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School profile Record updated 27 October 2026

Kent Kent 11+

Invicta Grammar School

Huntsman Lane, Maidstone, ME14 5DS

A selective girls grammar school in Maidstone, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,645 pupils on roll.

Grammar school Girls Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form Kent Test
2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #99
Year 7 places
240
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Ofsted ?
Outstanding
11+ route
Kent Test
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On this page

At a glance

Key facts

2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #99
Sector
Grammar school
Admissions
Girls only
Assessment
Kent Test
Places in Year 7
240
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Ofsted ?
Outstanding

Overview

Invicta Grammar School is a large Maidstone girls' grammar within Valley Invicta Academies Trust, educating around 1,645 pupils across Years 7 to 13. Its published ethos is built around care, education and opportunities, with the aim that students become knowledgeable, independent, innovative, ambitious, articulate and considerate.

The academic offer is broad and high-performing. Invicta publishes curriculum subjects, examination results and student destinations, and Ofsted judged the school Outstanding in 2024. Sixth-form life is described as academically demanding but supportive, with students able to pursue a broad curriculum and, where criteria are met, take one subject at Valley Park School.

Personal development is a visible part of the school rather than an add-on. Invicta lists programmes and opportunities including ASPIRE, Women in Leadership, Young Chamber, international trips, Eurovicta, Eco-Schools, Duke of Edinburgh, STEAM, clubs, societies, music and productions. The POP programme gives pupils regular chances to try activities such as chess, coding, photography and wellbeing sessions.

Year 7 admission is through the Kent PESE route, with a published intake of 240. Applicants sit the Kent Test, which includes English and mathematics, reasoning and a writing exercise used for assessment where needed; families also need to name Invicta on the secondary application form. The pupil-premium supplementary form is only for that priority route.

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
240 places in Year 7 and Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Results
92.6% grade 5+ in English and maths and 70.8 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 25.9% AAB or better and 75.1% 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 Invicta Grammar School, Kent, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M
Attainment 8
70.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
92.6%

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 Invicta 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 Invicta 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
Girls only
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Mrs Van Beales
Pupil roll
1,670 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Trust
Valley Invicta Academies Trust
FSM ?
7.6%
EAL ?
19.9%
EHCP ?
0%

Extracurriculars

Chess club Orchestra Duke of Edinburgh Sport

School statistics

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 1,670 pupils; 1,659 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 50.2% Asian 14.3% Mixed 19.8% Black 12.3% Other 2.8% Unclassified 0.7%

Location and contact

Address

Address
Huntsman Lane, Maidstone, Kent
Postcode
ME14 5DS
Area
Kent
Exam area
Kent 11+

School leadership

Headteacher
Mrs Van Beales

School contact

School email
office@invicta.viat.org.uk
School phone
01622755856

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions
Admissions email
admissions@invicta.viat.org.uk
Admissions phone
01622755856
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions

Appeals and waiting lists

A school admission appeal follows a refusal of a place. Use the school's current timetable and your refusal letter for the deadline. A test review, if available, has separate rules.

Read Kent result and appeals Official school website Appeals directory
Year 7 places
240 places
Applications listed
720 applications (2026 entry)
First preferences
290 first preferences (2026 entry)
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
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.

Year 7 applicants need a selective place through Kent PESE and must name Invicta on the SCAF. The pupil-premium supplementary form is only needed for that priority category.

There is no fixed catchment boundary. After higher-priority categories, eligible applicants are ranked by straight-line distance from home to school using KCC address-point data.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Looked after and previously looked after children

    Includes children who were previously looked after and children previously in state care outside England.

  2. 2

    Current family association

    A sibling must be attending Invicta Grammar School at the time the younger child starts and live at the same home address.

  3. 3

    Medical, health and special access reasons

    Families must provide evidence showing a demonstrable and significant need for the school.

  4. 4

    Children in receipt of pupil premium

    Families must return the supplementary information form and also name Invicta on the Secondary Common Application Form.

  5. 5

    Children of staff

    Applies where the member of staff has worked at the school for at least two continuous years or is recruited to fill a demonstrable skill shortage.

  6. 6

    Nearness of children's homes to school

    Distance is measured in a straight line using National Land and Property Gazetteer address point data.

Admissions policy

Admissions Policy 2027/28

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 Test for Kent primary pupils

    10 September 2026

    Past

  4. Kent Test for pupils outside Kent primary schools

    12 or 13 September 2026

    For pupils who do not attend a Kent primary school; use the allocated test session.

  5. Kent Test assessment decision email

    15 October 2026, After 4pm

    Past

  6. 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.

  7. Secondary school offer day

    1 March 2027

  8. Offer acceptance deadline

    15 March 2027

  9. Appeal request deadline

    13 April 2027

  10. First reallocation round

    27 April 2027

  11. Open evening

    1 October 2026

    Past

    Book through the school website.

  12. Years 5 and 6 open morning

    15 October 2026

    Past

    Book through the school website.

  13. Year 6 open morning

    16 October 2026

    Past

    Book through the school website.

  14. Kent application changes deadline

    7 December 2026

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

How to apply

  1. 1

    Read the Year 7 joining guidance

    Check Invicta's joining page and 2027/28 admissions policy before applying.

    Open joining guidance
  2. 2

    Register for the Kent Test

    For 2027 entry, register for the Kent Test during the official window from 1 June to 1 July 2026.

    Check Kent dates
  3. 3

    Submit your SCAF by 2 November 2026

    Name Invicta Grammar School on the Secondary Common Application Form by the Kent closing date.

    Check application deadline
  4. 4

    Send the supplementary form only if it applies

    The supplementary form is only needed for applications under the pupil premium priority.

    Open supplementary form

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Admissions Policy 2027/28

2027 entry

Supplementary form

Supplementary Information Form

2027 entry

Results

Inspection
View report
Outstanding

Latest inspection: 17 April 2024

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

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: The 2024 inspection judged Invicta Outstanding in every area. The report describes an exceptional school with expertly taught curriculum, exemplary behaviour, extensive opportunities beyond lessons and careful preparation for future study, careers and life in modern Britain.
  • Quality of education: The curriculum is highly ambitious, meticulously planned and broad through the sixth form, with extensive A-level options. Pupils master knowledge, write to a high standard and use complex subject vocabulary confidently, while SEND support is carefully tailored.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Behaviour was exemplary. Pupils are polite, courteous and diligent in lessons, collaborate thoughtfully and develop resilience and independence because teachers deliberately foster these habits alongside academic learning.
  • Personal development: The Personal Opportunity Programme gives pupils a large menu of sporting, artistic, political, charitable and academic activities. Music is a particular strength, with choirs and ensembles, while Power Days cover cultures, social issues, global themes and next steps.
  • Leadership and management: Leaders and the trust were linked to a highly ambitious, well-supported school culture. Pupils feel safe because staff listen and meet pastoral needs, and safeguarding arrangements were judged effective.
  • Sixth form provision: Sixth-form students are included in the school's broad, expertly taught curriculum and future-preparation work. They access an extensive range of A-level courses, take part in Power Days and benefit from visitors, companies and organisations discussing study and careers.

Similar schools and comparisons

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Shortlist comparisons

Compare Invicta Grammar School with Maidstone Grammar School for Girls Compare Invicta Grammar School with Highsted Grammar School Compare Invicta Grammar School with Weald of Kent Grammar School

Explore this school in context

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Related pages and guides

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which entrance tests does Invicta Grammar School use?

For September 2027 entry, Invicta 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 Invicta Grammar School?

1. Read the Year 7 joining guidance: Check Invicta's joining page and 2027/28 admissions policy before applying. 2. Register for the Kent Test: For 2027 entry, register for the Kent Test during the official window from 1 June to 1 July 2026. 3. Submit your SCAF by 2 November 2026: Name Invicta Grammar School on the Secondary Common Application Form by the Kent closing date. 4. Send the supplementary form only if it applies: The supplementary form is only needed for applications under the pupil premium priority.

When are the key dates for Invicta Grammar School?

Kent Test registration opens: 1 June 2026. Kent Test registration closes: 1 July 2026. Kent Test for Kent primary pupils: 10 September 2026. Kent Test for pupils outside Kent primary schools: 12 or 13 September 2026. Kent Test assessment decision email: 15 October 2026, After 4pm. Kent secondary application deadline: 2 November 2026, Kent residents. Secondary school offer day: 1 March 2027. Offer acceptance deadline: 15 March 2027. Appeal request deadline: 13 April 2027. First reallocation round: 27 April 2027. Open evening: 1 October 2026. Years 5 and 6 open morning: 15 October 2026. Year 6 open morning: 16 October 2026. Kent application changes deadline: 7 December 2026

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

Invicta Grammar School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 17 April 2024.