Highsted Grammar School
School summary
A selective girls' grammar in Sittingbourne, Highsted draws on the Kent Test for its 11+ admissions and consistently rewards able, motivated pupils. With 832 girls on a roll set against a capacity of 830, the school is effectively full, a sign of steady demand across the area. Ofsted judged every aspect of its work Good at the most recent inspection, from quality of education through to the sixth form. The intake is reasonably mixed, with around one in eight pupils eligible for free school meals.
How hard is it to get in?
Moderate · 1 of 5 on the Passmate scale. Entry is selective, but demand for the 150 Year 7 places is more manageable than at most selective schools - a solid qualifying performance is usually what matters.
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
61.1
National average 46.9
GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)
82%
National average 47%
Inspection reports
- Ofsted overall
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour & attitudes
- Good
- Last inspected
- 17 January 2023
Teaching & academics
Results sit well above national benchmarks: an Attainment 8 score of 61.1 compares with a national average of 46.9, and 82% of pupils secure grade 5 or above in English and Maths against a national figure of 47%. The pupil-to-teacher ratio of 17.1 is typical for a grammar of this size, and teaching across the board, including in the sixth form, is rated Good by Ofsted. Families can expect a serious academic environment that gets the most from selective entrants.
School life & ethos
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 4.33%
- EHC plans
- 0.48%
- English as additional language
- 8.2%
- Free school meals
- 12.4%
Schools nearby
Borden Grammar School
Sittingbourne, South East
Rainham Mark Grammar School
Gillingham, South East
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
Faversham, South East
Invicta Grammar School
Maidstone, South East
Holcombe Grammar School
Chatham, South East
Maidstone Grammar School
Maidstone, South East
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A solidly performing girls' grammar where strong GCSE outcomes meet across-the-board Good Ofsted ratings. Worth a place on the shortlist for families near Sittingbourne preparing for the Kent Test.
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.
Free month · No payment needed
Highsted Grammar 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.