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Tonbridge Grammar School
11 Plus (11+) Exam Information
Key Information
Address:Tonbridge Grammar School, Deakin Leas, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 2JR
County: Kent
School Website: www.tgs.kent.sch.uk
School Type: Girls (mixed sixth form)
Number of Pupils: 1156
Number of Places in Year 7: 180
Open Day Date: Contact School
Exam Date: September
Exam Board Type: GL
About Tonbridge Grammar School
Tonbridge Grammar School is a selective school which educates girls between the ages of 11 and 16 and girls and boys in the sixth form. It is a highly regarded educational institution with a rich history and a strong commitment to academic excellence. Founded in 1905, the school has established itself as a leading girls' grammar school in the region, offering an outstanding education to its students.
Tonbridge Grammar School is known for its exceptional subject specialisms, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The school offers a broad curriculum that encompasses a wide range of subjects, with a strong focus on fostering analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and scientific inquiry. It aims to equip its students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the ever-evolving fields of STEM.
In its most recent Ofsted inspection (October 2029), Tonbridge Grammar School achieved an outstanding rating, affirming its commitment to high standards of education. The school excels in several areas, as highlighted in the report. Teachers have high expectations of pupils, who demonstrate exemplary behaviour and feel safe and supported. The school offers a thriving environment with extensive extra-curricular opportunities, where pupils actively participate and enjoy both academic and social aspects. Motivated by knowledgeable teachers, pupils thrive, enjoy their education, and achieve exceptional results. The school's ambitious curriculum, combined with excellent subject knowledge, ensures a deep understanding and prepares pupils well for further education.
Tonbridge Grammar School offers a wide range of extracurricular clubs and activities that cater to diverse student interests. These clubs span various areas, including sports, arts, music, drama, debating, and community service. Students have the opportunity to participate in competitive sports teams, engage in creative arts performances, develop leadership skills through student councils, and contribute to community initiatives. The school also offers study tours abroad to locations such as Malawi and Iceland, as well as participating in mathematics challenges in the UK and Europe.
The school boasts excellent facilities that enhance the learning experience for its students. It features modern and well-equipped classrooms, state-of-the-art science laboratories, and dedicated spaces for music, drama, and art. The school also provides sports facilities, including sports halls, playing fields, and outdoor courts, promoting physical fitness and encouraging active participation in sports. The IBarn, a dedicated sixth form study centre, was opened in September 2015.
Kent Grammar Schools
11 Plus Exams
The tests are multiple-choice with a separate answer sheet. They are marked by an automated marking machine.
The first test will be an English and maths paper and will take 1 hour. Each section will involve a 5-minute practice exercise followed by a 25-minute test. The English section will involve a comprehension exercise as well as some additional questions drawn from a set designed to test literacy skills.
The second test will be a reasoning paper. It will take about 1 hour, including the practice sections and questions. It will contain a verbal reasoning section and a non-verbal reasoning section of roughly the same length. The non-verbal reasoning will be split into short sections, administered and timed individually.
There will also be a writing exercise which will not be marked but may be used by a local headteacher panel as part of the headteacher assessment stage of the process. 40 minutes will be allowed for the writing task, including 10 minutes planning time.
How to Prepare for the Kent 11+ Exam
Your child will need to develop the following skills:
Verbal Reasoning
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Maths
English
Creative Writing
Kent Grammar School
Admissions Guide
In the first instance, parents must register their child to sit the Kent Test, which can be done online via Kent County Council. Once students have taken the test in September, parents will receive their results in October and must then submit their Secondary School Common Application Form (SCAF) via the Kent local authority website.
Kent 11+ Standardised Scores
Your child will get 3 standardised scores, one for English, one for maths and one for reasoning, and a total (aggregate) score.
Standardisation is a statistical process which compares your child's performance with the average performance of other children in each test. A slight adjustment is made to take account of each child's age so that the youngest are not at a disadvantage.
The grammar school threshold for the test will not be published until the results have been sent out.
In order to calculate a standardised score the company producing and marking the tests will create a reference table – called a “look-up table” – for each test paper that is written, and the table is specific to that test paper, because it takes account of the difficulty of the paper. The minimum standardised score is derived from the look-up table and the actual number will vary depending on the average score of all those taking the test and the number of applicants.
Below is an example look-up table. The vertical axis is the “raw score”, i.e. the number (percentage) of actual questions that a child gets right on a paper. The horizontal axis represents the age of the child at the time of taking the exam, shown as years + months.
Kent 11+ Pass Mark
In 2021, children needed a total score of 332 or more, with no single score lower than 109 to be allocated a place at a Kent grammar school. Test scores ranged from 69 to 141. The highest possible total score is 423.
Kent Grammar Schools
Appeals Process
If your child did not reach the threshold score and their primary school referred their case to the local Head Teacher Assessment Panel, the panel will have looked at their achievement in school and examples of their work, including the writing task completed on the day, before a final decision was made.
If your child does not qualify, the Head does not seek a review or if the review is unsuccessful, you still have the right to have your child’s case heard by an Independent Appeals Panel. You are only able to appeal a decision after school allocations have been sent out to parents in March.
Kent Grammar Schools
Oversubscription
Every school has its own oversubscription criteria that it uses to decide which children can be offered a place at their school.
The Tonbridge Grammar School Oversubscription Criteria
Before the application of oversubscription criteria, children with a statement of special educational need which names the school will be admitted.
Places will be allocated in the following priority order:
1. A looked after child or a previously looked after child.
2. 135 places will be allocated to girls with a selective assessment through the Kent 11+ in Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks District and Tonbridge and Malling Borough in the following order:
Girls' ability: The primary consideration is a girl's ability, which is indicated by her combined score in the age-eleven assessment.
Proximity: If there are multiple candidates with similar scores, the tie-breaker criteria of proximity come into play. This refers to the distance between the pupil's home address and the school. Notes 1 and 2 likely provide additional details or guidelines regarding how proximity is measured.
Random selection: If proximity does not determine a place, a random selection process is implemented. Lots are drawn under the supervision of an independent person to determine the allocation of the remaining places.
If there are insufficient candidates on the Area list the surplus places will be offered to those on the Trustee list.
35 places will be allocated to girls with a selective assessment through the Kent 11+ who reside outside of Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks District and Tonbridge and Malling Borough in the following order:
Girls' ability: The primary consideration is a girl's ability, which is indicated by her combined score in the age-eleven assessment.
Proximity: If there are multiple candidates with similar scores, the tie-breaker criteria of proximity come into play. This refers to the distance between the pupil's home address and the school. Notes 1 and 2 likely provide additional details or guidelines regarding how proximity is measured.
Random selection: If proximity does not determine a place, a random selection process is implemented. Lots are drawn under the supervision of an independent person to determine the allocation of the remaining places.
If there are insufficient candidates on the Trustee list the surplus places will be offered to those on the Area list.
3. Pupils who are eligible for Pupil Premium who live in Tonbridge and Malling Borough, Tunbridge Wells or Sevenoaks District whose scores are below the automatic qualifying score will be awarded places in the following order:
Girls' ability: The primary consideration is a girl's ability, which is indicated by her combined score in the age-eleven assessment.
Proximity: If there are multiple candidates with similar scores, the tie-breaker criteria of proximity come into play. This refers to the distance between the pupil's home address and the school. Notes 1 and 2 likely provide additional details or guidelines regarding how proximity is measured.
Random selection: If proximity does not determine a place, a random selection process is implemented. Lots are drawn under the supervision of an independent person to determine the allocation of the remaining places.
Prepare for Kent 11+ Exam
What We Provide
Kent 11+ Past Papers
Use these papers to practise the question types for the Kent 11+ exam.
Verbal Reasoning Test 1
Verbal Reasoning Test 1 Answer Sheet
Verbal Reasoning Test 2
Verbal Reasoning Test 2 Answer Sheet
Verbal Reasoning Test 3
Verbal Reasoning Test 3 Answer Sheet
Verbal Reasoning Mark Scheme
Maths Test 1
Maths Test 1 Answer Sheet
Maths Test 2
Maths Test 2 Answer Sheet
Maths Mark Scheme
English Test 1
English Test 1 Answer Sheet
English Test 2
English Test 2 Answer Sheet
English Mark Scheme
Non-Verbal Reasoning Test 1
Non-Verbal Reasoning Test 1 Answer Sheet
Non-Verbal Reasoning Test 2
Non-Verbal Reasoning Test 2 Answer Sheet
Non-Verbal Reasoning Test 3
Non-Verbal Reasoning Test 3 Answer Sheet
Non-Verbal Reasoning Mark Scheme
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