A selective co-educational grammar school in Canterbury, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,005 pupils on roll.
Barton Court Grammar School
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At a glance
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.
Creative writing is tested in this school's current 11+ assessment.
A weak creative writing piece can leave a child short of qualification. 11 Plus Writing Coach helps families build steadier practice and clearer feedback.
From our 11 Plus Writing Coach site
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Kent and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Kent and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Kent and England.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,005 pupils; 990 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 69.4% | White | 697 |
| Any other White background | 9.1% | White | 91 |
| African | 3.5% | Black | 35 |
| White and Asian | 3.5% | Mixed | 35 |
| Any other Asian background | 2.8% | Asian | 28 |
| Indian | 1.9% | Asian | 19 |
| Any other mixed background | 1.8% | Mixed | 18 |
| Unclassified | 1.5% | Unclassified | 15 |
| Any other ethnic group | 1.4% | Other | 14 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 1.2% | Mixed | 12 |
| Chinese | 1% | Asian | 10 |
| White and Black African | 0.9% | Mixed | 9 |
| Pakistani | 0.8% | Asian | 8 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.5% | Asian | 5 |
| Any other Black background | 0.4% | Black | 4 |
| Irish | 0.3% | White | 3 |
| Caribbean | 0.1% | Black | 1 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.1% | White | 1 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nearness of home to school
Remaining places are ranked by straight-line distance using the National Land and Property Gazetteer address points.
The Kent Test has two multiple-choice papers plus a writing exercise. The writing task is not marked automatically but may be used at headteacher assessment stage.
Shared exam route
Barton Court Grammar School uses the shared Kent Test route. Use these common practice resources for the route, then check the full consortium guide for the complete set and current test guidance.
View all Kent Test practice papersPaper 1
English, Maths
Kent Test paper 1
English and maths paper lasting 1 hour in total, with a 5 minute practice exercise followed by a 25 minute test for each section.
Paper 2
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning
Kent Test paper 2
Reasoning paper lasting about 1 hour including the practice sections, with verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning sections of roughly the same length.
Paper 3
Writing task
Kent Test writing exercise
Writing task with 40 minutes allowed, including 10 minutes of planning time. It is not marked automatically but may be used by a local headteacher panel.
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
Science is not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Reasoning paper lasting about 1 hour including the practice sections, with verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning sections of roughly the same length.
Non-verbal reasoning
Reasoning paper lasting about 1 hour including the practice sections, with verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning sections of roughly the same length.
Science
Kent Test registration opens
1 June 2026
PastKent 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
Secondary school application deadline
2 November 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027
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 pageRegister 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 TestSit 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 datesApply 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 placePlaces 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 criteriaLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 67.3 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 63.5 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 66 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 66.4 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | B+ average (43.1 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | C+ average (35.0 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B- average (37.3 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B- average (37.5 points) | 41.8 points | 35.0 points |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 99% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 97% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 99% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 97% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 1% |
Latest inspection: 12 February 2020
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Kent area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Kent area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Kent area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Kent area and similar co-ed selective route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Nearby option with a similar GCSE profile
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
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Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Best Grammar Schools in Kent
Compare 32 Kent grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Kent Test route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking that can be filtered by county, school type, and Ofsted before moving into local admissions detail.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Barton Court Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
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.
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. Secondary school application deadline: 2 November 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
Barton Court Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 12 February 2020.