A selective boys grammar school in Ashford, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,289 pupils on roll.
The Norton Knatchbull School
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At a glance
The Norton Knatchbull School is a selective boys' grammar school in Ashford, Kent, with girls admitted to the sixth form. Its history reaches back to the 17th century and the school still trades on that sense of continuity, while operating as a large modern grammar with about 1,289 pupils. For families in and around Ashford, it is one of the clearest Kent grammar options for boys seeking an 11 to 18 academic route.
The curriculum has breadth at both GCSE and sixth-form level. At Key Stage 4, NKS describes a broad academic curriculum taught by subject specialists, with decisions later in the phase about separate sciences or combined science, and super-curricular provision building on the Knatchbull Baccalaureate, academic, extra-curricular, community, and Excel and Extend strands. In the sixth form, students usually take three and sometimes four A levels alongside EPQ, enrichment, sport, supervised study and tailored UCAS and careers advice.
School life is not presented as an add-on. The sixth-form curriculum pages describe specific support for competitive university routes, including Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry and other demanding courses, with personal statements, admissions tests, mock interviews and a Cambridge residential visit. Music, drama, student leadership, volunteering and library provision are also visible in the school record. The result is a traditional grammar with a visible emphasis on progression and destination planning.
Year 7 entry sits within the Kent Test system, and the published admission number is 210. The Kent Test includes English and mathematics, reasoning and a writing task; the writing is not part of the automatic standardised score but can be used in headteacher assessment. Children need a grammar assessment before NKS can consider them for a place. The school's oversubscription criteria include looked-after and previously looked-after children, Pupil Premium, current family association, health or special access reasons and distance from home to school. Published measures show a Good Ofsted judgement from December 2023, +0.32 Progress 8, 96.6% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 11.5% 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 1,289 pupils; 1,289 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 62.1% | White | 801 |
| Any other Asian background | 8.7% | Asian | 112 |
| African | 6.9% | Black | 89 |
| Any other White background | 6.7% | White | 87 |
| Indian | 5.4% | Asian | 69 |
| White and Asian | 2.6% | Mixed | 34 |
| Any other mixed background | 2.2% | Mixed | 28 |
| Chinese | 1.1% | Asian | 14 |
| Any other Black background | 0.8% | Black | 10 |
| Any other ethnic group | 0.7% | Other | 9 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.6% | Asian | 8 |
| Pakistani | 0.6% | Asian | 8 |
| White and Black African | 0.6% | Mixed | 8 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.5% | Mixed | 7 |
| Caribbean | 0.2% | Black | 2 |
| Irish | 0.2% | White | 2 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.1% | White | 1 |
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.
Shared exam route
Norton Knatchbull 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 mathematics paper
Multiple-choice English and mathematics questions form one Kent Test paper.
Paper 2
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning
Reasoning paper
The reasoning paper covers verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Paper 3
Writing task
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 and Non-verbal reasoning 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.
Science
Kent Test registration opens
1 June 2026
PastKent Test registration closes
1 July 2026
Access-arrangements requests must be discussed with the primary school before registration closes.
Kent Test for Kent primary pupils
10 September 2026
Kent Test for pupils outside Kent primary schools
12 and 13 September 2026
Kent Test results
15 October 2026
Common Application Form deadline
31 October 2026
Pupil Premium supplementary form deadline
31 October 2026
The Pupil Premium supplementary form and evidence are due by 31 October for applicants using that priority.
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 | 97% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 95% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 1% |
Latest inspection: 14 December 2023
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
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 registration opens: 1 June 2026. Kent Test registration closes: 1 July 2026. Kent Test for Kent primary pupils: 10 September 2026. Kent Test for pupils outside Kent primary schools: 12 and 13 September 2026. Kent Test results: 15 October 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.