A selective boys grammar school in Gravesend, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,493 pupils on roll.
Gravesend Grammar School
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At a glance
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.
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 1,493 pupils; 1,469 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 38.1% | White | 569 |
| African | 16.7% | Black | 249 |
| Indian | 16% | Asian | 239 |
| Any other mixed background | 7.2% | Mixed | 107 |
| Any other White background | 6.9% | White | 103 |
| White and Asian | 2.5% | Mixed | 37 |
| Any other Asian background | 2.4% | Asian | 36 |
| Pakistani | 1.8% | Asian | 27 |
| Any other ethnic group | 1.7% | Other | 26 |
| Unclassified | 1.6% | Unclassified | 24 |
| White and Black African | 1.5% | Mixed | 22 |
| Bangladeshi | 1.4% | Asian | 21 |
| Any other Black background | 0.7% | Black | 10 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.7% | Mixed | 10 |
| Caribbean | 0.5% | Black | 8 |
| Chinese | 0.3% | Asian | 4 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.1% | White | 1 |
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.
Looked after and previously looked after children
Looked after and previously looked after eligible children are ranked first.
Medical, health, social, or special access need
Priority then goes to eligible children whose significant needs require Gravesend Grammar specifically, with supporting professional evidence.
Siblings
Eligible children with a sibling who will still be attending the school when they join are ranked next.
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.
Borough of Gravesham
Eligible children living within the Borough of Gravesham are ranked next.
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.
The Kent Test has an English and mathematics paper, a reasoning paper and a writing exercise. The writing task is not part of the computer-marked score but can support headteacher assessment.
Shared exam route
Gravesend 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 English and mathematics paper
Multiple-choice English and mathematics sections.
Paper 2
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning
Kent Test reasoning paper
Multiple-choice verbal and non-verbal reasoning sections.
Paper 3
Writing task
Kent Test writing exercise
Writing exercise not marked for the Kent Test score but available for headteacher assessment.
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
Multiple-choice verbal and non-verbal reasoning sections.
Non-verbal reasoning
Multiple-choice verbal and non-verbal reasoning sections.
Science
Kent Test registration opens
1 June 2026
PastKent 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
Secondary application deadline
2 November 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027, Emails sent after 4pm
KCC reallocation stage ends
27 April 2027
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 arrangementsRegister 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 guidanceTake 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 pageSubmit your secondary application
Kent sends assessment decisions on 15 October 2026 and closes the secondary application round on 2 November 2026.
Open application guidanceSend 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 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 | 67.5 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 65.4 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 63.2 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 65.3 | 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 (38.1 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | C+ average (33.3 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B- average (35.1 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B average (38.4 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 | 100% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 98% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 98% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 96% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 1% |
Latest inspection: 26 June 2015
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Kent area and similar boys' selective route
Same Kent area and similar boys' selective route
Same Kent area and similar boys' selective route
Same Kent area and similar boys' 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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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.
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Compare 32 Kent grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Kent Test route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
Best Boys' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best boys 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
Gravesend Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
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.
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. Secondary application deadline: 2 November 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027, Emails sent after 4pm. KCC reallocation stage ends: 27 April 2027
Gravesend Grammar School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 26 June 2015.