Kent: the "Garden of England”, renowned for its rich history and picturesque landscapes, is also home to some of the country’s most exceptional educational institutions and none more so than its grammar schools.
An increasingly exclusive and high-achieving academic pathway, largely owing to the limited number of areas in England where the selective grammar system still operates, Kent proudly boasts the largest number of grammar schools of any English county.
Standing out for their academic excellence and high-calibre of students, grammar schools are selective secondary schools that admit pupils based on their academic ability, assessed through the 11+ examination taken in Year Six. Whilst education reforms in the mid to late 20th Century significantly reduced the number of grammar schools in England from well over 1,000 to just 163 today, they remain a highly sought-after destination for the brightest and most academically gifted children, with many families choosing where to live based on the presence of a grammar system. These schools offer a rigorous academic curriculum, consistently leading to high GCSE and A-Level results and a route into the best universities both nationally and internationally.
With 38 grammar schools in Kent alone, we pick out the top five institutions in this wonderful county based on their academic achievements and overall reputation.
Dartford Grammar School
Ofsted rating: Outstanding
Established in 1576, Dartford Grammar School is one of the oldest grammar schools in Kent and will soon be celebrating its 450th anniversary. An all-boys institution (with mixed sixth-form), it ranks an impressive 15th nationally. It has a longstanding reputation for academic excellence and a stated commitment to developing well-rounded ‘global citizens’. The school offers a broad curriculum, including the International Baccalaureate (IB) alongside A-Levels, providing students with a global perspective on education. Dartford Grammar School consistently achieves high GCSE and A-Level results, with 81.2% attaining A*/A/9/8/7 grades at GCSE and a stellar 96.1% hitting A*–B grades at A-Level, with a significant percentage of students progressing to top universities.
Tonbridge Grammar School
Ofsted rating: Outstanding
Located in the historic market town of Tonbridge, Tonbridge Grammar School is a girls-only school with around 1,100 students, boasting a strong national rank of 20 and a high-performing sixth-form that provides excellent A-Level prospects for both boys and girls.
The school offers a broad, balanced and challenging curriculum, again including the International Baccalaureate (IB), allowing for the development of key skills and encouraging students to explore, question and build resilience to reach their potential in a caring environment where a focus on wellbeing is a consistent theme.
Exam results are repeatedly impressive, with 82% of GCSE students achieving grades 9-7 and 84% of A-Level students gaining points levels equivalent to three A*’s or above.
The Skinners' School
Ofsted rating: Good
Established in 1887, The Skinners' School is a prestigious all-boys grammar school in the wealthy town of Royal Tunbridge Wells. With an enrolment of around 1,100 students and 300 in sixth form, the school offers a rigorous academic curriculum with a strong emphasis on science and mathematics. It also has a refreshing focus on what the school terms “learning outside the classroom”, through co-curricular and extra-curricular activities laying the foundations for its students to be well-prepared for future life.
The Skinners' School is known for its high academic standards across all key stages of the curriculum as well as A-Level. For 2024, 66% of GCSE students achieved grades 9-7 and 83% of pupils sitting A-Levels gained between A* and B, with 81% going on to their preferred university choice.
The Rochester Grammar School
Ofsted rating: Good
Located in the historic Kent town of Rochester on the banks of the River Medway, the award-winning Rochester Grammar School is an all-girls in-take with around 1,450 pupils.
The school has delivered solid exam performance, with 64% achieving above grade 7 in recent years and 90% hitting A*- B grades at A-Level.
Furthermore, Rochester Grammar School has a strong and quantifiable focus on the rights of its students and in 2022 was awarded the Rights Respecting Schools Award by UNICEF. The Award recognises achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of a school’s planning, policies and practice.
Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School
Ofsted rating: Outstanding
Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School or TWGGS, is a girls-only institution educating just over 1,000 pupils and is another of Tunbridge Wells’ outstanding grammar school options.
TWGGS proudly professes to balance being a “forward-looking school embracing traditional values”, which translates into its wide-ranging curriculum offering high standards in core subjects as well as excelling in extra-curricular activities, clubs and trips. Its standards were recognised in its recent Ofsted report which stated “the school has exceptionally high expectations of all pupils, which they consistently meet”.
The school delivers well on qualification results, with 82% of the 2024 A-Level students achieving grade A* - B and 63% of GCSE pupils gaining between grade 9-7.
Kent's grammar schools offer a wealth of opportunities for academically gifted students. Institutions such as Dartford Grammar School, Tonbridge Grammar School, Rochester Grammar School, or the Tunbridge Wells’ duo of The Skinners' School and TWGGS stand out for their academic achievements, extracurricular offerings, and commitment to student development. These schools not only provide a rigorous academic curriculum but also foster an environment where students can thrive personally and socially. Choosing the right grammar school involves various factors, such as the school's ethos, curriculum, extra-curricular opportunities, and the individual needs of the student. Visiting schools, speaking with current students and staff, and reviewing academic performance data can provide valuable insights to make an informed decision.
For families in Kent, these grammar schools represent some of the best educational opportunities in the region, preparing students for successful futures in higher education and beyond.
