Weald of Kent Grammar School
77%
Capacity
1,902
Pupils
3.0x
Demand
About Weald of Kent Grammar School
Weald of Kent Grammar School sits within the Kent local authority, a selective area with a strong concentration of high-performing grammar schools. Among the ten secondary schools in the Tonbridge and Malling borough, it ranks second by Progress 8 score, placing it in the top 20% locally. Its closest high-achieving peers include Dartford Grammar School, The Judd School, and Dartford Grammar School for Girls, all of which also post very strong academic scores. The school is a girls’ grammar for ages 11 to 18, with a non-religious character and a headteacher, Richard Booth, who has overseen a notable improvement in its most recent Ofsted inspection. In October 2024, inspectors rated the school Good across all areas including behaviour, personal development, and leadership, a significant step up from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2022. The school is large, with 1,902 pupils against a capacity of 2,475, and just 3.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, reflecting its selective intake.
Academically, Weald of Kent delivers results that place it well above the national average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.77 is classed as ‘Well above average’, meaning pupils achieve nearly a grade more per subject than similar students nationally. This is a strong contrast to the Kent local authority average Progress 8 of -0.13. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 70.1, and 90.7% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. At GCSE, 62.6% of pupils entered the EBacc, with 57.3% achieving a grade 5 or higher in that combination. In the sixth form, the average A-level grade per entry is a B, with a points per entry score of 38.96. The value added score is -0.02, which is classed as ‘Average’, suggesting that while outcomes are high, the sixth form does not push pupils quite as far beyond expectations as the lower school does. Nationally, the school ranks 211th out of 3,141 schools by Progress 8, putting it in the top 7%.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 300 places in 2025/26, there were 901 applications, a ratio of 3:1, with 197 first-preference offers made from 238 first-preference applications. Facilities are extensive and include a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, science labs, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. The school offers a wide range of clubs and activities, from choir and orchestra to Debate, Model UN, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Sports on offer include dance, gymnastics, cricket, and athletics. SEND support covers several areas including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech, language and communication needs. Parent feedback is very positive: 91% would recommend the school, and 92% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy. This is a school that suits families seeking a high-achieving, structured grammar environment with strong pastoral care and a broad extracurricular offer, particularly for girls who thrive in a single-sex setting.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Tudeley Lane, Tonbridge, Tonbridge and Malling, TN9 2JP |
| Headteacher | Richard Booth |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 1,902 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 3.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,902 / 2,475 (77% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 Oct 2024Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Nov 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.77)
211th of 3,141
Nationally
34th of 461
In South East
2nd of 10
In Tonbridge and Malling
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
43.8
'22/23
39.7
'23/24
39.0
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2390%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 231 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)90%
- FE college5%
- Sixth form college2%
- Not sustained1%
99% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2376%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 180 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
49%
Russell Group
52%
Top-third HE
3%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)76%
- Employment17%
- Not sustained3%
- Further education2%
- Other education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology86
- Biology64
- Sociology57
- Mathematics48
- Geography47
- History40
- English Literature37
- Media/Film/Tv Studies36
- Chemistry32
- Business Studies:Single30
- English Language26
- Physical Education / Sports Studies26
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
507 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed300
901
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
238 families put this school as their 1st choice (26% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British71.9%
- Asian9.0%
- White (other)7.5%
- Mixed6.7%
- Black0.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
8
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
3
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Weald of Kent Grammar School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Tudeley Lane, Tonbridge
Tonbridge and Malling, TN9 2JP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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