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School profile Record updated 27 October 2026

Kent Kent 11+

Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School

Southfield Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9UJ

A selective girls grammar school in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,095 pupils on roll.

Grammar school Girls Foundation school Ages 11-18 Sixth form Kent Test
2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #87
Year 7 places
174
Competition ?
Very High (estimated)
Ofsted ?
Outstanding
11+ route
Kent Test
Compare Official website Map

On this page

At a glance

Key facts

2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #87
Sector
Grammar school
Admissions
Girls only
Assessment
Kent Test
Places in Year 7
174
Competition ?
Very High (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

Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School is a selective girls' grammar school on Southfield Road, serving Year 7 through to the upper sixth. The school's public identity balances traditional grammar-school values with a forward-looking tone. Its homepage uses the language of growth, exploration, learning and expression, while the headteacher's welcome says pupils come first and describes a caring environment with a full and balanced education for life.

The academic character is high-attaining and carefully pastoral. TWGGS says pupils engage with challenging subject content across the curriculum and flourish as rounded individuals, a phrase echoed in its Outstanding 2023 Ofsted material. The ethos page gives the school's long-standing motto as Give your best and names Community, Challenge and Character as the values that structure school life. Public outcomes are correspondingly strong: +0.77 Progress 8, 98.6% grade 5+ in English and maths and 28.9% AAB or better at A level.

The wider offer is visible across the school's official pages. Drama, Duke of Edinburgh, Combined Cadet Force, sport and a library sit alongside pupil voice, PSHE, British values work and artistic, cultural and community pursuits. The site news gives a flavour of that range, from assemblies and creative competitions to equestrian updates and year-group events, without making the school feel solely results-driven.

Year 7 admission is through the Kent PESE 11-plus test; applicants must be assessed suitable for selective education before TWGGS can consider them. Kent Test scores are age-standardised, and a grammar assessment does not itself guarantee a place because the school's admissions policy and oversubscription criteria apply after eligibility.

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
174 places in Year 7 and Very High (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Results
94.6% grade 5+ in English and maths and 72.5 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 28.9% AAB or better and 72.9% 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 Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School, Kent, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M
Attainment 8
72.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
94.6%

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 Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School, Kent, and England. 100 80 60 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 Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar 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
Foundation school
Application
Local authority CAF
Gender
Girls only
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Mrs Katie Marchant
Pupil roll
1,123 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
FSM ?
3.8%
EAL ?
14%
EHCP ?
0.2%

Facilities

Library

Extracurriculars

Drama Duke of Edinburgh Combined Cadet Force Sport

School statistics

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 1,123 pupils; 1,105 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 70.2% Asian 16% Mixed 9.5% Black 1.3% Other 1.5% Unclassified 1.6%

Location and contact

Address

Address
Southfield Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Postcode
TN4 9UJ
Area
Kent
Exam area
Kent 11+

School leadership

Headteacher
Mrs Katie Marchant

School contact

School email
info@twggs.kent.sch.uk
School phone
01892520902

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions Officer
Admissions email
admissions@twggs.kent.sch.uk
Admissions phone
01892520902
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions
Year 7 places
174 places
Applications listed
2,027 applications (2026 entry)
First preferences
228 first preferences (2026 entry)
Competition ?
Very High (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.

Eligibility is through the Kent Test. Oversubscription combines Pupil Premium, family, staff, area, distance and Governors’ Places criteria, with a Pupil Premium supplementary form due by 31 October 2026 where relevant.

Priority includes girls living in named parishes or within a 4-mile radius, followed by distance ranking. Up to 17 Governors’ Places are for eligible girls in that area who are ranked by aggregate Kent Test score.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Looked-after and previously looked-after girls

    Eligible applicants in this category are prioritised first.

  2. 2

    Pupil Premium

    Eligible Pupil Premium applicants must meet the grammar threshold, live within the criterion 6 area and submit the supplementary form by 31 October.

  3. 3

    Current Family Association

    Eligible girls with a qualifying sibling or family association are prioritised if they live within the defined area.

  4. 4

    Health and Special Access Reasons

    Applicants with accepted health or special access reasons are prioritised next.

  5. 5

    Daughters of staff

    Eligible daughters of staff are prioritised after health and special access reasons.

  6. 6

    Named parishes and 4-mile radius

    Eligible girls living in the named parishes or within a 4-mile radius are considered under the area criterion.

Admissions policy

Admissions criteria 2027-28

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 primary school test day

    10 September 2026

    Past

  4. Out-of-Kent test weekend

    Weekend of 12/13 September 2026

  5. Kent assessment decision

    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 evening

    23 September 2026

    Past

    4.30pm-7.30pm; headteacher talks at 5.15pm and 6.15pm. Booking required.

  9. Year 6 open morning

    21 October 2026

    Past

    10.40am-12.30pm; headteacher talk at 11.30am. Booking required.

  10. Kent application changes deadline

    7 December 2026

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

  11. Kent offer acceptance deadline

    15 March 2027

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

  12. Kent on-time appeal deadline

    13 April 2027

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

  13. 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

    Complete Kent Test registration by Wednesday 1 July 2026.

    Register
  2. 2

    Sit the Kent Test

    Kent pupils test on 10 September 2026; out-of-Kent candidates test over the 12/13 September weekend.

    Check test details
  3. 3

    Return any Pupil Premium SIF

    Return the supplementary form by 31 October 2026 if applying for Pupil Premium priority.

    Check school admissions
  4. 4

    Submit the secondary application

    Name the school on the secondary application by 2 November 2026.

    Check application details

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Admissions criteria 2027-28

2027 entry

Key dates

Kent secondary admissions scheme 2027-28

2027 entry

Results

Inspection
View report
Outstanding

Latest inspection: 20 September 2023

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

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: Outstanding across all areas, with an unusually strong combination of academic ambition, pastoral care and pupil leadership. Pupils feel safe and valued, join a wide range of pupil-led clubs and contribute through projects, societies, charity work and sixth-form leadership.
  • Quality of education: Teaching is built around deep subject knowledge, clear explanations and rich discussion. The curriculum is sequenced to develop understanding over time, includes diverse themes such as equality and inclusion, and supports pupils with SEND to access demanding work and achieve highly.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Pupils meet very high expectations calmly and consistently. They are polite, motivated and focused in lessons, while the report notes a respectful atmosphere around school and high take-up of clubs, especially in key stage 3.
  • Personal development: Pastoral care is woven through school life, with staff monitoring well-being as well as progress. Assemblies, form activities and PSHE cover relationships, consent, respect and the impact of actions, while pupils also develop leadership through societies, charity and the Legacy Project.
  • Leadership and management: Leaders, governors and staff share a clear ambition for first-class education. Governors know the school well, staff feel strongly supported, and the report praises the way leaders combine academic expectations with well-being, careers guidance and an inclusive school culture.
  • Sixth form provision: The sixth form has a broad, dynamic curriculum and a strong culture of achievement. Students benefit from effective assessment and feedback, take active leadership roles, receive alumni support, and participate fully in the wider school community.

Similar schools and comparisons

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Shortlist comparisons

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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 Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School use?

For September 2027 entry, Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School uses Kent Test. Check the named test and any alternative or later-stage requirements in the admissions policy.

How do I apply to Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School?

1. Register for the Kent Test: Complete Kent Test registration by Wednesday 1 July 2026. 2. Sit the Kent Test: Kent pupils test on 10 September 2026; out-of-Kent candidates test over the 12/13 September weekend. 3. Return any Pupil Premium SIF: Return the supplementary form by 31 October 2026 if applying for Pupil Premium priority. 4. Submit the secondary application: Name the school on the secondary application by 2 November 2026.

When are the key dates for Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School?

Kent Test registration opens: 1 June 2026. Kent Test registration closes: 1 July 2026. Kent primary school test day: 10 September 2026. Out-of-Kent test weekend: Weekend of 12/13 September 2026. Kent assessment decision: 15 October 2026. Kent secondary application deadline: 2 November 2026, Kent residents. National offer day: 1 March 2027. Year 6 open evening: 23 September 2026. Year 6 open morning: 21 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 Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School?

Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 20 September 2023.