Kent / Kent 11+
Brook Street, Tonbridge, TN9 2PN
The Judd School
1
A selective boys grammar school in Tonbridge, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,499 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective boys grammar school in Tonbridge, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,499 pupils on roll. The Judd School serves boys aged 11-18 and keeps a full sixth form on site. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 1,499 pupils on roll and 180 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, with 180 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 Outstanding. Recent official performance measures show Progress 8 at 0.85 and Attainment 8 at 78.5. 97.4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 62.2% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 80% moving into higher education.
The wider offer currently includes Drama, Sport. 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 The Judd School the kind of school that rewards careful research into travel, admissions detail, and day-to-day fit, not just headline outcomes.
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.
For 2026 entry, 180 places were offered on 2 March 2026. Inner Area offers reached 389 and Outer Area offers reached 403, with not all tied applicants at those scores receiving places.
Up to 157 places are allocated to boys in the Inner Area and 23 to boys in the Outer Area. The Inner Area covers TN1 to TN15, ME18 and ME19, selected TN16 and DA4 sectors, and Halstead parish.
Inner Area looked-after and previously looked-after boys
Within the 157 Inner Area places, looked-after and previously looked-after boys with a grammar assessment are prioritised first.
Inner Area academic places by aggregate Kent PESE score
The remaining main Inner Area places are ranked by aggregate Kent PESE score, with distance and then random allocation used to split ties.
Up to 5 Inner Area pupil-premium or free-school-meals places
Up to 5 places are reserved for boys in the Inner Area who qualify for free school meals or pupil premium, provided the supplementary form is submitted and the boys have a grammar assessment.
Outer Area looked-after and previously looked-after boys
Within the 23 Outer Area places, looked-after and previously looked-after boys with a grammar assessment are prioritised first.
Outer Area academic places by aggregate Kent PESE score
Remaining Outer Area places are ranked by aggregate Kent PESE score, again using distance and then random allocation to separate tied applicants.
Year 7 entry is through Kent PESE, with applicants ranked by aggregate Kent Test score inside the relevant area and priority category.
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
English, Maths
English and maths paper
The first Kent Test paper lasts about an hour and covers English and maths.
Paper 2
VR, NVR
Reasoning paper
The second paper lasts about an hour and contains verbal-reasoning and non-verbal-reasoning sections.
Paper 3
Creative Writing
Writing exercise
There is also a writing task, which Kent says is not marked but may be used in headteacher assessment.
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Creative writing are included in the published format.
Science is not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
The second paper lasts about an hour and contains verbal-reasoning and non-verbal-reasoning sections.
Non-verbal reasoning
The second paper lasts about an hour and contains verbal-reasoning and non-verbal-reasoning sections.
Creative writing
Included within the published English paper.
Science
Kent Test registration opens
2 June 2026
Kent Test registration closes
1 July 2026
Main assessment day
10 September 2026
Alternative assessment day
12 September 2026
Assessment decision email
15 October 2026
Secondary application deadline
31 October 2026
School place allocation email
1 March 2027
Read the 2027 admission arrangements
Check the Inner Area and Outer Area allocations, the pupil-premium route, and the tie-break rules before you register for the Kent Test.
Open admission arrangementsRegister for the Kent Test
For September 2027 entry, Kent Test registration runs from Monday 2 June 2026 to Wednesday 1 July 2026.
Check Year 7 datesSend the pupil-premium supplementary form if relevant
Families applying for the Inner Area pupil-premium or free-school-meals route must complete the school's supplementary information form.
Review the pupil-premium routeName Judd on your secondary application
After the Kent Test, list Judd on your local-authority application by the published closing date.
See the admissions timetableLatest 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 | 75.9 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 76.2 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 78.5 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 78.4 | 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 | A- average (45.9 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B+ average (44.5 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | A- average (45.7 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | A- average (47.5 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 | 99% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 99% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 99% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 98% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 1% |
Latest inspection: 7 May 2015
Local rivals first, then nearby alternatives that still fit the same shortlist-building context.
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 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 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 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.
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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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FAQ
Judd School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the 2027 admission arrangements: Check the Inner Area and Outer Area allocations, the pupil-premium route, and the tie-break rules before you register for the Kent Test. 2. Register for the Kent Test: For September 2027 entry, Kent Test registration runs from Monday 2 June 2026 to Wednesday 1 July 2026. 3. Send the pupil-premium supplementary form if relevant: Families applying for the Inner Area pupil-premium or free-school-meals route must complete the school's supplementary information form. 4. Name Judd on your secondary application: After the Kent Test, list Judd on your local-authority application by the published closing date.
Kent Test registration opens: 2 June 2026. Kent Test registration closes: 1 July 2026. Main assessment day: 10 September 2026. Alternative assessment day: 12 September 2026. Assessment decision email: 15 October 2026. Secondary application deadline: 31 October 2026. School place allocation email: 1 March 2027
Judd School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 7 May 2015.