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School profile Verified 11 September 2026

Kent Kent 11+

The Skinners' School

St John's Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9PG

A selective boys grammar school in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,141 pupils on roll.

Grammar school Boys Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form GL Assessment
UK rank
UK Rank #102
Year 7 places
160
Competition ?
High
Ofsted ?
Good
11+ route
GL Assessment
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On this page

At a glance

Key facts

GCSE rank
UK Rank #102
Sector
Grammar school
Admissions
Boys only
Assessment
GL Assessment
Places in Year 7
160
Competition ?
High
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Ofsted ?
Good

Overview

The Skinners' School is a selective boys' grammar school on St John's Road in Tunbridge Wells, educating boys from 11 to 18. It opened in 1887 and now has about 1,141 pupils on roll, with the school website giving a similar current roll of 1,148, including 344 in the sixth form. Its public identity is direct: academic excellence, independence as learners and learning outside the classroom.

The curriculum page gives the academic offer more depth than a results table can. Skinners' says pupils should leave with deep academic knowledge, strong reading, the ability to communicate in languages, mathematical understanding and scientific knowledge of how the universe and world work. That is a broad liberal academic statement, supported in the data by separate sciences, languages, EPQ and a substantial sixth form.

Co-curricular life is central to the school. Sport is described as something every student should be able to take part in, from fixtures to inter-house competition, while music, drama productions, Duke of Edinburgh and Combined Cadet Force broaden the offer. The sixth form is selective and demanding, with external applicants expected to meet a points threshold across their best eight GCSEs and subject-specific grades for A-level study.

Year 7 admission is through the Kent Test, with 160 places. The 2026 information explains that Skinners' now draws from a West Kent Area for 140 places and an Outer Area for 20 places, with a qualifying score set 40 points above the Kent Test threshold. The 2027 criteria include looked-after priority, West Kent pupil-premium places, other West Kent places, governors' places and Outer Area places. Published measures show Ofsted Good, +0.99 Progress 8, 95.2% grade 5+ in English and maths and 31% AAB or better at A level.

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Key points
Assessment route
GL Assessment across a 3-stage process, covering English, Maths, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Writing task.
Places and demand
160 places in Year 7 and High
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Results
95.2% grade 5+ in English and maths and 70.8 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 31% AAB or better and 77% in higher education.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Kent and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Skinners' School, Kent, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M EBacc APS EBacc %
Attainment 8
70.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
95.2%
EBacc APS
6.76
EBacc entry
72.5%

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 Skinners' School, Kent, and England. 80 66.7 53.3 40 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25

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 Skinners' School, 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
Academy converter
Application
Local authority CAF
Gender
Boys only
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Mr Edward Wesson
Pupil roll
1,141 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Trust
Skinners' Academies Trust
FSM ?
5.6%
EAL ?
18.3%
EHCP ?
0.1%

Facilities

Library

Extracurriculars

Choir Drama Duke of Edinburgh Combined Cadet Force Sport

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 1,141 pupils; 1,090 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 71.9% Asian 11% Mixed 10.9% Black 0.5% Other 1.1% Unclassified 4.5%

Location and contact

Address

Address
St John's Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Postcode
TN4 9PG
Area
Kent
Exam area
Kent 11+

School leadership

Headteacher
Mr Edward Wesson

School contact

School email
enquiries@skinners-school.org.uk
School phone
01892520732

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions Officer
Admissions email
admissions@skinners-school.org.uk
Admissions phone
0409312768379
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions
Year 7 places
160 places (2027 entry)
Applications listed
747 applications (2025 entry)
First preferences
208 first preferences (2025 entry)
Competition ?
High
Who can apply
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Pass mark note
Kent selection suitability is confirmed through the Kent Test process; the 2027 threshold is published through Kent's results process rather than fixed in advance in school policies.

Entry is through the Kent Test. The 2027 criteria reserve most places for the defined West Kent Area, with pupil premium, governors' and Outer Area routes.

Most places are tied to the West Kent Area, defined as within three miles plus named parishes. Outer Area places remain available after the West Kent criteria.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Looked after and previously looked after children

    Boys assessed suitable through Kent PESE who meet the statutory looked-after or previously-looked-after definition.

  2. 2

    West Kent Area pupil premium places

    Up to 16 West Kent Area pupil premium applicants, ranked by aggregate Kent Test score if oversubscribed.

  3. 3

    Other West Kent Area places

    Up to 108 other West Kent Area applicants, with high-scoring applicants prioritised before sibling/staff/distance ordering.

  4. 4

    Governors' places

    Up to 16 additional West Kent parish applicants who would not otherwise be offered, ranked by Kent Test score.

  5. 5

    Outer Area places

    Up to 20 applicants outside the West Kent Area but within mainland UK, with high-scoring applicants prioritised.

  6. 6

    Distance and random tie-break

    Distance is used within listed subcriteria; random allocation applies where needed for the final place.

Admissions policy

The Skinners' School admissions criteria 2027-2028

2027 entry

Exam and test format

The GL Assessment 11+ entrance test format

Skinners' School currently uses GL Assessment. The published format currently lists 3 papers. Scores are published as age-standardised.

Assessment route
GL Assessment
Papers and stages
3 papers
Format
Mixed format
Age standardisation
Published as age-standardised

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

Papers and rounds

  1. Paper 1

    English, Maths

    Kent Test Paper 1

    Multiple-choice English and maths paper.

  2. Paper 2

    Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning

    Kent Test Paper 2

    Multiple-choice reasoning paper covering verbal and non-verbal reasoning.

  3. Paper 3

    Writing task

    Writing exercise

    Writing task is not marked for the Kent Test score but may be used in headteacher assessment.

What the test includes

English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.

Science is not listed in the current published format.

Included

  • English

  • Maths

  • Verbal reasoning

    Multiple-choice reasoning paper covering verbal and non-verbal reasoning.

  • Non-verbal reasoning

    Multiple-choice reasoning paper covering verbal and non-verbal reasoning.

Not listed

  • Science

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

  6. Kent secondary application deadline

    2 November 2026

  7. National Offer Day

    1 March 2027

How to apply

  1. 1

    Check the school's 2027 admissions criteria

    Use the school criteria for the PAN, local priority area, supplementary information, and tie-break rules.

    Read criteria
  2. 2

    Register for the Kent Test

    Kent Test registration opens on 1 June 2026 and closes on 1 July 2026.

    View Kent scheme
  3. 3

    Sit the Kent Test

    Kent primary-school pupils test on 10 September 2026; non-Kent primary-school pupils test over the weekend of 12 and 13 September 2026.

    View Kent dates
  4. 4

    Submit the secondary application

    Kent residents submit the SCAF by 2 November 2026; non-Kent families use their home authority form.

    View application scheme

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

The Skinners' School admissions criteria 2027-2028

2027 entry

Key dates

Kent secondary admissions scheme 2027/28

2027 entry

Results

Inspection
View report
Good

Latest inspection: 17 November 2021

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

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: The Skinners' School carries a Good overall judgement in the evidence, while the 2026 report extract describes strong standards in achievement, attendance, behaviour, curriculum and safeguarding. Pupils achieve well, attend very well and show pride in the school.
  • Quality of education: Pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, achieved very well, with outcomes above national averages including post-16. Key stage 3 work was high quality, pupils used technical vocabulary fluently and leaders continually reviewed an ambitious curriculum.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Attendance was consistently high and persistent absence low. Pupils showed pride, kindness and mutual respect, classrooms were calm and highly engaged, and bullying was rare, with pupils confident it would be dealt with quickly.
  • Personal development: The available evidence emphasises pupils' readiness for their next stage in education, employment or training. It also describes a respectful culture where pupils speak maturely to visitors and use subject vocabulary confidently to explain their thinking.
  • Leadership and management: Leaders set high expectations and knew the barriers that could affect individual attendance, using trends to plan pastoral support. They also reviewed the curriculum continually and met safeguarding standards through an open culture of responsibility.

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 Skinners' School with The Judd School Compare Skinners' School with Dartford Grammar School Compare Skinners' School with Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys

Explore this school in context

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Related pages and guides

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What assessment types does Skinners' School use?

Skinners' School currently uses GL Assessment.

How do I apply to Skinners' School?

1. Check the school's 2027 admissions criteria: Use the school criteria for the PAN, local priority area, supplementary information, and tie-break rules. 2. Register for the Kent Test: Kent Test registration opens on 1 June 2026 and closes on 1 July 2026. 3. Sit the Kent Test: Kent primary-school pupils test on 10 September 2026; non-Kent primary-school pupils test over the weekend of 12 and 13 September 2026. 4. Submit the secondary application: Kent residents submit the SCAF by 2 November 2026; non-Kent families use their home authority form.

When are the key dates for Skinners' School?

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. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Skinners' School?

Skinners' School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 17 November 2021.