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School profile Record updated 27 October 2026

Kent Kent 11+

Gravesend Grammar School

Church Walk, Gravesend, DA12 2PR

A selective boys grammar school in Gravesend, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,493 pupils on roll.

Grammar school Boys Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form Kent Test
2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #108
Year 7 places
210
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Ofsted ?
Outstanding
11+ route
Kent Test
Compare Official website Map

On this page

At a glance

Key facts

2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #108
Sector
Grammar school
Admissions
Boys only
Assessment
Kent Test
Places in Year 7
210
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Ofsted ?
Outstanding

Overview

Gravesend Grammar School is a selective boys' grammar school on Church Walk in Gravesend, with a co-educational sixth form and about 1,493 pupils on roll. The school dates its foundation to 1893 and is now part of Aletheia Academies Trust. Its own welcome is rooted in traditional academic values, but the tone is not purely nostalgic: the headteacher talks about maintaining those values in a modern context.

Academically, GGS describes an ambitious curriculum that is rigorous, challenging and built by specialist teachers. Computer science and physics are visible strengths in the school's 2025 GCSE results commentary, while the sixth form is presented as a bridge to university, apprenticeships and future study. The school repeatedly returns to high expectations, hard work, respect and belonging.

The wider school offer has real scale. The website points to an enriching extracurricular programme, leadership opportunities, the house system, music, drama, sport, Duke of Edinburgh and Combined Cadet Force. GGS presents this as part of a community grammar-school education, and the school explicitly says it values the whole student, not just exam grades.

Admission to Year 7 is through the Kent Test, with a published admission number of 210. Applicants normally sit the Kent English and mathematics paper, the reasoning paper and the writing exercise used for assessment panels where needed. The policy gives priority to looked-after and previously looked-after children, then medical or access needs, siblings, staff children and defined local priority areas before distance is used. Published measures show Ofsted Outstanding, +0.18 Progress 8, 96.8% grade 5+ in English and maths and 26.9% AAB or better at A level; the school-published 2025 GCSE summary reports 44% of grades at 7 to 9.

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
210 places in Year 7 and Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Results
97.7% grade 5+ in English and maths and 67.9 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 26.9% AAB or better and 70.8% 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 Gravesend Grammar School, Kent, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M
Attainment 8
67.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
97.7%

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 Gravesend 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 Gravesend 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
Boys only
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Mr Malcolm Moaby
Pupil roll
1,495 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Trust
Aletheia Academies Trust
FSM ?
10.8%
EAL ?
18.4%
EHCP ?
0.3%

Facilities

Library

Extracurriculars

Choir Drama Duke of Edinburgh Combined Cadet Force Sport

School statistics

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 1,495 pupils; 1,489 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 43.3% Asian 22.8% Mixed 11.9% Black 19.9% Other 1.9% Unclassified 0.4%

Location and contact

Address

Address
Church Walk, Gravesend, Kent
Postcode
DA12 2PR
Area
Kent
Exam area
Kent 11+

School leadership

Headteacher
Mr Malcolm Moaby

School contact

School email
enquiries@gravesendgrammar.com
School phone
01474331893

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions Officer
Admissions email
admissions@gravesendgrammar.com
Admissions phone
01474 331893
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions
Year 7 places
210 places
Applications listed
642 applications (2026 entry)
First preferences
254 first preferences (2026 entry)
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
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.

Most Year 7 applicants use the Kent Test and Kent County Council secondary application route. A supplementary form is only needed for pupil premium applicants.

Gravesend Grammar prioritises boys living in the Borough of Gravesham, then the named surrounding parish groups, before all other eligible children. Within each criterion, pupil premium applicants are ranked first and then distance from home to school is used.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Looked after and previously looked after children

    Looked after and previously looked after eligible children are ranked first.

  2. 2

    Medical, health, social, or special access need

    Priority then goes to eligible children whose significant needs require Gravesend Grammar specifically, with supporting professional evidence.

  3. 3

    Siblings

    Eligible children with a sibling who will still be attending the school when they join are ranked next.

  4. 4

    Children of staff

    Priority is then given where a parent has worked at the school for at least two years or was recruited to fill a demonstrable skill-shortage post.

  5. 5

    Borough of Gravesham

    Eligible children living within the Borough of Gravesham are ranked next.

  6. 6

    Named priority parishes

    The next group covers the named civil parishes including Ash-cum-Ridley, Bean, Fawkham, Hartley, Longfield and New Barn, Southfleet, Swanscombe and Greenhithe, Stansted, and the unparished area of Ebbsfleet.

Admissions policy

Admission Arrangements 2027

2027 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 primary school test date

    10 September 2026

    Past

  4. Non-Kent primary test window

    Weekend of 12 and 13 September 2026

  5. Assessment decision sent

    15 October 2026

    Past

  6. Pupil premium supplementary form deadline

    31 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, Emails sent after 4pm

  9. KCC reallocation stage ends

    27 April 2027

  10. Open day

    15 October 2026

    Past

    Year 5 pupils are encouraged to attend this session; booking opens in early October.

  11. Open day

    16 October 2026

    Past

    Year 6 pupils are encouraged to attend this session; booking opens in early October.

  12. Kent application changes deadline

    7 December 2026

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

  13. Kent offer acceptance deadline

    15 March 2027

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

  14. Kent on-time appeal deadline

    13 April 2027

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

How to apply

  1. 1

    Read the 2027 admission arrangements

    Start with the school's 2027 arrangements for the priority-area map, oversubscription order, and waiting-list process.

    Open admission arrangements
  2. 2

    Register for the Kent Test

    Kent opens registration on 1 June 2026 and closes it on 1 July 2026 for September 2027 entry.

    Open Year 7 guidance
  3. 3

    Take the Kent Test

    Kent primary pupils test on 10 September 2026; children not in Kent primary schools test from the weekend of 12 and 13 September 2026.

    Open familiarisation page
  4. 4

    Submit your secondary application

    Kent sends assessment decisions on 15 October 2026 and closes the secondary application round on 2 November 2026.

    Open application guidance
  5. 5

    Send the pupil premium supplementary form if relevant

    Only pupil premium applicants need the supplementary form, which must be returned by 31 October 2026.

    Open pupil premium guidance

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Admission Arrangements 2027

2027 entry

Key dates

Year 7 Admissions

2027 entry

Results

Inspection
View report
Outstanding

Latest inspection: 26 June 2015

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

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: The 2025 report keeps the previous Outstanding overall grade visible, but current judgements are Good for education, leadership and sixth form, and Outstanding for behaviour and personal development. The detail points to a strong school with work underway on deeper learning and sharper self-evaluation.
  • Quality of education: The curriculum is broad, balanced and well sequenced, with skilled teachers checking understanding and revisiting knowledge. The report's main caveat is that strategies for deepening learning, including in the sixth form, were not yet consistently embedded.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Behaviour and attitudes were a clear strength. Lessons are calm and purposeful, attendance is excellent, relationships are very positive and pupils show self-control, courtesy and maturity in how they support one another.
  • Personal development: Personal development was described as a major strength. Pupils build confidence through character education, careful PSHE, careers work, university visits, employer contact and leadership opportunities, including pupil-designed lessons on issues such as misogyny and feminism.
  • Leadership and management: Governors provide effective oversight and staff feel well supported, but the report says self-evaluation and improvement plans were not always as sharply focused as they could be. The Aletheia Trust was already helping refine systems.
  • Sixth form provision: The sixth form offers a wide academic curriculum and personalised university support, with many students moving on successfully. Students value teachers' individual help, although the report says approaches to deepening learning needed more consistent embedding.

Similar schools and comparisons

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Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.

Nearby schools with similar results

Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.

Shortlist comparisons

Compare Gravesend Grammar School with Wilmington Grammar School for Boys Compare Gravesend Grammar School with Maidstone Grammar School Compare Gravesend Grammar School with Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys

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 Gravesend Grammar School use?

For September 2027 entry, Gravesend 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 Gravesend Grammar School?

1. Read the 2027 admission arrangements: Start with the school's 2027 arrangements for the priority-area map, oversubscription order, and waiting-list process. 2. Register for the Kent Test: Kent opens registration on 1 June 2026 and closes it on 1 July 2026 for September 2027 entry. 3. Take the Kent Test: Kent primary pupils test on 10 September 2026; children not in Kent primary schools test from the weekend of 12 and 13 September 2026. 4. Submit your secondary application: Kent sends assessment decisions on 15 October 2026 and closes the secondary application round on 2 November 2026. 5. Send the pupil premium supplementary form if relevant: Only pupil premium applicants need the supplementary form, which must be returned by 31 October 2026.

When are the key dates for Gravesend Grammar School?

Kent Test registration opens: 1 June 2026. Kent Test registration closes: 1 July 2026. Kent primary school test date: 10 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. Kent secondary application deadline: 2 November 2026, Kent residents. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027, Emails sent after 4pm. KCC reallocation stage ends: 27 April 2027. Open day: 15 October 2026. Open day: 16 October 2026. Kent application changes deadline: 7 December 2026. Kent offer acceptance deadline: 15 March 2027. Kent on-time appeal deadline: 13 April 2027

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

Gravesend Grammar School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 26 June 2015.