Kent / Kent 11+
Barton Road, Maidstone, ME15 7BT
Maidstone Grammar School
1
A selective boys grammar school in Maidstone, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,415 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective boys grammar school in Maidstone, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,415 pupils on roll. Based in Maidstone, Kent, the school serves boys aged 11-18 and includes sixth-form study as part of the offer. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 1,415 pupils on roll and 205 Year 7 places.
Admissions are central to understanding whether this school is the right fit and realistic shortlist option. The current route includes GL Assessment, with 205 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.
Academically, the published picture is strong and easier to judge than reputation alone. The latest published Ofsted judgement is Good. Recent official performance measures show Progress 8 at 0.50 and Attainment 8 at 66.6. 88.4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 22.7% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 63% 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. That mix of selective entry, published outcomes, and school life is what will matter most to families deciding whether Maidstone Grammar School belongs on a serious shortlist.
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.
Entry is through the Kent age-11 assessment. Listed-parish applicants have priority in two categories, including an enhanced category for qualifying applicants scoring 360 or more.
Listed parishes provide priority but are not an absolute boundary; other qualifying applicants can still be considered. Distance is used within priority groups after free school meals, sibling and staff criteria.
EHCP naming the school
Admitted before oversubscription criteria where agreed with the local authority.
Looked after and previously looked-after children
All qualifying looked-after and previously looked-after children.
Listed parishes with 360 or more
Qualifying children in listed parishes scoring 360 or more, ordered by free school meals, sibling, staff and distance.
Other listed-parish applicants
Other qualifying children in listed parishes, ordered by free school meals, sibling, staff and distance.
Other qualifying applicants
Other qualifying children, ordered by free school meals, sibling, staff and distance.
The Kent Test is the shared GL Assessment route for Year 7 entry. The MGS policy adds parish-priority rules after qualification.
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, VR, NVR
Kent Test
Kent grammar school tests in English, mathematics and reasoning devised by GL Assessment.
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
Science and Creative writing are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Kent grammar school tests in English, mathematics and reasoning devised by GL Assessment.
Non-verbal reasoning
Kent grammar school tests in English, mathematics and reasoning devised by GL Assessment.
Science
Creative writing
Kent Test registration opens
1 June 2026
Kent Test registration closes
1 July 2026
Kent Test - Kent primary pupils
10 September 2026
Kent Test - other pupils
Weekend of 12/13 September 2026
Assessment decision sent
15 October 2026
Secondary application deadline
2 November 2026
National offer day
1 March 2027
Read the admissions arrangements
Check the MGS policy for listed parishes, free school meals, sibling, staff and distance priority.
Open policyRegister for the Kent Test
Register between 1 June and 1 July 2026.
Sit the Kent Test
Kent primary pupils test on 10 September 2026; other pupils test over the weekend of 12/13 September 2026.
Submit the CAF
Submit the secondary application form by 2 November 2026.
Latest 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 | 66.8 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 64.8 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 66.6 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 68.4 | 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 | B average (41.1 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B- average (38.0 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B- average (36.5 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B average (38.7 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 | 96% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 93% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 3% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 16 January 2019
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
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 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.
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 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.
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
Maidstone Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the admissions arrangements: Check the MGS policy for listed parishes, free school meals, sibling, staff and distance priority. 2. Register for the Kent Test: Register between 1 June and 1 July 2026. 3. Sit the Kent Test: Kent primary pupils test on 10 September 2026; other pupils test over the weekend of 12/13 September 2026. 4. Submit the CAF: Submit the secondary application form by 2 November 2026.
Kent Test registration opens: 1 June 2026. Kent Test registration closes: 1 July 2026. Kent Test - Kent primary pupils: 10 September 2026. Kent Test - other pupils: Weekend of 12/13 September 2026. Assessment decision sent: 15 October 2026. Secondary application deadline: 2 November 2026. National offer day: 1 March 2027
Maidstone Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 16 January 2019.