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
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At a glance
The Judd School is a voluntary-aided selective boys' grammar school on Brook Street in Tonbridge, with girls joining the sixth form. The school has more than 1,400 students aged 11 to 18 and describes itself as highly academic, state funded and rooted in traditional values. Its public motto-like language, Learn, Grow, Belong, gives the page a useful balance: this is a high-attaining Kent grammar, but one that is trying to sound personal rather than remote.
Judd's academic character is direct. The school says high expectations run through the curriculum, the house pastoral system and the extended curriculum, and that nearly all students go on to university, with a very high proportion progressing to Oxbridge. The official site also foregrounds modern learning, curiosity and collaboration, so the selective culture is framed as intellectual challenge rather than just rank order.
The extended curriculum is one of the main reasons Judd stands out. The school names sport, music, drama, Combined Cadet Force and wider clubs as part of its offer, while student writing on the website talks about societies, assemblies, shared study and a community that values courage, curiosity and compassion. The sixth form draws in both boys and girls and is positioned as a continuation of that academic and co-curricular culture.
Year 7 entry is through the Kent PESE process, with 180 places. The admissions arrangements rank eligible applicants by aggregate Kent Test score within the relevant area and priority category, including looked-after and Pupil Premium routes. For 2026 entry, the school reported Inner Area offers down to 389 and Outer Area offers down to 403, with not all tied applicants at those scores offered. Published measures show Ofsted Outstanding, +0.85 Progress 8, 98.9% grade 5+ in English and maths and 62.2% AAB or better at A level.
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 1,499 pupils; 1,483 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 54.2% | White | 813 |
| Indian | 14% | Asian | 210 |
| Any other mixed background | 9.4% | Mixed | 141 |
| Any other White background | 8.5% | White | 128 |
| White and Asian | 3% | Mixed | 45 |
| African | 1.6% | Black | 24 |
| Any other ethnic group | 1.6% | Other | 24 |
| Chinese | 1.5% | Asian | 22 |
| Pakistani | 1.2% | Asian | 18 |
| Any other Asian background | 1.1% | Asian | 17 |
| Unclassified | 1.1% | Unclassified | 16 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 1% | Mixed | 15 |
| White and Black African | 0.7% | Mixed | 10 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.6% | Asian | 9 |
| Irish | 0.3% | White | 5 |
| Any other Black background | 0.1% | Black | 2 |
For 2027 entry, 157 places are allocated in the Inner Area and 23 in the Outer Area. Within each area, eligible boys are ranked by the published looked-after, score-led and pupil-premium/free-school-meals criteria.
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.
Shared exam route
Judd 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
English and maths paper
The first Kent Test paper lasts about an hour and covers English and maths.
Paper 2
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning
Reasoning paper
The second paper lasts about an hour and contains verbal-reasoning and non-verbal-reasoning sections.
Paper 3
Writing task
Writing exercise
The writing task is not marked for the Kent Test score, but it may be used in 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
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.
Science
Kent Test registration opens
1 June 2026
PastKent Test registration closes
1 July 2026
Main assessment day
10 September 2026
Alternative assessment day
Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2026
Assessment decision email
15 October 2026
Secondary application deadline
2 November 2026
School place allocation email
1 March 2027
Offer acceptance/refusal deadline
15 March 2027
Deadline for lodging appeals
13 April 2027
Reallocation round
27 April 2027
Read the 2027 admission arrangements
Check the Inner Area and Outer Area allocations, pupil-premium route and tie-break rules before registering for the Kent Test.
Open admission arrangementsRegister for the Kent Test
For September 2027 entry, Kent Test registration runs from Monday 1 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 Monday 2 November 2026.
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 (47.6 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 | 100% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 99% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 1% |
Latest inspection: 7 May 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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FAQ
Judd School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the 2027 admission arrangements: Check the Inner Area and Outer Area allocations, pupil-premium route and tie-break rules before registering for the Kent Test. 2. Register for the Kent Test: For September 2027 entry, Kent Test registration runs from Monday 1 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 Monday 2 November 2026.
Kent Test registration opens: 1 June 2026. Kent Test registration closes: 1 July 2026. Main assessment day: 10 September 2026. Alternative assessment day: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2026. Assessment decision email: 15 October 2026. Secondary application deadline: 2 November 2026. School place allocation email: 1 March 2027. Offer acceptance/refusal deadline: 15 March 2027. Deadline for lodging appeals: 13 April 2027. Reallocation round: 27 April 2027
Judd School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 7 May 2015.