A selective boys grammar school in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,141 pupils on roll.
The Skinners' School
1
On this page
At a glance
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.
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 1,141 pupils; 1,090 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 63.3% | White | 722 |
| Any other White background | 8.2% | White | 94 |
| Indian | 7.5% | Asian | 86 |
| Any other mixed background | 4.9% | Mixed | 56 |
| White and Asian | 4.6% | Mixed | 53 |
| Unclassified | 4.5% | Unclassified | 51 |
| Any other Asian background | 1.2% | Asian | 14 |
| White and Black African | 1.2% | Mixed | 14 |
| Any other ethnic group | 1.1% | Other | 13 |
| Pakistani | 0.9% | Asian | 10 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.7% | Asian | 8 |
| Chinese | 0.7% | Asian | 8 |
| Irish | 0.4% | White | 5 |
| African | 0.4% | Black | 4 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.2% | Mixed | 2 |
| Any other Black background | 0.1% | Black | 1 |
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.
Looked after and previously looked after children
Boys assessed suitable through Kent PESE who meet the statutory looked-after or previously-looked-after definition.
West Kent Area pupil premium places
Up to 16 West Kent Area pupil premium applicants, ranked by aggregate Kent Test score if oversubscribed.
Other West Kent Area places
Up to 108 other West Kent Area applicants, with high-scoring applicants prioritised before sibling/staff/distance ordering.
Governors' places
Up to 16 additional West Kent parish applicants who would not otherwise be offered, ranked by Kent Test score.
Outer Area places
Up to 20 applicants outside the West Kent Area but within mainland UK, with high-scoring applicants prioritised.
Distance and random tie-break
Distance is used within listed subcriteria; random allocation applies where needed for the final place.
Skinners' School currently uses GL Assessment. The published format currently lists 3 papers. Scores are published as age-standardised.
Shared exam route
Skinners' 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
Kent Test Paper 1
Multiple-choice English and maths paper.
Paper 2
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning
Kent Test Paper 2
Multiple-choice reasoning paper covering verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Paper 3
Writing task
Writing exercise
Writing task is not marked for the Kent Test score but may be used in headteacher 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
Multiple-choice reasoning paper covering verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Non-verbal reasoning
Multiple-choice reasoning paper covering verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Science
Kent Test registration opens
1 June 2026
PastKent 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
Check the school's 2027 admissions criteria
Use the school criteria for the PAN, local priority area, supplementary information, and tie-break rules.
Read criteriaRegister for the Kent Test
Kent Test registration opens on 1 June 2026 and closes on 1 July 2026.
View Kent schemeSit 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 datesSubmit the secondary application
Kent residents submit the SCAF by 2 November 2026; non-Kent families use their home authority form.
View application schemeLatest 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 | 72.5 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 72.7 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 74.1 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 70.8 | 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 | A- average (47.1 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B+ average (43.2 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | A- average (46.0 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B+ average (42.7 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 | 100% | 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 | 99% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 17 November 2021
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
Best Grammar Schools in Kent
Compare 32 Kent grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Kent Test route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
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.
Best Grammar Schools in Kent
Compare 32 Kent grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Kent Test route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
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.
FAQ
Skinners' School currently uses GL Assessment.
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.
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
Skinners' School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 17 November 2021.