Kent / Kent 11+
Coolinge Lane, Folkestone, CT20 3RB
The Folkestone School for Girls
1
A selective girls grammar school in Folkestone, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,159 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
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 serves girls aged 11-18 and keeps a full sixth form on site. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 1,159 pupils on roll and 180 Year 7 places.
From a family point of view, admissions are likely to be one of the most important parts of the picture. The current route includes GL Assessment, with 180 places available in Year 7 and demand that currently looks moderate 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.
The academic side of the school is backed by enough published data to give families a useful starting point. The latest published Ofsted judgement is Good. Recent official performance measures show Progress 8 at 0.29 and Attainment 8 at 61.8. 81% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 17.4% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 59% moving into higher education.
Published school information highlights facilities such as Theatre. 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. Taken together, those features make The Folkestone School for Girls the kind of school that rewards careful research into travel, admissions detail, and day-to-day fit, not just headline outcomes.
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.
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.
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, NVR
Shepway Test computer assessment
Computer-based assessment covering comprehension, vocabulary and understanding of words, mathematics, and non-verbal reasoning.
Paper 2
Creative Writing
Shepway Test written task
Half-hour handwritten creative writing task.
English, Maths, Non-verbal reasoning and Creative writing 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.
Creative writing
Included within the published English paper.
Verbal reasoning
Science
Shepway Test registration opens
Spring 2026
Shepway Test results
16 October 2026
Pupil premium supplementary form deadline
31 October 2026
Secondary application deadline
2 November 2026
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 through the school's September Shepway Test. The school says Shepway Test registration for September 2027 entry opens in spring 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% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 98% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 1% |
Latest inspection: 24 April 2024
Local rivals first, then nearby alternatives that still fit the same shortlist-building context.
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
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.
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Explore the best girls grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing realistic shortlist options.
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 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 realistic shortlist options.
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
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 through the school's September Shepway Test. The school says Shepway Test registration for September 2027 entry opens in spring 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.
Shepway Test registration opens: Spring 2026. Shepway Test results: 16 October 2026. Pupil premium supplementary form deadline: 31 October 2026. Secondary application deadline: 2 November 2026. Offer day: 1 March 2027
Folkestone School for Girls is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 24 April 2024.