn't getting the pass marks with all that tutoring and extra work then she's going to struggle if you do manage to get her into a grammar school. Especially if it's far away and needs a long commute.

Honestly there's nothing more you can throw at her to get her to pass. I'd say it's time to let it go.

(I say this as someone who has one DS who didn't have to work massively hard to pass Bexley 11+ and another DS who is not going to even sit it, because he was struggling with the practice papers so much and would've had to work ridiculously hard to have a chance of passing - he's applying for local secondary schools).