Tonbridge Grammar School 11 plus entry is a big focus for families in and around Tonbridge because the school is selective and heavily oversubscribed. The calm way to approach it is to separate the process into two stages. First, your daughter must be assessed as suitable for a Kent grammar school through the Kent Test. Then Tonbridge Grammar School allocates places using its published oversubscription rules, which include ranked score lists and distance tie breaks.
Tonbridge Grammar School is in Tonbridge in Kent, and many families balance it with commute options and the difference between local area places and wider trustee places. A helpful early read is the Tonbridge Grammar School page on the Ofsted site because it gives a grounded sense of what inspectors saw in classrooms and leadership.
You can keep your planning simple by using one timeline and one preparation routine, then adjusting it as your child settles into the work. Many parents find it reassuring to follow a clear checklist like this Kent 11 plus planning page so nothing important gets missed.
The school does not set its own 11 plus test papers. This means your focus is on Kent Test readiness, followed by understanding how Tonbridge Grammar School admissions decisions are made when many grammar assessed girls apply.
| School name | Tonbridge Grammar School |
| Location | Tonbridge Grammar School, Deakin Leas, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 2JR |
| School type | Selective grammar school for girls, mixed sixth form |
| Age range | 11 to 18 |
| Year 7 admission number | 180 places |
| Entry route | Kent Procedure for Entry to Secondary Education (Kent Test) |
| Places allocation model | Ranked score lists with distance tie breaks |
| Location |
Your child must be registered for the Kent Test within the published registration window. Kent publish the confirmed dates each year on the Kent Test registration update page, which is the most reliable source.
After sitting the Kent Test, families receive an assessment decision confirming whether the child is assessed as suitable for grammar school. This is required for Tonbridge Grammar School, but it does not guarantee a place.
Applications are submitted through your home local authority using the Secondary Common Application Form (CAF). This is where schools must be listed in genuine order of preference.
When more grammar assessed girls apply than places available, Tonbridge Grammar School applies its oversubscription rules. Full details for September 2026 entry are set out in the determined admissions arrangements for Tonbridge Grammar School.
The school operates three ranked offer lists.
A set number of places are reserved for eligible Pupil Premium applicants. This route requires correct evidence and paperwork by the stated deadlines and is only relevant to families who meet the eligibility definition.
Remaining places are split between area places and trustee places.
Within each list, applicants are ranked by combined Kent Test score. Where scores tie, distance from home to school is used. If score and distance do not separate applicants, a random process is applied.
Offers are made on national offer day through the local authority. Waiting lists are maintained in line with the oversubscription criteria and can change as places are accepted or declined.
Appeals are available. Understanding what appeals can and cannot do under national rules helps families make grounded decisions. Calm, evidence based routines also reduce last minute stress, as highlighted in the Education Endowment Foundation guidance on effective home learning.
| Milestone | Date |
| Kent Test registration opens | Monday 2 June 2025 |
| Kent Test registration closes | Tuesday 1 July 2025 |
| Special arrangements deadline | Tuesday 1 July 2025 |
| Kent Test (Kent primary pupils) | Thursday 11 September 2025 |
| Assessment decision sent | Thursday 16 October 2025 |
| Secondary application deadline | Friday 31 October 2025 |
| National offer day | Monday 2 March 2026 |
A large proportion of places are allocated to grammar assessed girls living in the three named local authority areas. Applicants are ranked by Kent Test score, with distance used only where scores tie.
A smaller number of places are allocated to girls living outside the area. Ranking is again by score, with distance used as a tie break.
Reserved places are available for eligible Pupil Premium applicants, which can significantly affect outcomes for families who qualify.
Distance is measured as a straight line from the home address to the school, not by travel route or journey time. Address point data is explained clearly in GeoPlace guidance on national address data.
Tonbridge Grammar School does not set its own entrance test. Preparation should therefore match the Kent Test format, which uses timed multiple choice papers and separate answer sheets.
A clear overview of the Kent Test format and preparation approach is available from Atom Learning’s Kent Test guide. Families often combine this with free technique practice from GL Assessment familiarisation materials.
The most effective preparation builds foundations first, then timing, then stamina. Many families follow a simple structure like this Year 5 weekly routine and adapt it to their child’s needs.
As a clear starting point, you can book a free 11 plus diagnostic session with Find Your Tutor FYT focused on Tonbridge Grammar School. This benchmarks your child’s current level and provides a personalised preparation roadmap for the months ahead.
Join Hundreds of Families Who Secured Tonbridge Grammar School Places with Find Your Tutor.
Yes. Your child must be assessed as suitable for grammar through the Kent Test. Tonbridge Grammar School does not set its own Year 7 entry test.
No. Passing means your child is grammar assessed. Places are then offered using the published oversubscription rules and ranked lists.
Area places are for girls living for council tax purposes in Tonbridge and Malling Borough, Tunbridge Wells Borough, and Sevenoaks District. Offers within that group are ranked by combined score, with distance used only when scores are tied.
Trustee places are for girls living outside those three areas. Offers within that group are also ranked by combined score, with distance used as the tie break when needed.
Yes. You apply through your home local authority and can include the school as a preference. Travel time and realistic offer chances should be considered early.
No. Living in the area changes which ranked list you sit within, but there is also a trustee list for families outside the area.
Ranking is based on the combined Kent Test score within each list. Distance is mainly a tie break when scores are the same.
Distance is measured as a straight line from your home address to the school. It is not based on driving time.
Only if you are applying under the Pupil Premium category and need to provide evidence as stated in the admissions rules. Most families do not need one.
It is used to reserve a set number of places for eligible applicants under the published rules. Eligibility and evidence requirements matter, so read the criteria carefully if it applies.
The school does not set a fixed cut off in advance. The cut off is effectively created by the ranked order of offers each year.
Yes. Accepting an offered place keeps your child secure for September. Waiting lists can move later as families change plans.
Yes. Appeals are available, but they work best when they are evidence based and realistic. It is wise to keep a secure alternative school in place.
Children who enjoy academic challenge, respond well to structured expectations, and can work independently often settle well. Confidence and organisation matter as much as raw ability.
Enough to build strong foundations and calm timed habits without burnout. Consistency over months usually beats intensity for a few weeks.
