Know exactly where your child stands for Highsted Grammar School
Thousands of practice questions and up to 6 mock papers, all in the exact Highsted Grammar School 11+ format, on one simple plan. It starts with a free diagnostic.
Highsted Grammar School
Highsted Grammar School is a selective state grammar for girls in Sittingbourne, Kent. Entry is via the GL exam board, and there is no interview stage. While there is no defined catchment area, places are allocated based on proximity to the school for girls who pass the Kent Test.
If your daughter is academically able but you worry she could get lost in a big, impersonal school, Highsted is worth a closer look. It is a selective state grammar for girls in Sittingbourne, Kent, with a co-educational sixth form, and the head describes it plainly as 'a happy and cohesive community'. The school is open about being traditional and 'unashamedly academic', but pairs that with a focus on the habits of mind, resilience, flexibility and good humour, that girls will need for a working life none of us can yet picture. It has long roots in the town, having started life as a girls' school in Sittingbourne in the early 1900s before moving to its Highsted Road site and, more recently, converting to academy status in 2010.
What stands out day to day is how closely each girl is known. The emphasis is on personalisation, proactive mentoring and pastoral care, so a girl is treated as an individual rather than a name on a list. Wellbeing is taken seriously, with the school's own 'Highsted Hive' support and a 'Compassion Curriculum' for personal development. Reading is a whole-school commitment, and there is a broad enrichment and 'super-curriculum' offer beyond lessons, including a STEM-for-all programme. A lively Old Girls' Association keeps former and current pupils connected, a sign of how much the place tends to stay with those who pass through it.
It suits a girl who is academically able and willing to be stretched, but who will be happiest in a caring, close-knit school that pays real attention to how she is feeling. Led by headteacher Ms Anne Kelly, Highsted is somewhere a thoughtful girl will be both challenged and looked after.
Key facts
Admissions
Registration form
Sibling policy
Yes
What this school tests
Kent Test
English16 question types
Maths23 question types
Non-verbal Reasoning14 question types
Verbal Reasoning26 question types
Spatial Reasoning8 question types
Catchment area
Does Highsted Grammar School have a catchment area?
There is no defined catchment area. Among girls who pass the test, places are allocated by oversubscription criteria, with priority by nearness of home to the school measured in a straight line.
Previous exam results
GCSE results
In 2025 students achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 61.1 across their GCSEs. 82.4% gained a grade 5 or better in both English and Maths. 52.1% achieved the English Baccalaureate at grade 5 or above. Reference: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/
A-level results
In 2025 students achieved a C+ average grade per A-Level entry. 9.6% gained AAB or better including two facilitating subjects. Reference: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/
Frequently asked questions
What exam board does Highsted Grammar School use for the 11+?
Highsted Grammar School uses the GL exam board for its 11+ entrance test.
Does Highsted Grammar School interview as part of the 11+?
No, Highsted Grammar School does not conduct interviews as part of its 11+ admissions process.
Is Highsted Grammar School co-educational or single-sex?
Highsted Grammar School is a single-sex school for girls from Year 7 to Year 11, with a co-educational sixth form.
Does Highsted Grammar School have a catchment area for 11+ entry?
Highsted Grammar School does not have a defined catchment area. Places are allocated based on proximity to the school for girls who pass the Kent Test.
What is Highsted Grammar School's website?
The official website for Highsted Grammar School is https://www.highsted.kent.sch.uk/.
How do you get a place at Highsted Grammar School?
To be considered, a child first needs to reach the required standard in the Kent Test (or Highsted's own test, which counts equally). If more girls qualify than there are places, they are ranked in this order: looked-after and previously looked-after children first, then children eligible for Pupil Premium, then those with a sister at the school, and finally by straight-line distance from home to school. There is no catchment area, and any remaining tie is settled by random draw.
What happens if my child is ill on 11+ test day at Highsted Grammar School?
The Kent Test is run by Kent County Council, not the school. If your child is too ill to sit it, tell the test centre and your child's primary school straight away. A later sitting can only be arranged where the illness is confirmed by a doctor's letter, so keep any medical evidence. If your child has a disability or additional needs, ask their primary school's SENCO to apply for access arrangements before you register, as requests are not accepted after early Jul.
Location
Your child’s 11+ journey starts with a single diagnostic
4 subjects. 56 expert-authored questions. A complete picture of where they are, and a personalised plan to get them exam-ready.
Start the free diagnostic