Cranbrook School
School summary
One of the relatively rare grammar schools to offer boarding, Cranbrook School draws academically selective pupils to its corner of Kent while retaining a Christian character. Around 918 boys and girls are on roll against a capacity of 954, so it runs comfortably full without being overcrowded. Selection is through the Kent Test, with entry at 11 confirmed by GL Assessment papers. Ofsted rated the school Good overall at its most recent inspection, singling out pupil behaviour and personal development as Outstanding.
How hard is it to get in?
Highly competitive · 4 of 5 on the Passmate scale. Applications far outnumber the 90 Year 7 places each September, so exam performance matters more here than at most selective schools.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
Key dates · 2028 entry
Free month · No payment needed
Latest results
Attainment 8
66.9
National average 46.9
GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)
86%
National average 47%
Inspection reports
- Ofsted overall
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour & attitudes
- Outstanding
- Last inspected
- 22 March 2022
Teaching & academics
Results sit well above the national picture: an Attainment 8 score of 66.9 compares with a national average of 46.9, and 86% of pupils secure grade 5 or above in English and Maths against a national figure of 47%. The pupil-to-teacher ratio of 18.7 is fairly typical for a medium-sized school. Ofsted judged both the quality of education and the sixth form as Good.
School life & ethos
- Religious character
- Christian
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 1.31%
- EHC plans
- 0.22%
- English as additional language
- 7.4%
- Free school meals
- 4.6%
Schools nearby
Maidstone Grammar School
Maidstone, South East
Invicta Grammar School
Maidstone, South East
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
Tunbridge Wells, South East
The Norton Knatchbull School
Ashford, South East
Highsted Grammar School
Sittingbourne, South East
Holcombe Grammar School
Chatham, South East
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A selective grammar with the unusual addition of boarding, where strong academic outcomes are matched by Outstanding ratings for behaviour and personal development.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Cranbrook School 11+: frequently asked questions
Passmate rating: benchmarked against every selective school in England using official admissions data. It measures demand for places, not school quality. Updated July 2026.
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.