A selective girls grammar school in Folkestone, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,159 pupils on roll.
The Folkestone School for Girls
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At a glance
The Folkestone School for Girls is a selective girls' grammar serving the Shepway coast and the wider Kent system. Its own website is unusually explicit that the school is about more than examination results, with the FSGBacc placing personal development and character education alongside academic study.
The curriculum keeps breadth in view. In the sixth form, most students study three A levels from an offer of around 30 subjects, with SEA enrichment choices such as EPQ, work experience, volunteering, mentoring, wider reading and ambassador roles. The school says around 85% of sixth formers typically continue to university, with other routes supported through careers and post-18 guidance.
FSG's co-curricular life is a major part of the biography: music ensembles, choirs, dance and drama productions, sport, debating, Duke of Edinburgh, Combined Cadet Force and outdoor experiences all sit within the school's character programme. Ofsted judged the school Good in 2024, with Outstanding grades for behaviour and attitudes, personal development and sixth form.
Year 7 has 180 places. Girls can qualify through the Kent Test or the school's Shepway Test route, which combines a computer assessment with a written task. The Shepway standard is designed to identify roughly the top quarter of girls locally and to indicate readiness for the school's GCSE and sixth-form pathway; after eligibility, the published policy applies priority categories and distance or score rules.
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 1,159 pupils; 1,147 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 76.3% | White | 884 |
| Any other Asian background | 5.2% | Asian | 60 |
| Any other White background | 4.2% | White | 49 |
| Any other mixed background | 3.5% | Mixed | 41 |
| White and Asian | 2.1% | Mixed | 24 |
| Any other ethnic group | 1.6% | Other | 19 |
| African | 1.1% | Black | 13 |
| Indian | 1.1% | Asian | 13 |
| Unclassified | 1% | Unclassified | 12 |
| White and Black African | 0.9% | Mixed | 10 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.9% | Mixed | 10 |
| Chinese | 0.8% | Asian | 9 |
| Irish | 0.6% | White | 7 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.3% | Asian | 3 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.2% | White | 2 |
| Pakistani | 0.2% | Asian | 2 |
| Caribbean | 0.1% | Black | 1 |
Girls can qualify either through the school's own September tests or through the Kent Test route.
Girls living in the District of Folkestone and Hythe are prioritised ahead of other successful applicants. Within the district and open categories, straight-line distance is used to rank applicants.
Looked after and previously looked after children
Girls in care, previously looked after children, and children adopted from state care outside England are given first priority if they meet the selection requirements.
Pupil premium girls in Folkestone and Hythe
Girls eligible for pupil premium who live in the District of Folkestone and Hythe are ranked next. The school requires its supplementary pupil premium form and evidence by 31 October in the year of application.
Girls living in Folkestone and Hythe
District residents are ranked next, with straight-line distance used if there are more successful applicants than places.
Other girls meeting the selection requirements
All other successful applicants are ranked by straight-line distance, with random allocation only if distance is identical for the final place.
Girls can qualify either through the Kent Test or through the school's own Shepway Test route.
Shared exam route
Folkestone School for Girls 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, Non-verbal reasoning
Shepway Test computer assessment
Computer-based assessment covering comprehension, vocabulary and understanding of words, mathematics, and non-verbal reasoning.
Paper 2
Writing task
Shepway Test written task
Half-hour handwritten writing task task.
English, Maths and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
Verbal reasoning and Science are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Non-verbal reasoning
Computer-based assessment covering comprehension, vocabulary and understanding of words, mathematics, and non-verbal reasoning.
Verbal reasoning
Science
Kent Test and Shepway Test registration opens
1 June 2026
PastKent Test registration closes
1 July 2026
Kent primary school test date
10 September 2026
Shepway Test
12 September 2026
Non-Kent primary test window
Weekend of 12 and 13 September 2026
Assessment decision sent
15 October 2026
Pupil premium supplementary form deadline
31 October 2026
Secondary application deadline
2 November 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027
Read the Year 7 admissions guidance
Check the school's Year 7 entry page and the 2027 policy before choosing a test route or completing the Kent application.
Open Year 7 entryChoose the Kent Test or Shepway Test route
Girls can qualify either through the Kent Test or the Shepway Test. For 2027 entry, Kent Test and Shepway Test registration open on 1 June 2026.
Open selection test guidanceSend the pupil premium supplementary form if relevant
Girls applying under the pupil premium criterion in Folkestone and Hythe must return the supplementary form and evidence to the school by 31 October 2026.
Open admissions policySubmit the Secondary Common Application Form
Name the school on the Kent secondary application by the county deadline for September 2027 entry.
Open Kent school placesLatest 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 | 65.7 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 64 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 61.8 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 57.9 | 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 (38.9 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B- average (37 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B- average (35.5 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B- average (37.0 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 | 98% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 99% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 99% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 98% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 1% |
Latest inspection: 24 April 2024
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Kent area and similar girls' selective route
Same Kent area and similar girls' selective route
Same Kent area and similar girls' selective route
Same Kent area and similar girls' selective route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
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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 Girls' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best girls grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing schools by route and journey.
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
Folkestone School for Girls currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the Year 7 admissions guidance: Check the school's Year 7 entry page and the 2027 policy before choosing a test route or completing the Kent application. 2. Choose the Kent Test or Shepway Test route: Girls can qualify either through the Kent Test or the Shepway Test. For 2027 entry, Kent Test and Shepway Test registration open on 1 June 2026. 3. Send the pupil premium supplementary form if relevant: Girls applying under the pupil premium criterion in Folkestone and Hythe must return the supplementary form and evidence to the school by 31 October 2026. 4. Submit the Secondary Common Application Form: Name the school on the Kent secondary application by the county deadline for September 2027 entry.
Kent Test and Shepway Test registration opens: 1 June 2026. Kent Test registration closes: 1 July 2026. Kent primary school test date: 10 September 2026. Shepway Test: 12 September 2026. Non-Kent primary test window: Weekend of 12 and 13 September 2026. Assessment decision sent: 15 October 2026. Pupil premium supplementary form deadline: 31 October 2026. Secondary application deadline: 2 November 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
Folkestone School for Girls is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 24 April 2024.