At a Glance
Assessment: GL 11 Plus (Kent test)
Fees Type: Free
Boarding: Day school
Admissions: Girls Only
Places per year: 270
Introduction
Weald of Kent Grammar school is a selective academy for girls ages 11 to 16 with a coeducational sixth form cohort. The School is based across two sites, the original location in Tonbridge and the new annex in Sevenoaks which opened in 2017 on the site of the old Wildernesse School following refurbishment. The School holds specialisms in both Science and Language which affords them additional government funding for these programmes. A recent Ofsted inspection of the school in April 2022 was not overly favourable as the school was ranked ‘Good’ for its quality of education and sixth form provision but ranked ‘Requires improvement’ in terms of the behaviour and attitudes of students, their personal development and the leadership and management of the school. Academic success is very high at the Weald of Kent Grammar School, inspectors commented of pupils ‘They know that their teachers want them to do well, and most pupils feel supported in meeting these expectations. Pupils achieve well and study a broad range of subjects with a strong focus on academic excellence.’ However issues were raised over bullying concerns at the school, as the report describes ‘While most pupils feel safe at school, a significant number are concerned about bullying. Many pupils do not feel able to talk to adults in school about their worries.’ In a letter to parents the headteacher states that the decision is being appealed but identifies key areas of improvement stemming from the report, with plans already underway to improve student experience going forwards.
The Weald of Kent Grammar School helps girls achieve, and it could be argued surpass, their expected potential. GCSE examination results for 2022 show that the average GCSE grade was 7+ where a grade of 7 is equivalent to an A in the previous marking system. Overall 73% of results were of a grade 7-9 standard and 21% were grade 9. At A-level the strong form continues with 80.3% of grades falling into the A* to B category and an average grade score of B+. Whilst grades are the simplest way to measure success, perhaps the most important indicator that the Weald of Kent Grammar School provides a quality education is their Progress 8 score of 0.95 which places it among the highest in the country for student progress. Progress 8 is a comparison between different schools in the UK of children who entered with similar Key stage 2 results versus their results by Key stage 4. A score of +1 indicates that across the 8 subjects monitored children received a grade higher on average than their peers across the country.
Making an application to grammar school can be a somewhat confusing and bewildering experience with numerous forms to fill out and the all important selective entrance examination to prepare for. Luckily we at 11 Plus Hero are here to help! On our website you will find all of the key information for each grammar school in the UK to help you make the decision of which school is the right fit for your daughter. Once you have chosen your school then we also present all of the important dates and deadlines for application as well as preparation materials for the entrance examination. Our guides will help your daughter understand what to expect in the GL 11 Plus exam board provided Kent Test or Kent PESE (Procedure for Entry to Secondary Education), providing familiarisation materials and practise papers so that there are no surprises on the day!
Weald of Kent Grammar School Key Information
11 Plus Hero regularly keeps up to date with the vital, core school information in order to keep you best informed and aware of who to contact at the Weald of Kent Grammar School.
School Address
Full Address:
Weald of Kent Grammar SchoolTudeley Lane
Tonbridge
Kent
TN9 2JP
Contact Information
Parking in the school
- Parking may be available on the school field but this is weather dependant and must be checked with the school. There are however a number of parking facilities within a 20-25 minutes walk.
Additional parking off site
- Priory Street, 60a Priory Street, Tonbridge and Malling, TN9 2AW. Mon to Sun, 24h.
- Tonbridge Station – Car Park C, Priory Road, Tonbridge and Malling, TN9 1TT. Mon to Sun, 24h.
Additional parking off site
- Priory Street, 60a Priory Street, Tonbridge and Malling, TN9 2AW. Mon to Sun, 24h.
- Tonbridge Station – Car Park C, Priory Road, Tonbridge and Malling, TN9 1TT. Mon to Sun, 24h.
Key Information for Weald of Kent Grammar School
PAN* for Year 7 intake (2023)
Total Student Capacity Years 7 to 13 (2022)
Total Students Years 7 to 13 (2022)
Percentage Capacity (2022)
Latest Ofsted Rating (2022)
Selection Test
Weald of Kent Grammar School’s Key Dates and Application Information
11 Plus hero has collected the key important dates and deadlines for making an application to the Weald of Kent Grammar School to make keeping on track easier for you!
Applications for Secondary School intake 2023
Open Mornings
Registration for Kent test
Registration of special access requirements for children with SEND by the SENCO from their current school
Kent Test - Exam date for children attending school in Kent
Kent Test - Exam date for children attending school outside of Kent
Kent Test Results Date
Common Application form (CAF) Deadline
Application Documents for Weald of Kent Grammar School
To make sure we at 11 Plus Hero are providing you the most accurate information we stay up-to-date with documents from the Weald of Kent Grammar School itself and the local government sources.
Weald of Kent Grammar School Admissions Policy 2023-2024
View PDFWeald of Kent Grammar School Academy Trust Supplementary Information Form
View PDFInformation for the Kent test
View PDFKent council school application dates
View PDFHow to apply
View PDFGL 11 Plus Familiarisation Materials
View PDFWeald of Kent Grammar School Exam Format
In order to be eligible for admission to the Weald of Kent Grammar School, Girls must pass the Kent Test, a selective entrance test produced by the GL 11 Plus exam board. This test is shared by other Kentish Grammar schools such that taking the test in one location would qualify a child for admission to another Kentish grammar school. The format of the test is two paper based multiple choice exams in English and Maths KS2 targets as well as an assessment of your child’s Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning skills. There is also a creative writing exercise which is written by the school itself. This final element is only taken into consideration if an unsatisfactory score in the multiple choice papers was attained.
The GL 11 Plus Kent Test: Overview
Below we provide an overview of the components which make up The Kent Test and a description of the requirements to pass. Detailed information is carefully and regularly updated on a separate single page for all Kentish Grammar Schools which allows 11 Plus Hero to provide the highest quality and accuracy of advice and information ‘Selective Tests in Kent – The Kent Test’.
Paper One
A multiple choice English and Maths paper
Paper Two
A multiple choice Verbal Reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning paper
Addittional
A creative writing exercise
The Kent Test - GL 11 Plus Assessment Criteria
| English | Maths | Verbal Reasoning | Non-Verbal Reasoning | Additional: Creative Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pass Mark
The GL 11 Plus Kent Test: Pass Criteria
Girls will be deemed selective if they reach or exceed a threshold score on the Kent Test. This threshold is calculated on a yearly basis as it is based on the scores received by the entire cohort taking the Kent Test that year. As such it is not possible to quote a passing threshold ahead of time. Our centralised article on the Kent Test lists the thresholds from previous years to get an idea of the range and can be found here Selective Tests in Kent – The Kent Test. An individual girls score is calculated by taking the marks in the two multiple choice papers, combining them and standardising the marks including an age adjustment. This produces the final aggregate score which is compared to the threshold score. The creative writing exercise is only assessed by schools at the appeals stage following failure to reach the threshold score in the GL 11 Plus Papers.
Pass Mark
The GL 11 Plus Kent Test: Pass Criteria
Girls will be deemed selective if they reach or exceed a threshold score on the Kent Test. This threshold is calculated on a yearly basis as it is based on the scores received by the entire cohort taking the Kent Test that year. As such it is not possible to quote a passing threshold ahead of time. Our centralised article on the Kent Test lists the thresholds from previous years to get an idea of the range and can be found here Selective Tests in Kent – The Kent Test. An individual girls score is calculated by taking the marks in the two multiple choice papers, combining them and standardising the marks including an age adjustment. This produces the final aggregate score which is compared to the threshold score. The creative writing exercise is only assessed by schools at the appeals stage following failure to reach the threshold score in the GL 11 Plus Papers.
Catchment Area
The Weald of Kent Grammar School operates a priority catchment area based on a number of local districts, within which it selects girls who have been deemed selective by passing the Kent Test in the order of the proximity of their permanent residence to a fixed point at the school, in accordance with the National Land and Property Gazetteer address point data.
The priority catchment area includes:
- Tonbridge Town, the District of Sevenoaks, and the Parishes of Ightham, Ivy Hatch, Kings Hill, Pembury, Platt and St Mary’s Platt, Plaxtol and Shipbourne.
- Tonbridge Town includes the postcodes TN9, TN10, TN11 and TN12 and the Parishes of Ightham, Ivy Hatch, Kings Hill, Pembury, Platt and St Mary’s Platt, Plaxtol and Shipbourne.
- The District of Sevenoaks includes the parishes of Brasted, Chevening, Chiddingstone, Cowden, Dunton Green, Edenbridge, Godden Green, Halstead, Hever, Kemsing, Knockholt, Leigh, Otford, Penshurst, Riverhead, Seal, Sevenoaks town, Sevenoaks Weald and Underriver, Shoreham, Sundridge and Ide Hill, Westerham and Crockham Hill.
If admission places remain then girls will next be admitted from all other postcodes with priority given to those who have passed the Kent Test and live closest to the school.
Additional Eligibility
There are certain parameters which may afford girls priority admission above other where there is a social or health consideration that would make admission to the Weald of Kent Grammar School especially beneficial to a child’s wellbeing. Nonetheless it is still a requirement for these girls to have passed the Kent Test determined threshold pass mark.
- Girls with a Statement of Special Educational Need or Education, Health and Care Plan which specifically mentions the Weald of Kent Grammar School will be admitted.
- 18 places will be reserved for girls in receipt of pupil premium who have passed the Kent Test with priority given to those who live closest to the school. Children are eligible for pupil premium if they have been in receipt of free school meals at any time in the last 6 years. Application under this clause must be supported by filling out the ‘Weald of Kent Grammar School Academy Trust Supplementary Information Form’ which can be found at the bottom of Section 3.
- Girls who either at the time of admission are in care or were previously in the care of the local authority.
- Girls with a health or special access reason which would make admission to the Weald of Kent Grammar School especially beneficial, especially those supported by the Equality Act 2010. Applications under this consideration must be accompanied by written evidence from a medical or otherwise certified professional practitioner.
- Girls with a parent employed by the school as a member of staff whereby they have either worked for 2 years or were more recently hired in a role with demonstrable skill shortage.
Weald of Kent Grammar School FAQs
The passing threshold for the Kent Test is determined on a yearly basis and is calculated by looking at the results received from ever child taking the Kent Test. As such it is not possible to quote ahead of time. Please see the above Pass Mark section for more details.
- Alongside all other Kentsish grammar schools the Weald of Kent Grammar School operates the GL 11 Plus exam board provided Kent Test to determine if girls would benefit from a rigorous grammar style education. Further details can be found above in the Exam Format section.
- Kent County Council hosts familiarisation material to allow children to get used to the format of GL 11 Plus exams. These can be found in the Application Documents section.
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