Kent / Kent 11+
Highsted Road, Sittingbourne, ME10 4PT
Highsted Grammar School
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A selective girls grammar school in Sittingbourne, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 832 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective girls grammar school in Sittingbourne, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 832 pupils on roll. Highsted Grammar School serves girls aged 11-18 and keeps a full sixth form on site. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 832 pupils on roll and 150 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 and Individual, with 150 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.
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 -0.04 and Attainment 8 at 60.6. 76.4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 9.6% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 76% moving into higher education.
The wider offer currently includes Drama. 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 Highsted Grammar School the kind of school that rewards careful research into travel, admissions detail, and day-to-day fit, not just headline outcomes.
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.
Year 7 applicants can qualify through Kent PESE or the optional Highsted Test. Both routes have equal status before oversubscription criteria are applied.
There is no fixed catchment boundary. After priority categories, straight-line distance from the permanent home address to the school is measured using NLPG address point data.
Looked after and previously looked after children
Includes previously looked after children and children previously in state care outside England.
Children in receipt of pupil premium in ME9 to ME12 postcodes
Parents must return the supplementary information form and also name the school on the Secondary Common Application Form.
Current family association
A sister attending the school, or a brother attending the sixth form, at the time of entry.
Nearness of children's homes to school
Distance is measured in a straight line using National Land and Property Gazetteer address point data.
Girls can qualify either through the Kent PESE procedure or through Highsted's optional additional test. The Highsted route uses a computer-based verbal ability, numeracy and non-verbal reasoning test plus an English paper covering reading and writing.
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
VR, NVR, Maths
Computer-based Highsted Test
Computer-based assessment of verbal ability, numeracy and non-verbal reasoning.
Paper 2
English, Creative Writing
English paper
English paper assessing reading and writing skills.
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning, Science and Creative writing are included in the published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Computer-based assessment of verbal ability, numeracy and non-verbal reasoning.
Non-verbal reasoning
Computer-based assessment of verbal ability, numeracy and non-verbal reasoning.
Science
Included in the current published format.
Creative writing
Included within the published English paper.
Highsted test application closes
1 July 2025
Pupil premium supplementary form deadline
31 October 2025
Read the Year 7 admissions guidance
Check the school admissions page and the 2026/27 policy before choosing the Kent or Highsted route.
Open admissions guidanceApply for the Highsted route if needed
If you want to use Highsted's additional selective route, complete the school application form by 4:00 pm on Tuesday 1 July 2025 and send proof that your child is registered for the Kent Test to HighstedTestApplicants@highsted.kent.sch.uk.
Open Highsted formName Highsted on your SCAF
Complete the Secondary Common Application Form through the coordinated admissions process so your child can be considered for a place.
Read the policySend the pupil premium form if relevant
Families applying under the pupil premium oversubscription criterion should return the supplementary information form by 31 October 2025.
Open supplementary formLatest 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 | 64.9 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 57.7 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 60.6 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 61.1 | 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 (43.0 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B- average (35.2 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B- average (35.3 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | C+ average (33.8 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 | 98% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 97% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 18 January 2023
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.
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.
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
Highsted Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment, Individual.
1. Read the Year 7 admissions guidance: Check the school admissions page and the 2026/27 policy before choosing the Kent or Highsted route. 2. Apply for the Highsted route if needed: If you want to use Highsted's additional selective route, complete the school application form by 4:00 pm on Tuesday 1 July 2025 and send proof that your child is registered for the Kent Test to HighstedTestApplicants@highsted.kent.sch.uk. 3. Name Highsted on your SCAF: Complete the Secondary Common Application Form through the coordinated admissions process so your child can be considered for a place. 4. Send the pupil premium form if relevant: Families applying under the pupil premium oversubscription criterion should return the supplementary information form by 31 October 2025.
Highsted test application closes: 1 July 2025. Pupil premium supplementary form deadline: 31 October 2025
Highsted Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 18 January 2023.