Kent / Kent 11+
Common Lane, Wilmington, DA2 7DA
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys
1
A selective boys grammar school in Dartford, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,178 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective boys grammar school in Dartford, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,178 pupils on roll. Based in Dartford, Kent, the school serves boys aged 11-18 and includes sixth-form study as part of the offer. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 1,178 pupils on roll and 180 Year 7 places.
Admissions are central to understanding whether this school is the right fit and realistic shortlist option. The current route includes GL Assessment, with 180 places available in Year 7 and demand that currently looks moderate by grammar-school standards. Catchment or distance rules still matter at allocation stage, so this is the kind of school where families need to read the admissions policy carefully rather than rely on headline scores alone.
Academically, the published picture is strong and easier to judge than reputation alone. The latest published Ofsted judgement is Good. Recent official performance measures show Progress 8 at 0.65 and Attainment 8 at 66.5. 92.6% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 11.1% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 62% moving into higher education.
For many parents, the presence of a sixth form is part of the attraction, because it gives able pupils the option to stay in a familiar academic setting through to A level. That mix of selective entry, published outcomes, and school life is what will matter most to families deciding whether Wilmington Grammar School for Boys belongs on a serious shortlist.
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.
Priority includes siblings, staff, up to 18 governor places within five miles, named parishes and wards or a 1.5-mile area, pupil premium within three miles, then all other eligible boys by distance.
EHCP naming the school
Admitted before remaining places are allocated where the child is assessed suitable.
Looked after and previously looked after children
Highest priority among eligible boys after EHCP admissions.
Siblings
Priority applies for siblings at WGSB or Wilmington Grammar School for Girls when the child starts.
Children of staff
Applies where the published staff employment criteria are met.
Governor places
Up to 18 places are available for exceptional Kent Test performance, excluding the maths test, within five miles of the school.
Priority parishes and 1.5-mile area
Eligible boys living within the listed parishes and wards or within 1.5 miles are prioritised, with pupil premium priority inside this area.
Structured exam detail is still being reviewed.
This school uses the shared Kent Test consortium route. The consortium page brings together the common test format, key dates and official papers used across that route.
Open Kent Test guideKent Test registration
Usually opens at the beginning of June
Supplementary form deadline
31 October 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027
Register for the Kent Test
Register with Kent County Council for the PESE test during the published Kent Test window.
Open admissions pageSit the Kent Test
A place can only be offered to boys assessed suitable for grammar school through the Kent procedure.
Open criteriaSubmit the SCAF
Name Wilmington Grammar School for Boys on the Secondary Common Application Form.
Open admissions pageSend the supplementary form if relevant
The supplementary form is only needed for sibling or pupil premium priority, and must be sent to admissions@wgsb.co.uk by 31 October 2026.
Open criteriaLatest 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 | 68 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 67.2 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 66.5 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 64.6 | 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 (37.4 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | C+ average (35.0 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | C+ average (33.2 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | C+ average (33.3 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 | 99% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 99% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 100% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 100% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 14 March 2023
Local rivals first, then nearby alternatives that still fit the same shortlist-building context.
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 the best grammar schools in Kent for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Kent sits within the Kent Test route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
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 realistic shortlist options.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
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 the best grammar schools in Kent for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Kent sits within the Kent Test route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
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 realistic shortlist options.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
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
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Register for the Kent Test: Register with Kent County Council for the PESE test during the published Kent Test window. 2. Sit the Kent Test: A place can only be offered to boys assessed suitable for grammar school through the Kent procedure. 3. Submit the SCAF: Name Wilmington Grammar School for Boys on the Secondary Common Application Form. 4. Send the supplementary form if relevant: The supplementary form is only needed for sibling or pupil premium priority, and must be sent to admissions@wgsb.co.uk by 31 October 2026.
Kent Test registration: Usually opens at the beginning of June. Supplementary form deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 14 March 2023.