Weald of Kent Grammar School Review 2026: Two Campuses, Consistent Excellence

The past two years have been transformational. In October 2024, Ofsted inspectors awarded the school Good across all categories, marking a remarkable turnaround from the 2022 Requires Improvement rating. Under Headteacher Richard Booth, the school has rebuilt its culture and consolidated academic strength. With selective entry through the Kent Test and approximately 1,900 students across two purposefully designed campuses in Tonbridge and Sevenoaks, Weald of Kent offers a grammar school education of substance. The school ranks 288th in England for GCSE (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 6% of schools. Six dedicated academic buildings house specialist facilities, from the state-of-the-art Sports Hall to the Sixth Form Hub, creating an environment where girls aged 11-18, alongside boys in the sixth form, pursue both academic rigour and rounded development.

At either campus, you encounter purposefulness without heaviness. The Tonbridge campus, celebrating sixty years on its current site, occupies a notable position in Kent grammar education. The newer Sevenoaks campus, opened in September 2017, mirrors this identity while serving a previously underserved part of the county. Both sites share the same ethos centred on three core values: curiosity, courage, and compassion.

The cultural shift Ofsted noted reflects genuine structural change. Teachers possess strong subject knowledge and demonstrate real enthusiasm for their disciplines. Students describe the atmosphere as supportive rather than cutthroat. Behaviour is calm and settled. The school actively addresses bullying through formal channels, including dedicated reporting mechanisms that students feel confident using. Parents report their children feel genuinely happy here, with 92% agreeing their child is happy and 97% agreeing they feel safe, according to recent Ofsted Parent View data.

Physical space matters. The 2003 canteen, La Wokerie (a playful reference to the school's acronym WOK), provides informal gathering space. The 2006 English and Humanities Block introduced flexible classrooms with moveable walls. The 2008 Arts and Drama suite serves both curriculum and performance. More recently, the 6th Form Hub delivers university-style study spaces where students work independently on advanced study.

GCSE Performance

In 2024, 60% of all GCSE grades achieved were 9-7, with 14% at grade 9 alone. This represents sustained excellence from a selective cohort. The average Attainment 8 score of 70.1 places pupils significantly above the England average. Progress 8 scores of +0.76 indicate the school adds measurable value; pupils make above-average progress from their starting points.

The school ranks 288th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), positioning it in the top 6%. Locally, it ranks 4th among Tonbridge schools. The strength is broad; 57% achieved the English Baccalaureate at grade 5 or above, and 91% achieved grade 9-5 passes in both English and Mathematics. Entry into year 12 requires a minimum of grade 5 in both subjects plus an Average Point Score of 5.5 across pupils' best eight GCSEs, ensuring sixth form cohorts arrive with genuine foundational strength.

A-Level Performance

At A-level, 64% of grades achieved A*-B, with 8% at A*. The cohort of 2024 included 54 students gaining all A*/A grades, with 12 holding straight A* profiles. These are the kind of results that open doors to selective universities. The average grade sits at B, an exceptional position for a mixed-ability starting population at GCSE.

The school ranks 613th in England for A-level performance (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 23%. This reflects solid post-16 provision, though competitive university entry requires students to seek specific subjects; the school offers a broad curriculum spanning facilitating A-levels (Mathematics, Sciences, English) alongside humanities and languages.

The Ofsted report identified strong teaching practices as a defining strength. Teachers check what pupils know and understand through detailed assessment. Lessons follow clear structures with ambitious learning sequences. In languages particularly, as a specialist area, teaching moves beyond rote to embed cultural understanding. In sciences, the new science block provides modern laboratories where students develop proper experimental technique.

The curriculum philosophy balances traditional rigour with innovation. Classical subjects sit alongside emerging fields. Pupils study History, Languages, and Literature alongside Computer Science and Data Analysis. The specialisms in languages and science are evident in curriculum choice: students move toward these subjects with genuine depth over surface exposure.

Sixth form teaching shifts distinctly. Students develop confidence debating complex ideas. They read independently and synthesise widely. The university-style sixth form hub provides the physical environment for this maturation.

In 2024, 65% of Weald of Kent Grammar School's sixth form leavers went on to university. Beyond Ofsted's data, the school reports students proceeded to Durham, Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College, UCL, Edinburgh, and Bristol. Students pursuing vocational pathways chose apprenticeships (2% of 2024 cohort) or entered employment (20%), reflecting genuine diversity in post-18 choices.

Oxbridge applications remain modest but meaningful. In the measured period, 14 students applied to Oxford and Cambridge combined, with 4 offers and 1 acceptance. This is honest data: the school does not posture as an Oxbridge pipeline, yet it enables serious students in specific disciplines to pursue these routes.

Extracurricular life is genuinely extensive. The school explicitly commits to activities beyond curriculum, recognising that personal growth and peer relationships anchor academic progress.

Music: A Working Tradition

Junior Choir and Senior Choir provide ensemble singing across ability levels. The school Orchestra engages string, wind, and percussion players. Flute Choir serves specialists. These ensembles perform internally and, significantly, tour. Music lessons are taught by specialist staff, and private music tuition is available on campus across multiple instruments. The Arts and Drama suite completed in 2008 provides dedicated performance space. Annual concerts feature in the school calendar.

Drama & Theatre

Drama clubs run regularly and attract genuine participants. The curriculum includes GCSE and A-level Drama and Theatre Studies. School productions draw on campus theatrical facilities. Students describe drama as an ensemble activity where they develop confidence in public speaking, time management, and ensemble work. The emphasis is on participation and team rather than spectacle.

Sports: Visible Strength

The state-of-the-art Sports Hall forms a focal point on both campuses. Floodlit all-weather pitches extend playing opportunities year-round. The PE curriculum spans traditional team sports (Netball, Hockey, Football, Rugby) and diverse activities (Gymnastics, Trampolining, Dance, Badminton, Yoga, Kickboxing). The school notes particular success in Trampolining, Cricket, Netball, and Hockey at regional and national level. Multiple teams per sport ensure competitive opportunity for all ability levels. Clubs run before school, at lunchtimes, and after school with weekly fixtures. A-level PE is offered, and external partnerships (e.g., Kickboxing with specialist providers) extend the range available.

STEM & Technology

Robotics clubs engage students in hands-on engineering and computational thinking. The new Science block, built to recent specifications, provides modern laboratory facilities for practical chemistry and biology. Computing is taught with contemporary equipment. The curriculum intent emphasises the sciences as both disciplinary knowledge and pathway to competitive universities.

Clubs & Societies

The school hosts a far wider range than can be listed exhaustively, but examples include Chess, Cooking clubs, and numerous subject-based clubs. Each term, clubs rotate, giving variety and allowing students to sample new pursuits. Enrichment weeks provide intensive immersive activities; Year 8 undertakes the Weald Challenge, a week-long team building programme. Other year groups visit the Imperial War Museum, Bletchley Park, and Warner Brothers Studios. The Year 9 Weald International Film Festival involved cross-curricular screenings in French, German, Spanish, and Japanese, with study of themes including refugee experiences and disability representation.

Leadership & Wider Engagement

Duke of Edinburgh Award runs across multiple levels. The school's house system creates vertical communities within each campus. Guest speakers throughout the year expose students to professions and perspectives beyond the curriculum. The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme explicitly teaches empathy and internationalism. Service-learning connects young people to the communities they inhabit.

Entry at 11+ requires passing the Kent Test, a standardised assessment taken across Kent grammar schools. The test comprises two papers assessing English, Mathematics, and reasoning, plus a short writing task. Students must score 332 or higher overall with no single score below 107 to qualify. In 2024, Weald of Kent received 901 applications for 300 places (3:1 ratio), making it significantly oversubscribed. Oversubscription criteria prioritise looked-after children, siblings, those with documented medical need, Pupil Premium-eligible students (up to 18 places reserved), and finally staff children.

The school does not operate a formal catchment boundary. Places are allocated by a two-tier category system: Category A covers Tonbridge town and surrounding parishes; Category B covers all other postcodes. Within each category, place allocation is determined by school preference order. The Kent Test itself intentionally avoids ranking, instead setting a pass threshold. This means all passing applicants with the same school preference compete equally within their category.

Sixth form entry is open to both internal and external candidates. External applicants require a minimum grade 5 in English and Mathematics GCSE plus an Average Point Score of 5.5 across their best eight subjects, alongside a sixth form application.

The October 2024 Ofsted report explicitly praised the school's emphasis on student welfare and developing confident young people. Staff understand that students must feel staff will help them, and that this trust enables disclosure of concerns. The system of rewards and consequences is structured to support calm behaviour. Behaviour is genuinely calm and settled across both campuses.

The school employs a dedicated student services team including specialist staff for learning support and safeguarding. Counselling is available. Peer support mechanisms enable older students to mentor younger ones. The house system, with pastoral leaders attached to each house, provides consistent adult contact. Sixth form students access dedicated pastoral support reflecting the increased independence and pressure of post-16 study.

The school occupies purpose-built campuses across two sites. Tonbridge (the main campus, Tudeley Lane) houses approximately 1,500 students. Sevenoaks (Seal Hollow Road) serves approximately 600. Each campus features six multi-storey standalone buildings: Main Building, Maths, Humanities, New Science, Sports Hall, and 6th Form Hub. This modular design maximises flexibility and allows subject specialisms to operate coherently.

The New Science Block provides modern laboratories. The state-of-the-art Sports Hall hosts indoor volleyball, badminton, and gymnastics. Floodlit all-weather pitches accommodate hockey and football year-round. The Sixth Form Hub delivers university-style independent study spaces, a step change from traditional classroom environments. Music facilities support ensemble work and private tuition. The Arts and Drama suite provides dedicated performance and practice space. Catering operates at scale; La Wokerie on Tonbridge campus serves over 1,000 pupils daily and the extension provides diner-style seating.

Both campuses are situated in rural settings with extensive views across Kent. Transport links serve both locations.

School hours: 8:50am to 3:20pm (standard day), with earlier and later options available at both campuses. There is no residential provision; all students are day pupils. Lunch is provided on-site at both campuses via school catering. Uniform is required for years 7-11; sixth form students follow a separate dress code encouraging age-appropriate professionalism. School meals are charged separately via ParentPay. Trips, music lessons, and some extracurricular activities carry additional costs. The school uniform shop sells new and second-hand items. Transport is available via school buses for many routes; parents should verify specific connections for their address. Both campuses provide parking for staff and visitor collection at peak times.

Entry competition is real. With 901 applications for 300 places, not all who pass the Kent Test will gain admission. Families should not assume passing the test guarantees entry. The school explicitly does not rank candidates by test score; instead, it works through oversubscription criteria. Location (Category A vs. Category B) and school preference order become the deciding factors once qualification is met. Families outside Category A may face tighter odds.

Grammar school culture requires adjustment. These are bright, ambitious students. Pupils who were top of their primary school primary school arrive alongside many others who were also top. The transition can be emotionally significant. The school provides transition activities and pastoral support, but families should recognise that social dynamics shift considerably at entry.

Two-site operation has operational implications. While both campuses share leadership and ethos, they operate as distinct communities. Students at Year 7 may initially only experience the campus they're placed on, though over time they encounter the sister site through events and sixth form options. Some families prefer the intimacy of smaller cohorts; others find the separation a limitation.

Not all subjects are equally available. As a selective grammar with specialisms in languages and science, certain humanities may feel less developed. The school offers Art and Design, History, Geography, Religious Studies, and Politics, but does not advertise itself as equally strong in all humanities. Families with specific subject interests should review the curriculum offer.

Weald of Kent Grammar School has achieved a genuine turnaround, moving from a school in difficulty to one earning Good across all areas under new leadership. The academic results are strong and consistent. The two-campus model serves a geographically spread population and removes strain from a single site. Teaching is competent and students feel supported. Extracurricular life offers genuine breadth and depth. For families with a daughter passing the Kent Test who value selective education, measured pace, and structured environment, this is a serious option.

Best suited to: Families in the Kent catchment who want selective education at no tuition cost and are comfortable with grammar school culture. Students genuinely interested in languages or sciences will find particular strength. Those seeking intimacy in a smaller setting or broader reach across all humanities might look elsewhere.

The main challenge is securing a place. Pass the test and you have a chance; meeting the oversubscription criteria determines the outcome.