Highsted Grammar School 11 plus preparation often feels simplest when you focus on the real steps in front of you, rather than trying to hold the whole year in your head at once. Highsted is in Sittingbourne, close to the town centre and within easy reach of travel routes many families already use. That matters because routine matters. A child who can picture the morning journey usually feels calmer about the whole process.
Highsted is a girls grammar school, and the route is test based rather than interview led. The main pathway is the Kent selection process, but there is also an additional optional Highsted test route for girls who have registered for the Kent Test. That extra option can feel reassuring for families whose child is capable but may not test perfectly on one day.
A calm early step is to use a simple shortlist method, so you are not trying to compare too many schools at once. This guide can help keep it practical: how to choose a grammar school shortlist. It also helps to talk to your child about fit rather than status. The best grammar school choice is usually the one that matches learning style, commute tolerance, and home life.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| School type | Selective grammar school |
| Location | Sittingbourne, Kent |
| Age range | 11 to 18 |
| Gender of entry | Girls, with boys admitted into sixth form |
| Routes to eligibility | Kent selection procedure or Highsted optional test route |
| Year 7 admission number | 150 |
| Oversubscription priority | Looked after and previously looked after children, pupil premium, sibling link, then distance |
| Location |
The Kent Test is the starting point, even if you are also considering the Highsted optional test route. Registration windows and confirmed dates are published by Kent, and the clearest reference is the Kent Test registration dates page. Once registration is complete, most families feel calmer because the remaining steps become clearer.
Highsted offers an additional optional test for girls who have registered for and taken part in the Kent selection procedure. The key practical detail is that Kent Test registration comes first, followed by the Highsted process. For confirmed dates and instructions, use the school admissions timeline page. Many parents treat this page as their single source of truth rather than relying on forwarded messages.
Even where a school has its own testing route, applications for Year 7 are still made through your home local authority. Think of testing as proving eligibility, and the local authority application as the formal way you rank your school preferences. It helps to include at least one school you would genuinely be happy with if Highsted does not work out.
Offers are released on national offer day. After that, attention usually shifts from academics to practical decisions such as travel time, morning routines, homework rhythm, and clubs. Doing one realistic travel run can reduce a lot of anxiety, and the National Rail journey planner is useful for testing real weekday timings.
If you are not offered a place, you can remain on the waiting list and consider an appeal. Waiting lists are ranked by oversubscription criteria, not by how long you have been waiting. Appeals are a safety net rather than a plan A, and they work best when supported by clear evidence and calm reasoning. A helpful overview is available in the Child Law Advice guidance on school admissions.
This process is supported by the Department for Education guidance on admissions arrangements.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Kent Test registration opens | Monday 2 June 2025 |
| Kent Test registration closes | Tuesday 1 July 2025 |
| Kent Test date for pupils in Kent primary schools | Thursday 11 September 2025 |
| Highsted optional test date | Saturday 13 September 2025 |
| Kent Test assessment decision sent to parents | Thursday 16 October 2025 |
| Secondary school application deadline | Friday 31 October 2025 |
| National offer day | Monday 2 March 2026 |
If your household is juggling more than one grammar school, keeping one shared calendar visible at home can protect both family life and deadlines. The Kent Test guide from Atom Learning is also useful for keeping all key dates in one place.
Highsted sets out clear oversubscription criteria rather than relying on informal catchment ideas. Once those criteria are applied, distance often becomes the deciding factor. This means eligibility and an offer are two separate questions.
A calm early step is to ensure your permanent address details are consistent across all forms and that you can provide proof quickly if requested. The full detail is set out in the published Highsted admissions policy and oversubscription criteria, which is the document families usually return to when they need clarity.
Highsted is test based rather than interview led for Year 7 entry. Preparation is therefore best focused on steady learning habits and familiarity with timed multiple choice formats. The GL Assessment free familiarisation materials can help children get comfortable with layout, timing, and answer sheet habits without increasing pressure at home.
Many parents also find it helpful to read the most recent inspection report before visiting, using the Ofsted inspection report page for Highsted Grammar School as a factual reference point.
Preparation works best when it feels like training, not judgement. Selection is decided by performance on timed assessments, so calm stamina matters as much as knowledge. The aim is to build a child who can think clearly under gentle time pressure.
A steady routine is easier with a guide like the Year 5 11 plus revision plan.
As a clear starting point, you can book a free 11 plus diagnostic session with Find Your Tutor FYT focused on Highsted Grammar School. It benchmarks your child’s current level and provides a personalised preparation roadmap.
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The Kent Test date for pupils in Kent primary schools is Thursday 11 September 2025, and the Highsted optional test is on Saturday 13 September 2025.
Highsted uses the Kent selection procedure, and it also offers an additional optional Highsted test route for girls who have registered for the Kent Test.
Yes, the Highsted optional test route requires Kent Test registration first.
The route is test based, and the optional Highsted test includes a computer based assessment plus an English paper that assesses reading and writing.
Year 7 entry is for girls, and boys can be admitted into the sixth form.
The agreed admission number is 150 for entry to Year 7 for this cycle.
Oversubscription rules decide offers when more eligible girls apply than there are places, so priority categories and distance still matter.
No, distance is used after higher priority criteria are applied, so it helps to understand the full oversubscription order rather than focusing only on postcode.
The deadline is Friday 31 October 2025, and it is worth submitting well before the final day to avoid errors.
You can apply, but you need to follow the correct Kent Test arrangements for children not in Kent primary schools and still submit your home local authority application.
If you are applying under pupil premium priority, you usually need to follow the school instructions carefully and return the required form by the stated deadline as well as completing the main application.
The assessment decision is sent to parents on Thursday 16 October 2025.
National offer day is Monday 2 March 2026, and offers come through the coordinated system rather than directly from the school.
You can stay on the waiting list and you can appeal, and it helps to keep your backup school options practical and emotionally steady.
No, tutoring is not required, but some children benefit from structured feedback while others do best with a calm home routine that protects confidence.
