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School profile Record updated 27 October 2026

Kent Kent 11+

Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys

Langton Lane, Nackington Road, CT4 7AS

A selective boys grammar school in Canterbury, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,211 pupils on roll.

Grammar school Boys Foundation school Ages 11-18 Sixth form Kent Test
2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #112
Year 7 places
150
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Ofsted ?
Outstanding
11+ route
Kent Test
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On this page

At a glance

Key facts

2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #112
Sector
Grammar school
Admissions
Boys only
Assessment
Kent Test
Places in Year 7
150
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Ofsted ?
Outstanding

Overview

Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys is a Canterbury selective school with about 1,211 pupils and a history that reaches back to Simon Langton's medieval benefaction, later taking its modern secondary-school form in 1881. The school moved to its present edge-of-city site in 1960 after wartime damage to earlier buildings, so its identity is both historic and distinctively Canterbury.

The curriculum has a strong academic spine, including classics or Latin, languages, design and technology and sixth-form study. The Langton is also known for activity beyond lessons: sport, music, drama, student leadership, houses, extra-curricular opportunities and an elite sports strand in the sixth form all appear in the school's own material.

Year 7 admission is through the Kent Test, with English and mathematics, reasoning and a writing task that can be used in headteacher assessment. The published admission number is 150. After grammar suitability, the school's criteria include looked-after children, Pupil Premium priority, siblings and staff-child priority.

For families looking at Canterbury boys' grammar options, The Langton offers a long heritage, a broad academic culture and a sixth form of meaningful scale. Public data records Ofsted Outstanding, strong grade 5+ English and maths outcomes and positive Progress 8, with A level outcomes solid rather than the whole story of the school.

Illustrative creative writing prompt and feedback on ideas, word choice and structure
Inside Creative Writing
11+ Creative Writing Creative writing is part of this school's current 11+ assessment.

Practise 11+ creative writing

Upload a photo, PDF or typed practice piece to get personalised feedback, specific improvements and the next skill to practise.

Open Creative Writing

Key points
Assessment route
Kent Test: 3 papers, covering English, Maths, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Writing task.
Places and demand
150 places in Year 7 and Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Results
90.6% grade 5+ in English and maths and 69.4 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 23.4% AAB or better and 55% in higher education.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2025/26 KS4 measures compared with Kent and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Kent, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M
Attainment 8
69.4
Grade 5+ English and maths
90.6%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Kent and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Kent, and England. 80 66.7 53.3 40 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25 25/26

Destinations

Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Kent and England.

Education Apprenticeships Employment Other / unknown
Destinations stacked bar comparison Year 11 destinations for Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Kent, and England across education, apprenticeships, employment, and other or unknown destinations. 0 50 100 School Local auth. England

School details
Sector
Grammar school
School type
Foundation school
Application
Local authority CAF
Gender
Boys only
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Dr Ken Moffat
Pupil roll
1,226 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
FSM ?
8.1%
EAL ?
24.2%
EHCP ?
3.9%

Extracurriculars

Sport

School statistics

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 1,226 pupils; 1,226 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 68.5% Asian 13.2% Mixed 9.9% Black 5.3% Other 3.1%

Location and contact

Address

Address
Langton Lane, Nackington Road, Canterbury, Kent
Postcode
CT4 7AS
Area
Kent
Exam area
Kent 11+

School leadership

Headteacher
Dr Ken Moffat

School contact

School email
office@thelangton.kent.sch.uk
School phone
01227463567

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions
Admissions email
admissions@thelangton.kent.sch.uk
Admissions phone
01227 463567
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions
Year 7 places
150 places (2027 entry)
Applications listed
479 applications (2026 entry)
First preferences
194 first preferences (2026 entry)
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Pass mark note
For the 2026 Kent Test (2027 entry), grammar-school assessment requires an aggregate score of at least 345, with no individual score below 111. Qualification does not guarantee a place. School-specific alternative tests have their own standards.

There is a 9-mile radius priority within the oversubscription rules, but qualifying boys outside the radius can still be considered by aggregate score.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Education, health and care plan

    Children with an education, health and care plan naming the school are admitted before oversubscription criteria are applied.

  2. 2

    Looked-after and previously looked-after boys

    Boys in care and previously in care who pass the Kent PESE are prioritised first.

  3. 3

    High Kent Test score

    Boys whose Kent Test score is 20 or more marks above the pass mark are considered by health or access need, sibling, staff child and Pupil Premium sub-priorities.

  4. 4

    Nine-mile radius

    Boys living within a 9-mile radius who score 20 or more marks above the pass mark are considered by proximity.

  5. 5

    Other qualifying boys

    Remaining qualifying boys are ordered by aggregate Kent Test score.

  6. 6

    Tie-break

    Distance and random allocation are used where the published criteria need a final tie-break.

Admissions policy

Admission policy 2027/2028

2027 entry

Exam and test format
September 2027 entry

Two multiple-choice papers and a separate writing exercise.

Test provider
GL Assessment
Format
Multiple choice and written answers
Scores
Age-standardised

Papers and timings

  • English and mathematics English · Maths Multiple choice
    60 min Includes two 5-minute practice exercises.
  • Reasoning Verbal reasoning · Non-verbal reasoning Multiple choice
    Approx. 60 min Includes practice sections.
  • Writing exercise Written answers
    40 min Includes 10 minutes for planning.

What the test includes

  • EnglishComprehension and literacy skills.
  • Maths
  • Verbal reasoning
  • Non-verbal reasoning
  • Writing taskUsed for headteacher assessment; outside the standardised score.
Official test guidance
Changes for 2028 entry
2028 entry · Quest Assessments

Quest Assessments will provide the Kent Test from the September 2027 tests for 2028 entry.

Kent County Council says the test’s purpose, structure and timing will remain unchanged.

Official 2028 guidance ↗

Official exam resources

Past papers and practice materials

No released past entrance-test papers are currently verified here. The resources below are labelled by type.

Kent Test test guide

Application

Key dates

Get date reminders
Find open days and plan a visit

  1. Kent Test registration opens

    1 June 2026

    Past

  2. Kent Test registration closes

    1 July 2026

    Past

  3. Kent Test for pupils in Kent primary schools

    10 September 2026

    Past

  4. Kent Test for pupils not in Kent primary schools

    Weekend of 12/13 September 2026

  5. Kent assessment decision sent to parents

    15 October 2026

    Past

  6. Kent secondary application deadline

    2 November 2026, Kent residents

    Kent residents apply through Kent County Council. Families outside Kent must meet their home local authority deadline.

  7. National Offer Day

    1 March 2027

  8. Year 6 open week

    19-22 October 2026

    Book a tour through the school admissions page.

  9. Kent application changes deadline

    7 December 2026

    Deadline for on-time changes to Kent applications to be considered on National Offer Day.

  10. Kent offer acceptance deadline

    15 March 2027

    Kent residents must accept or refuse the offered school place by this date.

  11. Kent on-time appeal deadline

    13 April 2027

    For schools named on the original Kent application; check the school appeal instructions.

  12. Kent reallocation offer day

    27 April 2027

    Kent County Council reallocates places from waiting lists.

How to apply

  1. 1

    Register for the Kent Test

    Registration opens on 1 June 2026 and closes on 1 July 2026 for 2027 entry.

    Register with Kent
  2. 2

    Sit the Kent Test

    Kent primary pupils test on 10 September 2026; other candidates are tested over the 12/13 September weekend.

    View Kent Test dates
  3. 3

    Submit the secondary application

    Use the Kent secondary application route by the published November deadline after assessment decisions are released.

    View Kent scheme
  4. 4

    Check any school forms

    Send any required Pupil Premium, sibling, staff-child or access evidence before the relevant school deadline.

    Check admissions criteria

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Admission policy 2027/2028

2027 entry

Results

Inspection
View report
Outstanding

Latest inspection: 14 November 2013

Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Outstanding

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: Outstanding remains the overall record from the previous framework, and the 2024 report judged education, behaviour, personal development and sixth form Outstanding, with leadership Good. It also noted parent communication and some safeguarding record clarity as areas to sharpen.
  • Quality of education: Education was described as exceptional. Teachers use deep subject expertise, check understanding carefully and adapt for pupils with SEND or English as an additional language. Pupils also undertake ambitious research projects, including sixth-form work on gene manipulation and melanoma-related materials.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Behaviour was excellent, with warm relationships between pupils and staff. Girls joining the sixth form settled quickly, vulnerable pupils were fully included, attendance was high and leaders were improving monitoring so minor patterns could be spotted sooner.
  • Personal development: Personal development had become excellent, with strong pastoral support at entry points and teaching on learning habits, relationships and wellbeing. Pupils promoted equality through societies and assemblies, sang with local people with Parkinson's disease and praised inclusive sport.
  • Leadership and management: Leadership was Good, with new monitoring systems giving leaders better information about achievement, wellbeing, behaviour and attitudes. Governors still identified policies and practice to sharpen, and leaders had responded to parent concerns by creating a new complaints policy.
  • Sixth form provision: The sixth form was Outstanding. Students are included in the school's strong culture, join demanding academic research and benefit from a broad education that supports routes to top universities and degree-level apprenticeships.

Similar schools and comparisons

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Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.

Shortlist comparisons

Compare Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys with Maidstone Grammar School Compare Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys with Gravesend Grammar School Compare Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys with Wilmington Grammar School for Boys

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Related pages and guides

Guides and related reading

Related guides are still being added.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which entrance tests does Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys use?

For September 2027 entry, Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys uses Kent Test. Check the named test and any alternative or later-stage requirements in the admissions policy.

How do I apply to Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys?

1. Register for the Kent Test: Registration opens on 1 June 2026 and closes on 1 July 2026 for 2027 entry. 2. Sit the Kent Test: Kent primary pupils test on 10 September 2026; other candidates are tested over the 12/13 September weekend. 3. Submit the secondary application: Use the Kent secondary application route by the published November deadline after assessment decisions are released. 4. Check any school forms: Send any required Pupil Premium, sibling, staff-child or access evidence before the relevant school deadline.

When are the key dates for Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys?

Kent Test registration opens: 1 June 2026. Kent Test registration closes: 1 July 2026. Kent Test for pupils in Kent primary schools: 10 September 2026. Kent Test for pupils not in Kent primary schools: Weekend of 12/13 September 2026. Kent assessment decision sent to parents: 15 October 2026. Kent secondary application deadline: 2 November 2026, Kent residents. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027. Year 6 open week: 19-22 October 2026. Kent application changes deadline: 7 December 2026. Kent offer acceptance deadline: 15 March 2027. Kent on-time appeal deadline: 13 April 2027. Kent reallocation offer day: 27 April 2027

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys?

Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 14 November 2013.