Kent / Kent 11+
Waterloo Road, Cranbrook, TN17 3JD
Cranbrook School
1
A selective co-educational grammar school in Cranbrook, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 918 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective co-educational grammar school in Cranbrook, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 918 pupils on roll. Families looking at Cranbrook, Kent will usually see Cranbrook School as a selective option for boys and girls aged 11-18, with sixth form continuing the academic journey on the same site. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 918 pupils on roll and 90 Year 7 places. The school also has a Christian character, which can matter for families thinking about ethos as well as academic fit. It is also recorded as a boarding school, which is a relatively unusual feature in the grammar-school sector.
For parents thinking about the 11+, the admissions picture is one of the clearest differentiators here. The current route includes GL Assessment, with 90 places available in Year 7 and demand that currently looks high by grammar-school standards. Catchment or distance rules still matter at allocation stage, so this is the kind of school where families need to read the admissions policy carefully rather than rely on headline scores alone.
On current official measures, the school offers a clear academic profile for parents to weigh up. The latest published Ofsted judgement is Good. Recent official performance data put Attainment 8 at 69.1. 94% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 21.7% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 53% moving into higher education.
Published school information highlights facilities such as Theatre, Performing arts spaces. The wider offer currently includes Drama, Duke of Edinburgh, Combined Cadet Force. For many parents, the presence of a sixth form is part of the attraction, because it gives able pupils the option to stay in a familiar academic setting through to A level. Cranbrook School is likely to appeal most to families who want strong academic expectations but also need the practical details, culture, and selective route to line up sensibly.
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.
Cranbrook allocates 90 Year 7 day places through the Kent coordinated scheme. Children must be assessed suitable for grammar school via the Kent Test and are then ranked by score within the published priority rules.
Cranbrook's priority area covers the civil parishes of Cranbrook, Sissinghurst, Goudhurst, Staplehurst, Frittenden, Benenden, Sandhurst, and Hawkhurst, plus any other permanent address within 8.5 kilometres of the school.
Looked after and previously looked after children.
These applicants are considered first under Cranbrook's published day admissions policy.
Eligible pupil premium applicants within the priority area.
Priority applies to eligible pupil premium applicants who live in the published priority area.
Exceptional social or medical need within the priority area.
A specific social and medical need criterion applies for children living in the priority area.
Siblings within the priority area.
Sibling priority only applies when the applicant also lives within the published priority area.
Children of eligible staff.
The policy includes a staff-child criterion before other local residents are considered.
Other permanent residents within the priority area.
After the higher-priority criteria, the remaining in-area applicants are ranked by final aggregate score, then by distance if scores are tied.
2026
349
Initial offer score
2025
338
Initial offer score
2024
337
Initial offer score
2023
353
Initial offer score
2022
354
Initial offer score
2021
365
Initial offer score
The Kent Test route applies for Year 7 day entry. It covers English, mathematics, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and a separate writing exercise.
This school uses the shared Kent Test consortium route. The consortium page brings together the common test format, key dates and official papers used across that route.
Open Kent Test guidePaper 1
English, Maths
English and mathematics paper
The Kent Test includes an English and mathematics multiple-choice paper.
Paper 2
VR, NVR
Reasoning paper
The separate reasoning paper includes verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning questions.
Paper 3
Creative Writing
Writing exercise
Candidates also complete a writing exercise. It is not marked, but it can be considered in a headteacher assessment review.
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Creative writing are included in the published format.
Science is not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
The separate reasoning paper includes verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning questions.
Non-verbal reasoning
The separate reasoning paper includes verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning questions.
Creative writing
Included within the published English paper.
Science
Kent Test registration opens
1 June 2026
Kent Test registration closes
1 July 2026
Kent Test in Kent primary schools
10 September 2026
Out-of-county and private-school tests
12 September 2026
Kent Test results released
15 October 2026
Kent secondary application deadline
2 November 2026
National offer day
1 March 2027
Kent reallocation day
27 April 2027
Read the day admissions policy
Use the 2027 day admissions policy to confirm the 90-place intake, priority area, and ranked oversubscription rules.
Open admissions policyRegister for the Kent Test
Kent Test registration opens on 1 June 2026 and closes on 1 July 2026 for 2027 Year 7 entry.
Open key datesSit the Kent Test
The in-Kent primary-school test date is 10 September 2026, with out-of-county and private-school testing on 12 or 13 September 2026.
View test datesSubmit your Kent secondary application
Kent County Council handles the coordinated application process. The 2027 CAF deadline is 2 November 2026.
Open KCC admissions guidanceLatest 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 | 71.2 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 66 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 69.1 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 66.9 | 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 (41.6 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B- average (37 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B average (39.8 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B average (40.6 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 | 97% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 100% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 100% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 95% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 94% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 23 March 2022
Local rivals first, then nearby alternatives that still fit the same shortlist-building context.
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 a similar GCSE profile
Similar GCSE profile
Best Grammar Schools in Kent
Compare the best grammar schools in Kent for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Kent sits within the Kent Test route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
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.
Best Grammar Schools in Kent
Compare the best grammar schools in Kent for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Kent sits within the Kent Test route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
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
Cranbrook School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the day admissions policy: Use the 2027 day admissions policy to confirm the 90-place intake, priority area, and ranked oversubscription rules. 2. Register for the Kent Test: Kent Test registration opens on 1 June 2026 and closes on 1 July 2026 for 2027 Year 7 entry. 3. Sit the Kent Test: The in-Kent primary-school test date is 10 September 2026, with out-of-county and private-school testing on 12 or 13 September 2026. 4. Submit your Kent secondary application: Kent County Council handles the coordinated application process. The 2027 CAF deadline is 2 November 2026.
Kent Test registration opens: 1 June 2026. Kent Test registration closes: 1 July 2026. Kent Test in Kent primary schools: 10 September 2026. Out-of-county and private-school tests: 12 September 2026. Kent Test results released: 15 October 2026. Kent secondary application deadline: 2 November 2026. National offer day: 1 March 2027. Kent reallocation day: 27 April 2027
Cranbrook School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 23 March 2022.