Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School Review 2026: Over a Century of Excellence and Tradition

In the heart of Tunbridge Wells, a school established in 1905 continues to attract girls from across Kent with the promise of academic rigour combined with genuine warmth. Just inside the gates, you encounter a community where achievement is celebrated but never at the expense of kindness. With an Outstanding Ofsted rating confirmed in 2023 and consistent placement among England's top grammar schools, this is a selective institution where girls thrive both academically and personally. The school's motto, "Give your best," captures an ethos that runs deep through its 1,095 students, from Year 7 through the Upper Sixth Form.

Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School radiates calm purpose. Lessons flow seamlessly, students move with intention between classes, and there is a palpable sense that everyone belongs here. This atmosphere does not emerge by accident. Under the leadership of Headteacher Mrs Katie Marchant, who arrived in 2022 after the extraordinary tenure of Mrs Linda Wybar (1999-2024), the school has refined what makes it distinctive: the marriage of traditional values with forward momentum.

Mrs Wybar's 25-year leadership transformed TWGGS from a school with "leaking roofs and mobile classrooms" into a modern facility while preserving its soul. Her successor inherits not a static institution but one still bearing her imprint. The school's buildings tell this story. The recently renamed Linda Wybar Theatre stands as the performing arts heart, while refurbished science laboratories, a modern sports hall, an all-weather pitch, and a dedicated Sixth Form centre create spaces where ambition can flourish. Yet none of this infrastructure matters without the people. Teachers here know girls by name. They know what makes each one tick.

The specialist status in Music with English reflects genuine institutional strength, not a label. Girls who arrive here expecting merely a pathway to university often discover something richer: a community where difference is respected, where leadership is nurtured at every level, and where achievement extends far beyond grades.

GCSE Performance

The most recent GCSE cohort delivered results that place this school decisively among England's most selective and successful institutions. An Attainment 8 score of 70.1 reflects exceptional performance across the board. Approaching 80% achieved grades 5 and above across the English Baccalaureate subjects, demonstrating broad-based academic strength rather than narrow specialism.

More tellingly, 41% achieved grades 9-8 at GCSE, with a further 22% securing grade 7. This concentration at the top of the grade scale is characteristic of highly selective schools. The school ranks 260th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 6% and second among schools in Tunbridge Wells. Progress 8 of +0.78 indicates pupils make well-above-average progress from their starting points at key stage 2. For girls entering with already-high attainment, this value-added measure proves the school successfully stretches and challenges them further.

A-Level Performance

Upper Sixth form students continue this trajectory. At A-level, 82% achieved grades A*-B, with 17% securing the highest grade of A*. This elite performance extends across a broad curriculum of 26 A-level subjects, from Classical Greek and Russian to the sciences, humanities, and creative arts. The school ranks 211th in England (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 8% and affirming sustained excellence into post-16 study.

The curriculum is built on traditional foundations: rigorous subject specialisation, clear progression, and high teacher expectations. Girls describe lessons that demand rigorous thinking, encourage deep reading, and reward clear writing. Science is taught as separate disciplines from Year 7, creating opportunities for specialisation. Mathematics offering includes further maths for the most advanced students.

What distinguishes teaching here is the balance achieved. Staff are expert in their subjects, yet also genuinely invested in each pupil's journey. Professional workshops led by theatre practitioners enrich drama examination classes. Music tuition extends beyond the classroom to practice rooms and concert halls. The school's designation as a specialist music school means that thread runs through the entire curriculum, not as an optional extra but as a defining characteristic of how education is delivered.

Girls report that teachers push them intellectually whilst also recognising that pressure must be matched with support. This balance shows in behaviour, in wellbeing, and ultimately in the fact that girls here seem happy to be challenged.

Six of the 2024 leaving cohort secured places at Cambridge University, with an additional student gaining Oxford entry. Beyond these headline figures, the scale of progression to Russell Group universities is significant. A substantial proportion of leavers access universities of the highest calibre: Durham, Edinburgh, Bristol, Warwick, Imperial College, and UCL all receive regular cohorts. The Oxbridge figure of 7 places from fewer than 10 applications reflects both the quality of the cohort and the school's success in identifying and developing genuinely competitive candidates.

The sixth form destinations page identifies leading universities across diverse disciplines, confirming that TWGGS girls are distributed across genuinely prestigious institutions rather than concentrated in narrow pathways. Medical school places remain notably common, reflecting both the school's science provision and the calibre of students.

This is the true heart of TWGGS. The school's facilities and opportunities create an environment where girls can discover passion alongside academic pursuit.

Music: A Central Strength

As a specialist music school, this is where institutional commitment becomes visible. Girls regularly gain acceptance to the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, National Youth Orchestra, National Youth Chamber Orchestra, and West Kent and Kent County youth ensembles. Many students are undertaking grades 7 and 8 music examinations, and a significant minority pursue diploma-level qualifications. The school's orchestras, chamber groups, choirs, and wind band perform throughout the academic year. The annual music competition and various concert series create a calendar punctuated by performance opportunity. A dedicated music block extension, completed during the previous headship, houses specialist teaching spaces and practice facilities that support this depth of provision.

Drama: From Page to Stage

Drama clubs operate across year groups, with senior girls directing activities for younger pupils. The biennial whole-school production alternates between large-cast musicals (created in partnership with the music department) and non-musical plays. The Year 8 Shakespeare Festival and Year 9 Drama Festival stand as defining moments of the school year, where entire year groups collaborate across form groups to transform a play from text to performance. Over three weeks, pupils handle every element: directing, acting, costume design, set construction, and technical production. Professional practitioners lead workshops that elevate GCSE and A-level Drama to examination success. Theatre visits complement in-school provision, with Sixth Form Theatre Club regularly attending London productions. The Linda Wybar Theatre provides a dedicated performance space worthy of the ambitions of these young performers.

Sport: For All, and for Excellence

The school's philosophy emphasises "sport for all," yet maintains competitive pathways for those with serious ambition. Hockey, netball, football, tennis, dance, and gymnastics are all offered. District and county level competition is common. Inter-form competitions ensure that every girl engages, whether she is training for a team fixture or discovering sport for pleasure. An evening of dance showcases choreography from extra-curricular clubs and PE lessons. The sports hall, all-weather pitch, and indoor facilities enable year-round activity. Participation rates are notably high; girls who might not consider themselves "sporty" often discover capability and enjoyment here.

Beyond the Core Pillars

Duke of Edinburgh Awards operate across all year groups, from Bronze through Gold. The Combined Cadet Force offers military training and discipline for interested students. Young Enterprise challenges business-minded participants to establish and run miniature companies. Debating and public speaking clubs develop oratorical confidence. The Arts Award programme allows girls to chart self-directed creative learning at Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels, with drama, music, or visual art as focus. Numerous academic clubs include Spanish Speaking Club, Chess Club, Code Breaking, Amnesty International, and specialist societies across languages, sciences, and humanities. Sixth Form Theatre Club trips to London musicals and professional productions add cultural breadth.

A library serves as both a learning commons and haven for quiet reading. An expanding array of STEM clubs encourage coding, robotics, and scientific investigation. The School Council, meeting monthly, addresses topics ranging from practical concerns like recycling and school meals to broader social issues including mental health and media literacy. The "Phone Free Friday" initiative encourages girls to embrace club participation and form activities rather than screen time.

Senior prefects number 40 and are elected by peers and staff according to strength. The Head Girl role and two Deputy Head Girl positions emerge from a competitive application and interview process. These girls act as genuine bridges between student body and staff, representing the school at events and shaping whole-school initiatives. The leadership structure ensures girls at every year group encounter older role models, demonstrating that ambition and service are valued.

Entry at Year 7 is by the Kent PESE 11+ test, administered in autumn of Year 6. Parents must register during June of the preceding year. The test comprises multiple-choice papers assessing English, mathematics, and reasoning. Qualifying scores of 332 overall (with no component below 107) gain grammar school eligibility, though TWGGS must then apply further oversubscription criteria.

The school is highly oversubscribed. In recent years, approximately 4 applications arrive for every place. After looked-after children and those with EHCPs naming the school, places are allocated based on distance and priority parishes. Those eligible for Pupil Premium status living within the school's extended catchment area (which includes expanded parishes such as Brenchley, East Peckham, Horsmonden, Lamberhurst, and Paddock Wood alongside others) receive priority. Beyond the priority area, remaining places follow straight-line distance from the school gates.

For entry above Year 7, in-year places occasionally arise. Sixth Form entry is open to external candidates meeting GCSE thresholds (average grade 6 across top six subjects, with grade 5 minimum in English and maths, and typically grade 7 in subjects to be studied at A-level). Sixth Form applicants in art, design technology, or music must demonstrate prior qualification or audition.

The school offers free Atom Learning revision materials to Pupil Premium families sitting the Kent Test, demonstrating commitment to widening access regardless of family income.

The school day runs from 9:00am to 3:20pm. Girls arrive in two broad cohorts reflecting the school's size and layout. Transport is available via regular bus services on the Tunbridge Wells network. The school sits within walking distance of Tunbridge Wells town centre (approximately 1.2 miles) and sits on the local authority bus route with a dedicated bus stop. The closest railway station is Tunbridge Wells, approximately 1.1 miles away.

A recently modernised sports facility includes a dedicated sports hall, all-weather pitch, and courts. A dedicated music block houses specialist teaching spaces, practice rooms, and performance venue. Science laboratories have been extensively refurbished to support practical work across biology, chemistry, and physics taught as separate disciplines.

The pastoral structure operates through form tutor groups of approximately 30 pupils, with each form enjoying dedicated tutor time. The Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Headteacher Pastoral ensure robust child protection and emotional support systems. A school counsellor works with pupils requiring additional support. The sixth form enjoys dedicated common rooms and IT suite, recognising the shift toward independence at post-16.

Girls consistently report feeling "supported, happy and safe," in language echoing Ofsted's own findings. The school takes preventative approaches to mental health and exam stress. Prefects and senior staff attend training in peer support and mental health awareness. Parents are kept regularly informed of progress and concerns through multiple communication channels.

Entrance remains genuinely competitive. Passing the 11+ test is necessary but not sufficient. Even with strong test performance, distance from the school becomes the determining factor. Families should verify their distance from Southfield Road against the school's admissions criteria before committing. Priority parishes have been expanded, but families outside these areas may find distance-based allocation challenging.

The school's grammar school status means every pupil arrives with demonstrated academic ability. Whilst the school serves girls across social backgrounds through its Pupil Premium commitments, the peer group is universally capable. Girls who thrive on high-level challenge will flourish; those seeking a lower-pressure environment or specialist learning support might find the pace relentless.

The school day ends at 3:20pm. Wraparound childcare is not available, which may present logistical challenges for working families without flexible arrangements. Breakfast club and after-school clubs do operate depending on activity availability.

An exemplary selective grammar school delivering genuinely outstanding education to over 1,000 girls. Academic results are exceptional, yes, but the real achievement lies in how the school manages excellence without arrogance. Girls here are pushed intellectually, supported pastorally, and offered genuine breadth through music, drama, sport, and service. The school has successfully navigated a leadership transition whilst maintaining its core values and continuing to invest in facilities and teaching quality.

Best suited to girls who have demonstrated academic ability and genuine love of learning, who thrive on rigorous challenge, and who are seeking a genuine community alongside academic pathway. The main hurdle is entry itself; securing a place requires both strong test performance and proximity to the school gates.