A selective boys grammar school in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,799 pupils on roll.
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
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At a glance
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys is a large selective boys' grammar school on St John's Road, with a co-educational sixth form and about 1,799 pupils on roll. The school describes itself as one school on two sites, and that scale matters: TWGSB is one of the bigger Kent grammar-school communities, with a Year 7 intake of 300 and a sixth form that draws both internal and external applicants.
The academic language is built around all-round excellence. The school says its broad and ambitious curriculum is designed to help students achieve their fullest potential, while the headteacher's welcome links academic aspiration with confidence, resilience, critical thinking and respectful relationships. In Years 7 to 11, target grades are tied to prior attainment and all students are expected to work towards at least GCSE grade 6 targets.
Facilities and sixth-form provision are unusually prominent. A recent 12 million pound expansion at the Tunbridge Wells campus added a two-storey teaching centre, sports centre and reconfigured dining hall. TWGSB6 is based in a new building, offers 25 A-level subjects, and includes a study centre with silent and quiet work areas, an ICT suite and charging lockers. Co-curricular opportunities include music, drama, sport, Duke of Edinburgh, chess and student leadership.
Admission to Year 7 is through the Kent Test. The 2027 policy gives priority to looked-after and previously looked-after children, then current family association, health or special access reasons, boys within three miles, named parishes and finally other eligible boys by distance. Pupil Premium priority applies within oversubscribed criteria where the supplementary form is returned. The latest applications record lists 1,059 applications and 299 offers for 2025/26; published measures add Ofsted Good, +0.46 Progress 8, 95.9% grade 5+ in English and maths and 20% AAB or better at A level.
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 1,799 pupils; 1,774 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 71.4% | White | 1,284 |
| Indian | 5.4% | Asian | 97 |
| Any other White background | 5.2% | White | 93 |
| Any other mixed background | 3.8% | Mixed | 69 |
| White and Asian | 2.8% | Mixed | 50 |
| African | 2.4% | Black | 44 |
| Chinese | 2.2% | Asian | 39 |
| Unclassified | 1.4% | Unclassified | 25 |
| Pakistani | 0.9% | Asian | 17 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.9% | Mixed | 17 |
| Any other ethnic group | 0.8% | Other | 15 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.8% | Asian | 15 |
| White and Black African | 0.7% | Mixed | 12 |
| Any other Asian background | 0.6% | Asian | 10 |
| Irish | 0.5% | White | 9 |
| Any other Black background | 0.1% | Black | 2 |
| Caribbean | 0.1% | Black | 1 |
Eligibility is through the Kent Test. Pupil Premium priority applies within oversubscribed criteria where the supplementary form is returned, followed by distance within each criterion.
Priority areas are a 3-mile radius, then named parishes, then all other eligible boys by distance. Pupil Premium priority applies within oversubscribed criteria when the SIF is returned.
Looked-after and previously looked-after children
Eligible applicants in this category are prioritised first.
Current family association
Applicants with a qualifying sibling link are prioritised after looked-after children.
Health and Special Access Reasons
Applicants with accepted health or special access reasons are prioritised next.
Within 3 miles
Eligible boys living within a 3-mile radius are ranked by distance.
Named parishes
Eligible boys living in the named parishes are ranked by distance.
All other eligible boys
Remaining applicants are ranked by nearness of home to school.
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys currently uses GL Assessment. The published format currently lists 1 paper. Scores are published as age-standardised.
Shared exam route
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 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, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning
Kent Test
Kent grammar assessment covering English, mathematics and reasoning, with a writing task used only for headteacher assessment panels.
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
Kent grammar assessment covering English, mathematics and reasoning, with a writing task used only for headteacher assessment panels.
Non-verbal reasoning
Kent grammar assessment covering English, mathematics and reasoning, with a writing task used only for headteacher assessment panels.
Science
Kent Test registration opens
1 June 2026
PastKent 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
Secondary school application deadline
2 November 2026
National offer day
1 March 2027
Register for the Kent Test
Complete Kent Test registration by Wednesday 1 July 2026.
RegisterSit the Kent Test
Kent pupils test on 10 September 2026; out-of-Kent candidates test over the 12/13 September weekend.
Check test detailsReturn any Pupil Premium SIF
Return the supplementary form by 31 October 2026 if applying for Pupil Premium priority.
Check form detailsSubmit the secondary application
Name the school on the secondary application by 2 November 2026.
Check application detailsLatest 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 | 64.9 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 60.8 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 64.2 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 63.7 | 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 (42.6 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B average (38.7 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B average (39.1 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B- average (38.2 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 | 98% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 98% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 96% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 93% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 2% |
| In employment | 2% |
Latest inspection: 25 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
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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
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys currently uses GL Assessment.
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.
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. Secondary school application deadline: 2 November 2026. National offer day: 1 March 2027
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 25 November 2021.