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
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At a glance
Highsted Grammar School is a selective 11-18 girls' grammar school in Sittingbourne with about 832 pupils and a compact, community-minded profile. The school's motto-like public message, "To seek, to learn, today ... to shape, to lead, tomorrow", is matched by its own description of Highsted as a happy and cohesive community where young women are encouraged to take risks, meet challenge and prepare for future leadership.
The academic offer is framed through curriculum, super-curriculum and a broad programme of personal development. Highsted's Compassion Curriculum focus days cover PSHE, careers, online safety, enterprise, university finance, leadership and health topics across year groups. That gives the school a more explicit pastoral and civic thread than a simple subject list would suggest.
Enrichment is a visible part of the Highsted identity. The school describes music, drama, sport, dozens of lunchtime and after-school clubs, trips in the UK and abroad, exchange links, theatre visits, residentials, careers events, STEM work, citizenship and enterprise. It also records Sportsmark and National Healthy School awards, with participation presented as part of the ordinary pupil experience rather than reserved for elite performers.
For Year 7, Highsted has 150 places. Girls can qualify through Kent PESE or the optional Highsted Test, which combines a computer-based verbal ability, numeracy and non-verbal reasoning test with an English paper covering reading and writing; both routes have equal status before oversubscription criteria are applied. Published measures include Ofsted Good, -0.04 Progress 8, 93% grade 5+ in English and maths and 9.6% AAB or better at A level.
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 832 pupils; 829 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 68.8% | White | 572 |
| African | 10.9% | Black | 91 |
| Any other White background | 5.8% | White | 48 |
| Any other mixed background | 3.2% | Mixed | 27 |
| White and Asian | 2.4% | Mixed | 20 |
| Indian | 1.7% | Asian | 14 |
| Bangladeshi | 1.4% | Asian | 12 |
| White and Black African | 1.2% | Mixed | 10 |
| Any other Asian background | 1.1% | Asian | 9 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.8% | Mixed | 7 |
| Any other ethnic group | 0.7% | Other | 6 |
| Chinese | 0.7% | Asian | 6 |
| Any other Black background | 0.4% | Black | 3 |
| Unclassified | 0.4% | Unclassified | 3 |
| Caribbean | 0.2% | Black | 2 |
| Irish | 0.2% | White | 2 |
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 locally standardised computer-based verbal, numerical and non-verbal reasoning test plus a written English paper.
Shared exam route
Highsted 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
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning, Maths
Computer-based Highsted Test
Computer-based assessment of verbal ability, numerical reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, locally standardised.
Paper 2
English
English paper
English paper assessing reading and writing skills; not computer-based or multiple choice.
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
Computer-based assessment of verbal ability, numerical reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, locally standardised.
Non-verbal reasoning
Computer-based assessment of verbal ability, numerical reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, locally standardised.
Science
Kent Test registration opens
1 June 2026
PastHighsted Test registration opens
1 June 2026, 9:00 am
PastHighsted Test registration closes
30 June 2026, 4:00 pm
Kent Test registration closes
1 July 2026
Exceptional late Highsted registration deadline
22 July 2026
Only for evidenced exceptional circumstances.
Kent primary school test date
10 September 2026
Highsted Test
12 September 2026
Non-Kent primary test window
Weekend of 12 and 13 September 2026
Kent Test results day
15 October 2026
Secondary application deadline
2 November 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027
Read the 2027 admissions policy
Check the 2027-28 policy for the Kent PESE route, optional Highsted route, and oversubscription rules.
Open admissions policyRegister for the Kent Test
Kent Test registration for September 2027 entry opens on 1 June 2026 and closes on 1 July 2026.
Open Kent Test registrationRegister for the optional Highsted Test if needed
Highsted Test registration runs from 9:00 am on 1 June 2026 to 4:00 pm on 30 June 2026; applicants must also register for the Kent Test.
Check Highsted routeSubmit the Secondary Common Application Form
Name Highsted on the coordinated secondary application by the Kent deadline for September 2027 entry.
Open Kent school placesSend pupil premium evidence if relevant
Families applying under the pupil premium criterion should follow the supplementary-information instructions in the 2027 policy.
Review pupil premium ruleLatest 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% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 97% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 18 January 2023
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 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
Highsted Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment, Individual.
1. Read the 2027 admissions policy: Check the 2027-28 policy for the Kent PESE route, optional Highsted route, and oversubscription rules. 2. Register for the Kent Test: Kent Test registration for September 2027 entry opens on 1 June 2026 and closes on 1 July 2026. 3. Register for the optional Highsted Test if needed: Highsted Test registration runs from 9:00 am on 1 June 2026 to 4:00 pm on 30 June 2026; applicants must also register for the Kent Test. 4. Submit the Secondary Common Application Form: Name Highsted on the coordinated secondary application by the Kent deadline for September 2027 entry. 5. Send pupil premium evidence if relevant: Families applying under the pupil premium criterion should follow the supplementary-information instructions in the 2027 policy.
Kent Test registration opens: 1 June 2026. Highsted Test registration opens: 1 June 2026, 9:00 am. Highsted Test registration closes: 30 June 2026, 4:00 pm. Kent Test registration closes: 1 July 2026. Exceptional late Highsted registration deadline: 22 July 2026. Kent primary school test date: 10 September 2026. Highsted Test: 12 September 2026. Non-Kent primary test window: Weekend of 12 and 13 September 2026. Kent Test results day: 15 October 2026. Secondary application deadline: 2 November 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
Highsted Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 18 January 2023.