Grammar Schools in Maidstone: Schools, Admissions and 11+
Families searching for grammar schools in Maidstone have four selective state-school options to consider. These are Maidstone Grammar School, Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, Invicta Grammar School and Oakwood Park Grammar School.
The schools offer selective secondary education for boys or girls, with different admissions arrangements, entry requirements and priority criteria. All four use the Kent Test as part of their Year 7 admissions process.
Although the schools are located in the same town, they do not operate identical admissions policies. Some give priority to applicants from specified geographical areas, while others use additional criteria such as distance, siblings and eligibility for Pupil Premium.
This guide explains the four schools, how the Kent Test works, what parents need to know about qualifying scores and how to apply for a Year 7 place. You can also explore our wider guide to the best grammar schools in the UK to compare selective schools across the country.
Page Contents
How Many Grammar Schools Are There in Maidstone?
There are four state grammar schools in Maidstone:
- Maidstone Grammar School: A boys’ grammar school with a mixed sixth form.
- Maidstone Grammar School for Girls: A girls’ grammar school with a mixed sixth form.
- Invicta Grammar School: A girls’ grammar school.
- Oakwood Park Grammar School: A boys’ grammar school with a mixed sixth form.
These schools are selective, meaning children must meet the required academic standard through the Kent selection procedure to be considered for a normal Year 7 place.
Maidstone also has non-selective secondary schools and independent schools. Parents should distinguish these from state grammar schools when comparing school options. Our guide to grammar schools versus independent schools explains the main differences between these two types of education.
Schools and Their Admissions Arrangements
1. Maidstone Grammar School
Location: Barton Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 7BT
School type: Boys’ state grammar school
Age range: 11–18, with a mixed sixth form
Maidstone Grammar School is a selective boys’ school founded in 1549. It provides secondary education from Year 7 to Year 11, with both boys and girls able to apply for sixth-form entry.
For September 2027 entry, the school has a Published Admission Number (PAN) of 205 Year 7 places.
Admission is through the Kent Test. However, achieving the qualifying standard does not automatically guarantee a place because the school applies its own oversubscription criteria when there are more eligible applicants than available places.
Priority Areas and Entry Requirements
Maidstone Grammar School uses geographical priority arrangements as part of its admissions policy.
For September 2027 entry, the policy gives priority to qualifying applicants living in specified parishes. Within the relevant categories, additional criteria include:
- Children eligible for Free School Meals.
- Children with a sibling already attending the school.
- Children of eligible school staff.
- Distance from the school.
The September 2027 policy also includes a score requirement of 360 or above for the relevant priority category of qualifying children living in the listed parishes.
This is an admissions-priority condition, not a universal Kent Test pass mark. Other qualifying applicants are considered under the remaining criteria.
Parents should check the school’s official admissions arrangements for the complete parish list and eligibility requirements.
2. Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
Location: Buckland Road, Maidstone, Kent
School type: Girls’ state grammar school
Age range: 11–18, with a mixed sixth form
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) is a selective secondary school for girls aged 11–16, with a mixed sixth form welcoming boys and girls.
The school has a published admission number of 210 Year 7 places for the September 2026–2027 admissions arrangements. Its Year 7 admissions process is coordinated through Kent County Council.
Girls must be assessed as suitable for grammar school education through the Kent selection procedure before they can be considered for a normal Year 7 place.
Entry Requirements and Oversubscription
The school applies its own oversubscription criteria when the number of qualifying applicants exceeds the available places.
These criteria determine the order in which applicants are considered and can include priority arrangements for looked-after children, eligible applicants living within designated areas and other categories set out in the admissions policy.
Parents should not assume that passing the Kent Test guarantees admission. The school can be oversubscribed, so the order of priority is important.
MGGS also has a Supplementary Information Form for specific circumstances, including Pupil Premium notification and certain children previously in care outside England. This form does not replace the main Kent secondary application.
Visit the Maidstone Grammar School for Girls admissions page for the latest arrangements.
3. Invicta Grammar School
Location: Huntsman Lane, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 5DS
School type: Girls’ state grammar school
Age range: 11–18
Invicta Grammar School is a selective girls’ grammar school located on Huntsman Lane in Maidstone. It provides an academic secondary education for girls from Year 7 and has a published admission number of 240 places for September 2027 entry.
The school uses the Kent Test as its main route for Year 7 admissions. Applicants must be assessed as suitable for grammar school education and include Invicta Grammar School on their Secondary Common Application Form.
How Places Are Allocated
Invicta Grammar School has its own oversubscription criteria, which determine how places are allocated when the school receives more qualifying applications than it has available places.
The school is usually oversubscribed, so achieving the Kent Test qualifying standard does not guarantee an offer.
Parents should review the school’s published admissions policy to understand its priority categories and any supplementary information requirements.
The school’s location may be particularly relevant to families living in Maidstone and nearby communities. However, living close to Invicta does not automatically guarantee admission.
For full details, visit the Invicta Grammar School website.
4. Oakwood Park Grammar School
Location: Oakwood Park, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8AH
School type: Boys’ state grammar school
Age range: 11–18, with a mixed sixth form
Oakwood Park Grammar School is a selective boys’ school in Maidstone. It admits boys from Year 7 and also accepts girls into its sixth form.
The school has historically published 160 Year 7 places. However, Kent County Council approved a permanent expansion for September 2027, increasing its admission number to 190 places.
This expansion will create 30 additional Year 7 places each year to help meet demand for selective boys’ education in the Maidstone and Malling area.
Entry and Oversubscription Criteria
Admission to Year 7 is through the Kent selection procedure. Applicants must achieve the required standard in the Kent Test before being considered under the school’s admissions arrangements.
The school has its own oversubscription criteria, which should be checked alongside the Kent Test requirements.
Families should also be aware that the school’s admission arrangements can change between entry years, particularly following its expansion.
Visit the Oakwood Park Grammar School admissions page for the latest information.
Comparing the Four Schools
The four schools offer different options depending on whether a family is looking for a boys’ or girls’ school.
| School | Main school intake | Year 7 places for September 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Maidstone Grammar School | Boys | 205 |
| Maidstone Grammar School for Girls | Girls | 210 |
| Invicta Grammar School | Girls | 240 |
| Oakwood Park Grammar School | Boys | 190 |
The figures above are published admission numbers for the relevant entry arrangements. They are not a guarantee that every qualifying applicant will receive a place.
For families comparing the options, it is worth considering each school’s location, admissions priorities, academic environment, extracurricular activities and sixth-form provision.
What Is the Kent Test?
The Kent Test is the 11+ selection assessment used to determine whether children are suitable for grammar school education in Kent.
Children normally take the assessment in Year 6, before starting secondary school the following September.
The test is provided by GL Assessment and assesses several areas of ability through two multiple-choice papers and a separate writing exercise.
The main assessment areas are:
| Assessment area | What it tests |
|---|---|
| English | Reading comprehension, vocabulary and understanding of language |
| Mathematics | Numerical skills, calculations and problem-solving |
| Verbal reasoning | Understanding relationships between words and information |
| Non-verbal reasoning | Recognising patterns and relationships between shapes |
| Spatial reasoning | Understanding visual patterns and how shapes fit together |
The writing exercise is not marked as part of the standard Kent Test score, but it may be considered in certain circumstances, such as an appeal.
How Is the Kent Test Scored?
The Kent Test uses age-standardised scores to account for differences in children’s ages.
The assessment produces individual scores for the different test areas, which are combined to create an overall result.
The standard Kent grammar assessment threshold is generally:
- An aggregate score of at least 332.
- A minimum score of 106 in each of the three assessed areas: English, mathematics and reasoning.
The qualifying standard should always be checked against the relevant admissions guidance for the year of entry.
A child who achieves the Kent Test qualifying standard is assessed as suitable for grammar school education. However, this does not guarantee a place at Maidstone Grammar School, MGGS, Invicta or Oakwood Park.
Each school uses its own oversubscription criteria to allocate places.
For further information, visit the Kent County Council Kent Test guidance.
Understanding Qualifying and Offer Scores
The Kent Test qualifying standard is an important first step, but there is no single score that guarantees admission to all four Maidstone grammar schools.
The distinction between qualifying and receiving an offer is particularly important.
- Qualifying score: The standard required to be assessed as suitable for grammar school education.
- Offer score: The score or ranking of the last applicant who receives a place under a school’s admissions arrangements.
A child can qualify for grammar school but still miss out on a particular school if it is oversubscribed.
For example, Maidstone Grammar School uses additional geographical and priority arrangements, while the other schools apply their own published criteria.
Parents should avoid relying on unofficial pass-mark predictions. Previous admission outcomes can provide context, but they do not guarantee future offers.
Catchment Areas and Geographical Priorities
Catchment areas and geographical priorities are important when comparing grammar schools in Maidstone.
Although all four schools use the Kent Test, they do not necessarily allocate places in the same way.
Maidstone Grammar School uses a list of specified parishes within its admissions arrangements. Qualifying applicants living in these areas may receive priority under the relevant criteria.
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls has its own oversubscription arrangements, which parents should review in the current admissions policy.
Invicta Grammar School also uses its own admissions priorities, and families should check the relevant policy rather than assume that living nearby guarantees a place.
Oakwood Park Grammar School has separate oversubscription arrangements, with its published policy determining how qualifying applicants are ranked.
Living within a priority area does not remove the requirement to achieve the Kent Test qualifying standard. Equally, living outside a school’s priority area does not necessarily prevent a child from applying.
Parents can compare the schools’ geographical criteria through the Kent County Council admissions arrangements.
How to Apply
Applying for a Maidstone grammar school involves registering for the Kent Test and submitting a separate secondary school application.
For September 2027 entry, the key dates were:
| Admissions stage | September 2027 entry |
|---|---|
| Kent Test registration opened | 1 June 2026 |
| Registration deadline | 1 July 2026 |
| Secondary school applications opened | 1 September 2026 |
| Kent Test for Kent primary pupils | 10 September 2026 |
| Test dates for children outside Kent primary schools | 12–13 September 2026 |
| Assessment decisions sent | 15 October 2026 |
| Secondary application deadline | 2 November 2026 |
| National Offer Day | 1 March 2027 |
Important: The Kent Test registration and examination dates for September 2027 entry have passed. The secondary application deadline is 2 November 2026.
Families preparing for September 2028 entry should check Kent County Council’s website for the next confirmed registration and examination dates.
The usual application process is:
- Register for the Kent Test: Complete the online registration through Kent County Council within the published deadline.
- Sit the assessment: Your child takes the Kent Test in September of Year 6.
- Receive the assessment result: Kent County Council sends the decision to parents.
- Choose preferred schools: Research the admissions policies and priority criteria of the Maidstone grammar schools.
- Submit the secondary application: List your preferred schools on the Common Application Form through Kent County Council.
- Receive an offer: Offers are issued on National Offer Day in March.
Passing the Kent Test does not automatically enter a child into the admissions process for every grammar school. Parents must name their preferred schools on the secondary application form.
Kent families can name up to four secondary school preferences.
How to Prepare for the Maidstone 11+
Preparing for the Kent Test requires a balanced approach to English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.
Children should become familiar with the different question formats, develop their core subject knowledge and practise working accurately under timed conditions.
For a structured overview of revision strategies, parents can read our guide to 11+ preparation.
Improve English Comprehension
English preparation should focus on reading comprehension, vocabulary and understanding language in context.
Useful activities include:
- Reading fiction and non-fiction regularly.
- Practising comprehension questions.
- Learning new vocabulary and understanding word meanings.
- Revising spelling, punctuation and grammar.
- Identifying key information in longer passages.
Parents can explore our 11+ English past papers and practice resources to help children become familiar with common question styles.
Strengthen Mathematics
Mathematics preparation should cover core number skills and more challenging problem-solving questions.
Important topics include:
- Fractions, decimals and percentages.
- Multiplication and division.
- Ratio and proportion.
- Number sequences.
- Geometry and measurement.
- Mental arithmetic.
- Multi-step word problems.
Regular practice can help children improve their accuracy and identify topics that need additional attention.
Develop Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Reasoning questions can be unfamiliar to children who have mainly practised traditional school subjects.
Verbal reasoning preparation should include word relationships, codes, sequences and vocabulary-based questions.
Non-verbal reasoning preparation should cover shape patterns, rotations, reflections, visual analogies and identifying missing shapes.
Children should practise a range of question types so they can recognise the methods needed to solve unfamiliar problems.
Practise Under Timed Conditions
Working under time pressure is an important part of preparing for the Kent Test.
Begin with individual topic exercises before introducing timed practice papers. After each session, review incorrect answers and identify whether mistakes were caused by gaps in knowledge, misreading questions or rushing.
Think Academy’s 11+ practice questions can help parents identify strengths and weaknesses and build a more focused revision plan.
Families can also explore the Think Academy resource hub for additional learning materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Grammar Schools Are There in Maidstone?
There are four state grammar schools in Maidstone: Maidstone Grammar School, Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, Invicta Grammar School and Oakwood Park Grammar School.
Which Maidstone Grammar Schools Are for Boys?
Maidstone Grammar School and Oakwood Park Grammar School admit boys into Year 7. Both also have mixed sixth forms.
Which Maidstone Grammar Schools Are for Girls?
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls and Invicta Grammar School admit girls into Year 7.
Do All Maidstone Grammar Schools Use the Kent Test?
Yes. All four schools use the Kent selection procedure for normal Year 7 entry. Applicants must be assessed as suitable for grammar school education before being considered for a place.
What Is the Kent Test Pass Mark?
The standard Kent Test qualifying threshold is generally an aggregate score of 332, with a minimum of 106 in each of the three assessed areas. Achieving this standard does not guarantee admission to a particular grammar school.
Does Maidstone Grammar School Have a Catchment Area?
Maidstone Grammar School uses a list of specified parishes within its admissions arrangements. Applicants who live in these areas may receive priority under the relevant criteria, subject to the conditions in the school’s admissions policy.
How Many Places Does Oakwood Park Grammar School Offer?
Oakwood Park Grammar School’s published admission number is increasing from 160 to 190 for September 2027 entry, creating 30 additional Year 7 places.
Can Boys Apply to Maidstone Grammar School for Girls?
Boys cannot apply for normal Year 7 entry at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls. However, the school’s sixth form is mixed and accepts both boys and girls.
When Should Children Start Preparing for the Kent Test?
Many families begin structured preparation during Year 4 or Year 5. This allows time to build confidence across English, mathematics and reasoning before the Year 6 examination.
Final Thoughts
Families searching for grammar schools in Maidstone have four selective state-school options, each with its own admissions arrangements and school environment.
Maidstone Grammar School and Oakwood Park Grammar School provide boys’ grammar education, while Maidstone Grammar School for Girls and Invicta Grammar School offer selective education for girls.
All four schools use the Kent Test for normal Year 7 entry, but qualifying does not guarantee a place. Parents should pay close attention to each school’s oversubscription criteria, geographical priorities and application requirements.
Understanding the differences between the schools and preparing across all four Kent Test assessment areas can help families make informed decisions about their child’s secondary education.
