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School profile Record updated 27 October 2026

Kent Kent 11+

Barton Court Grammar School

Longport, Canterbury, CT1 1PH

A selective co-educational grammar school in Canterbury, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,005 pupils on roll.

Grammar school Co-ed Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form Kent Test
2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #129
Year 7 places
150
Competition ?
High (estimated)
Ofsted ?
Good
11+ route
Kent Test
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On this page

At a glance

Key facts

2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #129
Sector
Grammar school
Admissions
Mixed
Assessment
Kent Test
Places in Year 7
150
Competition ?
High (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Ofsted ?
Good

Overview

Barton Court Grammar School is a co-educational selective school in the heart of Canterbury, serving roughly 1,005 pupils from Year 7 through to the sixth form. Its own material presents a school with high academic expectations and a deliberately pastoral tone: Barton Court describes education as more than a set of subjects, with thinking skills, resilience and independent learning woven into the way pupils are expected to work.

The curriculum is supported by a visible enrichment culture rather than kept separate from it. Students can move from classroom study into music, drama, sport, house competitions, student voice and community activity; the house system now includes Einstein, Nightingale, Pankhurst, Turing and Wilberforce. The sixth form is part of the same Canterbury campus community, with personal development, careers guidance and super-curricular work sitting alongside A level courses.

Year 7 admission is through the Kent Test and a Kent secondary application naming Barton Court. The published admission number is 150, with looked-after children, Pupil Premium applicants, siblings, supported health or access cases and distance all relevant once a child has been assessed suitable for grammar school.

In Canterbury, Barton Court stands out as a co-educational grammar with a caring-school identity and a practical Kent Test route. Recent public benchmarks record Ofsted Good, a positive Progress 8 score and very strong English and maths GCSE outcomes, while the A level picture gives the sixth form a more measured but still academic profile.

Illustrative creative writing prompt and feedback on ideas, word choice and structure
Inside Creative Writing
11+ Creative Writing Creative writing is part of this school's current 11+ assessment.

Practise 11+ creative writing

Upload a photo, PDF or typed practice piece to get personalised feedback, specific improvements and the next skill to practise.

Open Creative Writing

Key points
Assessment route
Kent Test: 3 papers, covering English, Maths, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Writing task.
Places and demand
150 places in Year 7 and High (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Results
85.9% grade 5+ in English and maths and 66.1 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 23.9% AAB or better and 48.8% in higher education.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2025/26 KS4 measures compared with Kent and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Barton Court Grammar School, Kent, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M
Attainment 8
66.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
85.9%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Kent and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for Barton Court Grammar School, Kent, and England. 80 66.7 53.3 40 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25 25/26

Destinations

Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Kent and England.

Education Apprenticeships Employment Other / unknown
Destinations stacked bar comparison Year 11 destinations for Barton Court Grammar School, Kent, and England across education, apprenticeships, employment, and other or unknown destinations. 0 50 100 School Local auth. England

School details
Sector
Grammar school
School type
Academy converter
Application
Local authority CAF
Gender
Mixed
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Mr Jonathan Hopkins
Pupil roll
995 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Trust
Barton Court Academy Trust
FSM ?
12.5%
EAL ?
15%
EHCP ?
0.6%

Facilities

Theatre

Extracurriculars

Orchestra Choir Drama

School statistics

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 995 pupils; 977 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 77.1% Asian 7.8% Mixed 7.2% Black 4.6% Other 1.3% Unclassified 1.8%

Location and contact

Address

Address
Longport, Canterbury, Kent
Postcode
CT1 1PH
Area
Kent
Exam area
Kent 11+

School leadership

Headteacher
Mr Jonathan Hopkins

School contact

School email
office@bartoncourt.org
School phone
01227464600

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions & Enquiries
Admissions email
office@bartoncourt.org
Admissions phone
01227464600
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions
Year 7 places
150 places
Applications listed
837 applications (2026 entry)
First preferences
145 first preferences (2026 entry)
Competition ?
High (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Pass mark note
For the 2026 Kent Test (2027 entry), grammar-school assessment requires an aggregate score of at least 345, with no individual score below 111. Qualification does not guarantee a place. School-specific alternative tests have their own standards.

Year 7 entry requires a selective Kent Test result and Barton Court named on the Kent secondary application. The published score threshold was 332 overall for September 2026 entry, with at least 108 in each paper, after which Barton Court applies its oversubscription criteria and straight-line distance tie-break.

There is no published Year 7 catchment boundary. After looked-after, Pupil Premium, sibling and medical/social priority, remaining applicants are ranked by straight-line distance from home to school.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Looked-after and previously looked-after children

    This includes children who left state care through adoption, child arrangements orders, special guardianship orders, or recognised state care outside England.

  2. 2

    Children eligible for Pupil Premium

    Applicants under this criterion must complete the supplementary information form so the school can verify eligibility during the calendar year before entry.

  3. 3

    Current family association

    Priority goes to children with a brother or sister attending the school when the child starts, including natural, adopted, step, half and foster siblings living together.

  4. 4

    Health and special access reasons

    Medical, health, social and special access claims must show a demonstrable and significant need to attend Barton Court and be supported by professional evidence.

  5. 5

    Nearness of home to school

    Remaining places are ranked by straight-line distance using the National Land and Property Gazetteer address points.

Admissions policy

Admissions policy 2027

2027 entry

Appeals

Appeal panel guidance for parents 2026

2026 entry

Appeals

Appeals information 2026

2026 entry

Exam and test format
September 2027 entry

Two multiple-choice papers and a separate writing exercise.

Test provider
GL Assessment
Format
Multiple choice and written answers
Scores
Age-standardised

Papers and timings

  • English and mathematics English · Maths Multiple choice
    60 min Includes two 5-minute practice exercises.
  • Reasoning Verbal reasoning · Non-verbal reasoning Multiple choice
    Approx. 60 min Includes practice sections.
  • Writing exercise Written answers
    40 min Includes 10 minutes for planning.

What the test includes

  • EnglishComprehension and literacy skills.
  • Maths
  • Verbal reasoning
  • Non-verbal reasoning
  • Writing taskUsed for headteacher assessment; outside the standardised score.
Official test guidance
Changes for 2028 entry
2028 entry · Quest Assessments

Quest Assessments will provide the Kent Test from the September 2027 tests for 2028 entry.

Kent County Council says the test’s purpose, structure and timing will remain unchanged.

Official 2028 guidance ↗

Official exam resources

Past papers and practice materials

No released past entrance-test papers are currently verified here. The resources below are labelled by type.

Kent Test test guide

Application

Key dates

Get date reminders
Find open days and plan a visit

  1. Kent Test registration opens

    1 June 2026

    Past

  2. Kent Test registration closes

    1 July 2026

    Past

  3. Kent secondary application opens

    1 September 2026

    Past

  4. Kent Test for Kent primary pupils

    10 September 2026

    Past

  5. Kent Test for pupils not in Kent primary schools

    12 and 13 September 2026

  6. Kent Test assessment decision sent

    15 October 2026

    Past

  7. Kent secondary application deadline

    2 November 2026, Kent residents

    Kent residents apply through Kent County Council. Families outside Kent must meet their home local authority deadline.

  8. National Offer Day

    1 March 2027

  9. 11+ open evening

    1 October 2026

    Past

    5pm-7pm; booking required for the headteacher presentation.

  10. 11+ open evening

    13 October 2026

    Past

    5pm-7pm; booking required for the headteacher presentation.

  11. 11+ open morning

    19 October 2026

    Past

    9am-10.30am; no booking required.

  12. 11+ open morning

    21 October 2026

    Past

    9am-10.30am; no booking required.

  13. 11+ open morning

    22 October 2026

    Past

    9am-10.30am; no booking required.

  14. Kent application changes deadline

    7 December 2026

    Deadline for on-time changes to Kent applications to be considered on National Offer Day.

  15. Kent offer acceptance deadline

    15 March 2027

    Kent residents must accept or refuse the offered school place by this date.

  16. Kent on-time appeal deadline

    13 April 2027

    For schools named on the original Kent application; check the school appeal instructions.

  17. Kent reallocation offer day

    27 April 2027

    Kent County Council reallocates places from waiting lists.

How to apply

  1. 1

    Check selective eligibility

    Year 7 applicants must be assessed suitable for grammar school through the Kent PESE before Barton Court can offer a place.

    Read the admissions page
  2. 2

    Register for the Kent Test

    For 2027 entry, Kent Test registration opens on 1 June 2026 and closes on 1 July 2026.

    Register for the Kent Test
  3. 3

    Sit the Kent Test

    Kent primary school pupils sit the test on 10 September 2026; pupils not in Kent primary schools are tested during the 12 and 13 September 2026 weekend sessions.

    Check Kent Test dates
  4. 4

    Apply on the secondary school form

    Name Barton Court Grammar School on the Kent secondary Common Application Form by 2 November 2026 for 2027 entry.

    Apply for a Kent grammar place
  5. 5

    Places are allocated under the oversubscription criteria

    After looked-after children, Pupil Premium, sibling and health or access priority, eligible applicants are ranked by straight-line distance from home to school.

    Read the oversubscription criteria

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Admissions policy 2027

2027 entry

Results

Inspection
View report
Good

Latest inspection: 12 February 2020

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Sixth form provision
Good

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: The 2024 inspection found Barton Court had maintained the standards of its previous Good inspection. Inspectors described an inclusive, caring school with exemplary behaviour, strong enrichment and an ambitious curriculum, while noting that checks for understanding are not always thorough enough.
  • Quality of education: Pupils follow an ambitious curriculum, with the English Baccalaureate at key stage 4 and academic plus vocational options in the sixth form. Teachers know their subjects well, but some do not always check misconceptions before moving learning on.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Behaviour was described as exemplary. Pupils are courteous, respectful and supportive, attendance is high, and staff work closely with families if attendance difficulties emerge. The school was described as happy, harmonious and welcoming of diversity.
  • Personal development: The school offers strong character and careers provision. Pupils take part in Duke of Edinburgh, poetry, crochet and trips, learn about healthy relationships and online safety, hear from employers and apprenticeship speakers, and train as well-being mentors.
  • Leadership and management: Staff receive ongoing training and value collaboration across the trust. Leaders and trustees were described as committed, with effective support and challenge, and staff said leaders help them manage workload while maintaining high expectations.
  • Sixth form provision: Sixth form was graded Good. The report highlights a curriculum with both academic and vocational routes, strong subject teaching and students who act as role models by organising school events and supporting younger pupils.

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Shortlist comparisons

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Explore this school in context

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Related pages and guides

Guides and related reading

Related guides are still being added.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which entrance tests does Barton Court Grammar School use?

For September 2027 entry, Barton Court Grammar School uses Kent Test. Check the named test and any alternative or later-stage requirements in the admissions policy.

How do I apply to Barton Court Grammar School?

1. Check selective eligibility: Year 7 applicants must be assessed suitable for grammar school through the Kent PESE before Barton Court can offer a place. 2. Register for the Kent Test: For 2027 entry, Kent Test registration opens on 1 June 2026 and closes on 1 July 2026. 3. Sit the Kent Test: Kent primary school pupils sit the test on 10 September 2026; pupils not in Kent primary schools are tested during the 12 and 13 September 2026 weekend sessions. 4. Apply on the secondary school form: Name Barton Court Grammar School on the Kent secondary Common Application Form by 2 November 2026 for 2027 entry. 5. Places are allocated under the oversubscription criteria: After looked-after children, Pupil Premium, sibling and health or access priority, eligible applicants are ranked by straight-line distance from home to school.

When are the key dates for Barton Court Grammar School?

Kent Test registration opens: 1 June 2026. Kent Test registration closes: 1 July 2026. Kent secondary application opens: 1 September 2026. Kent Test for Kent primary pupils: 10 September 2026. Kent Test for pupils not in Kent primary schools: 12 and 13 September 2026. Kent Test assessment decision sent: 15 October 2026. Kent secondary application deadline: 2 November 2026, Kent residents. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027. 11+ open evening: 1 October 2026. 11+ open evening: 13 October 2026. 11+ open morning: 19 October 2026. 11+ open morning: 21 October 2026. 11+ open morning: 22 October 2026. Kent application changes deadline: 7 December 2026. Kent offer acceptance deadline: 15 March 2027. Kent on-time appeal deadline: 13 April 2027. Kent reallocation offer day: 27 April 2027

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Barton Court Grammar School?

Barton Court Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 12 February 2020.