Choosing a grammar school can feel like a big decision, especially when the rules sound technical. The Wilmington Grammar School for Boys 11 plus route is one many families around Wilmington and Dartford consider because it is selective, structured, and academically focused.
What usually helps most is getting clear on three things early: how the selection test works, how the school allocates places, and what you can do year by year without turning home into an exam factory. The aim is steady progress and confidence, not pressure.
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys sits in Wilmington in the Dartford area, so it is often on the list for families in parts of Kent and nearby London boroughs too. The latest inspection report gives a grounded sense of daily school life on the Ofsted inspection page for Wilmington Grammar School for Boys. For a calm overview of how selection works locally, this Kent grammar school pathway explainer helps map the steps clearly.
| School type | Selective grammar school for boys |
| Age range | 11 to 18 |
| Year of entry | Year 7 (11 plus) |
| Published admission number | 180 places |
| Admissions authority | Wilmington Grammar School for Boys |
| Location |
This section explains Wilmington Grammar School for Boys admissions in clear, practical steps.
Wilmington uses the Kent selection process. Families register their child for the Kent Test through the Kent system. The official timeline is published on the KELSI Kent Test registration page. Reading this early helps avoid last minute surprises.
Children sit the Kent Test in Year 6. Results determine whether a child is assessed as suitable for Kent grammar schools. Children educated outside Kent primaries may have slightly different arrangements, so it is important to check what your registration portal and primary school confirm.
A grammar assessment result does not replace the normal school application. Families still apply through their home local authority using the Common Application Form. Border borough guidance, such as the Bexley starting secondary school guide, can help explain the standard process before following your own council’s instructions.
When more children qualify than there are places, the school applies its oversubscription criteria. The full details are published in the determined admissions criteria for Wilmington Grammar School for Boys. Places are allocated by defined priority categories and then by distance where required.
Some priority categories require extra evidence through a supplementary form, which is separate from the local authority application. Where applicable, this must be completed carefully and on time.
Offers are made via your local authority on national offer day. If a place is not offered, families can request to join the waiting list and may appeal. Waiting list movement depends on criteria ranking and declined offers, not persistence alone. Appeals are most effective when evidence led and realistic.
| Milestone | Date |
| Kent Test registration opens | 2 June 2025 |
| Kent Test registration closes | 1 July 2025 |
| Access arrangements deadline | 1 July 2025 |
| Kent Test date (Kent primaries) | 11 September 2025 |
| Results sent to parents | 16 October 2025 |
| Secondary application deadline | 31 October 2025 |
| National offer day | 2 March 2026 |
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys uses a priority area model alongside distance. The criteria specify qualifying parishes and distance boundaries, including pupil premium priority within parts of the priority area.
A small number of places are linked to exceptionally high test performance. These are highly competitive and cohort dependent, so they are not something families should plan around.
Distance is usually measured as a straight line from the home address to the school, using nationally maintained address data. GeoPlace explains the role of national address and street data in these calculations. It is worth checking your child’s address is recorded correctly with both your council and primary school.
A realistic approach is to separate what you can control from what you cannot. You can control preparation quality, application accuracy, and preference order. You cannot control how many other qualified children apply or where they live.
The Kent Test is sat in one sitting with timed components, multiple choice answer sheets, and a short writing task. A school overview of the format is outlined in this Kent Test format information pack.
The test rewards strong fundamentals, calm reading, and accurate multiple choice technique. Rushing or freezing under time pressure can cost marks even when understanding is secure.
Before starting detailed practice, it helps to use materials that match the test style. A free starting point is the GL Assessment 11 plus practice resources. For planning support, this Year 5 preparation plan helps spread work out steadily.
As a clear starting point, you can book a free 11 plus diagnostic session with Find Your Tutor FYT focused on Wilmington Grammar School for Boys. This benchmarks your child’s current level and provides a personalised preparation roadmap for the months ahead.
Join Hundreds of Families Who Secured Wilmington Grammar School for Boys Places with Find Your Tutor.
It means children need a grammar assessment outcome through the Kent Test process. The school then applies its oversubscription criteria when more children qualify than there are places. A pass does not guarantee an offer. Distance and priority categories still matter. The cleanest plan is to prepare well and choose a balanced set of schools on your application.
No, families can apply from outside Kent. The key is following your home local authority application process and meeting any school specific requirements in the criteria. Out of area families should be especially careful about travel time and realistic offer chances. It helps to treat it as one option within a wider list.
 Not for normal Year 7 entry through the 11 plus route. The selection test outcome is part of the entry process. Some families miss registration and then realise too late. Getting the timeline clear early protects you from that situation.
No, but being in the priority area can improve your chances when the school is oversubscribed. The criteria explain how priority area categories and pupil premium priorities are applied. When demand is high, distance can still be a deciding factor within categories. A realistic approach is to check how your address sits within the published rules.
Passing means your child is assessed as suitable for a Kent grammar school. An offer depends on where your child sits in the school’s oversubscription order and how many higher priority applicants there are. That is why families often feel confused after results. Thinking in two stages helps: assessment outcome first, allocation rules second.
The published process is based on the selection test and admissions criteria rather than interviews. Families sometimes hear stories about extra stages, but it is best to stick to what is published. The writing task is part of the wider Kent process and can be used in headteacher assessment for some children. Preparation should focus on the test style rather than interview practice.
Distance becomes important when places are allocated within categories that use distance as the tie breaker. It is not the only factor, because priority categories come first. That is why two children with similar test outcomes can have different results. Always read distance as one part of a wider set of rules.
A waiting list ranks children who are not offered a place at first. Movement happens when offered families decline and places are reallocated to the next eligible child under the criteria. It can move quickly at some points and then slow down. Staying on the list is sensible, but it should sit alongside a secure fallback school.
Yes, those are usually separate routes. Being on a waiting list does not stop an appeal. Appeals work best with clear evidence and a realistic case. Waiting list movement is more mechanical, based on criteria ranking. Many families pursue both while also settling into their offered school.
Sometimes, yes. The published criteria explain when a supplementary form is needed for certain categories. This is one of the most common avoidable errors. The safe approach is to read the criteria carefully and make a checklist of what applies to your child. Keep copies of anything submitted.
 It usually refers to children who were in care and then adopted or placed under certain legal orders. These categories are normally given high priority in admissions rules. Exact definitions are set nationally and reflected in the school’s criteria. Families in this position often get direct guidance from their local authority.
 A balanced plan is best because the test covers multiple areas. A common pattern is children scoring well in maths but losing marks on comprehension and vocabulary. Daily reading and short comprehension drills often lift English performance quickly. Keep writing practice calm and simple. Progress often comes from consistency rather than intensity.
Timing anxiety usually improves when the child trusts their method. Start with untimed practice to build accuracy, then add gentle timing only after confidence rises. Teach a reset habit such as moving on and returning later. Practice papers should be followed by slow review. That review is where calmness is trained.
 It is not a requirement, and many children prepare in different ways. What matters is steady skill building and familiarity with the test style. Some families use tutoring for structure and feedback. Others use home routines and light practice. The best choice is the one that keeps your child confident and consistent.
A balanced list usually includes a realistic mix of selective and non selective options, based on your local authority rules. Avoid building the whole list on one outcome. Include at least one option you would genuinely be happy with. Think about travel, friendship groups, and how your child learns. A calm plan beats a risky one.
