Kent / Kent 11+
Hythe Road, Ashford, TN24 0QJ
The Norton Knatchbull School
1
A selective boys grammar school in Ashford, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,289 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective boys grammar school in Ashford, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,289 pupils on roll. Families looking at Ashford, Kent will usually see The Norton Knatchbull School as a selective option for boys aged 11-18, with sixth form continuing the academic journey on the same site. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 1,289 pupils on roll and 210 Year 7 places.
For parents thinking about the 11+, the admissions picture is one of the clearest differentiators here. The current route includes GL Assessment, with 210 places available in Year 7 and demand that currently looks high by grammar-school standards. It is not defined by a tight formal catchment in the same way some selective schools are, although distance and oversubscription rules can still become relevant later in the process.
On current official measures, the school offers a clear academic profile for parents to weigh up. The latest published Ofsted judgement is Good. Recent official performance measures show Progress 8 at 0.32 and Attainment 8 at 64.2. 85.9% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 11.5% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 65% moving into higher education.
Published school information highlights facilities such as Library. 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. The Norton Knatchbull School is likely to appeal most to families who want strong academic expectations but also need the practical details, culture, and selective route to line up sensibly.
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.
There is no fixed catchment area. After priority categories, distance from the permanent home address to the school is measured in a straight line using the NLPG address point.
EHCP naming the school
Candidates with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school are admitted before oversubscription criteria are applied, provided the grammar-school suitability requirement is met.
Looked-after and previously looked-after children
Eligible looked-after and previously looked-after children, including qualifying children previously in state care outside England, receive priority.
Pupil Premium
Eligible children in receipt of Pupil Premium are prioritised where the required evidence is supplied.
Current family association
Priority applies where the policy's current family association definition is met.
Health or special access reasons
Supported health or special access reasons are considered under the policy's evidence requirements.
Distance from home to school
Remaining eligible applicants are ordered by the straight-line distance from the permanent home address to the school using the NLPG address point.
The Kent Test has English and mathematics, reasoning and writing components. The writing exercise is not part of the automatic score but may be used for headteacher assessment.
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 mathematics paper
Multiple-choice English and mathematics questions form one Kent Test paper.
Paper 2
VR, NVR
Reasoning paper
The reasoning paper covers verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Paper 3
Creative Writing
Writing exercise
The writing exercise is not included in the automatic score but may be considered by a headteacher assessment panel.
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 reasoning paper covers verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Non-verbal reasoning
The reasoning paper covers verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Creative writing
Included within the published English paper.
Science
Kent Test dates pending
Expected May 2026
Common Application Form deadline
31 October 2026
Pupil Premium supplementary form deadline
31 October 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027
Register for the Kent Test
Use the Kent Test registration route when Kent County Council opens registration for the 2027 entry cycle.
Kent Test registrationSit the Kent Test
Candidates need a grammar assessment through the Kent Test before they can be considered for a Year 7 place.
Kent Test guidanceSubmit any Pupil Premium evidence
Complete the school's Pupil Premium supplementary form where the priority criterion is being claimed.
Year 7 admissionsSubmit the Common Application Form
Name the school on the local-authority CAF by 31 October 2026 for September 2027 entry.
Year 7 admissionsLatest 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 | 67.1 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 63.3 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 64.2 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 67.3 | 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 (38.7 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | C average (31.6 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | C+ average (32.4 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | C+ average (34.6 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 | 97% | 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 | 94% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 1% |
Latest inspection: 14 December 2023
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
Norton Knatchbull School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Register for the Kent Test: Use the Kent Test registration route when Kent County Council opens registration for the 2027 entry cycle. 2. Sit the Kent Test: Candidates need a grammar assessment through the Kent Test before they can be considered for a Year 7 place. 3. Submit any Pupil Premium evidence: Complete the school's Pupil Premium supplementary form where the priority criterion is being claimed. 4. Submit the Common Application Form: Name the school on the local-authority CAF by 31 October 2026 for September 2027 entry.
Kent Test dates pending: Expected May 2026. Common Application Form deadline: 31 October 2026. Pupil Premium supplementary form deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
Norton Knatchbull School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 14 December 2023.