A selective boys grammar school in Maidstone, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,415 pupils on roll.
Maidstone Grammar School
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At a glance
Maidstone Grammar School has educated young people for more than 475 years and was founded under a Royal Charter in 1549. Its Barton Road site, in use since 1930, now serves about 1,415 pupils as a selective boys' school with a substantial sixth form.
The school describes itself as traditional yet progressive, and that phrase fits the curriculum. MGS combines academic rigour with a broad subject list: sciences, languages, humanities, Latin, computing, design and technology, arts, philosophy, politics, psychology, sociology and more. Year 7 begins with a bespoke Learning to Learn course, while the War Memorial Library supports the Fourteen by 14 reading challenge and sixth-form independent study.
Co-curricular life has a distinctive Maidstonian flavour. The house names preserve the school's own geography and history, while pupils can move into concerts, productions, academic societies, Oxbridge debating, Model UN, Duke of Edinburgh, Combined Cadet Force, rugby, football, cricket and trips in the UK and abroad. Sixth formers start with four A levels, then add Core Four, leadership roles, societies, careers guidance and, for some, EPQ or MOOC enrichment.
Year 7 entry has 205 places and uses the Kent Test. MGS then applies its published parish-priority categories, including enhanced priority for qualifying listed-parish applicants scoring 360 or more. Published outcome context includes Ofsted Good, Progress 8 around +0.50, 99.1% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 22.7% 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 1,415 pupils; 1,406 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 64.9% | White | 919 |
| Any other White background | 7.6% | White | 107 |
| Any other Asian background | 4.7% | Asian | 66 |
| African | 4.6% | Black | 65 |
| Any other mixed background | 4.5% | Mixed | 63 |
| White and Asian | 3.1% | Mixed | 44 |
| Indian | 2.9% | Asian | 41 |
| Any other ethnic group | 2.5% | Other | 36 |
| Pakistani | 1.3% | Asian | 19 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.8% | Asian | 12 |
| White and Black African | 0.8% | Mixed | 12 |
| Chinese | 0.7% | Asian | 10 |
| Unclassified | 0.6% | Unclassified | 9 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.4% | Mixed | 6 |
| Caribbean | 0.3% | Black | 4 |
| Irish | 0.1% | White | 2 |
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.
Shared exam route
Maidstone 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
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning
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 is 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
Kent Test registration opens
1 June 2026
PastKent 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, emails after 4pm
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 | 99% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 95% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 3% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 16 January 2019
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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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 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
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, emails after 4pm
Maidstone Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 16 January 2019.