The Folkestone School for Girls
School summary
A selective grammar for girls in Folkestone, this school combines strong academic results with the kind of conduct and pastoral culture that Ofsted rated Outstanding for behaviour, personal development and sixth form. Entry at 11 is through the Kent Test, with GL Assessment papers in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, and 180 places offered each year. With around 1,170 pupils against a capacity of 1,053, the school is full and operating above its stated capacity, which gives a sense of how sought-after places are. A sixth form of roughly 270 sits within a broad community that includes a notable proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals and those with English as an additional language.
How hard is it to get in?
Moderate · 1 of 5 on the Passmate scale. Entry is selective, but demand for the 180 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
57.9
National average 46.9
GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)
67%
National average 47%
GCSE grade 9-7
31%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
29%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
57%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- Ofsted overall
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour & attitudes
- Outstanding
- Last inspected
- 23 April 2024
Teaching & academics
Academic outcomes sit comfortably above national benchmarks: an Attainment 8 score of 57.9 against a national average of 46.9, and 67% of pupils reaching grade 5 or above in English and Maths, well ahead of the 47% national figure. Nearly a third of GCSE entries reach grades 9 to 7. The sciences, English and humanities dominate at GCSE, while popular A-levels span Biology, History, Geography, Psychology and Sociology, with BTEC and the EPQ broadening the post-16 offer. At A-level, 29% of grades are A*-A and 57% reach A*-B.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Principal · Mr Mark Lester
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 270
- Sixth-form Ofsted
- Outstanding
Popular A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Netball is the school's flagship sport, and language study in French and Spanish adds breadth alongside the core curriculum.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1905
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 6.56%
- EHC plans
- 0.26%
- English as additional language
- 11.2%
- Free school meals
- 14.4%
Mobile phone policy
Phones are to be switched off and stored in bags or blazer pockets throughout the school day, to be never used, seen or heard.
Schools nearby
The Harvey Grammar School
Folkestone, South East
Dover Grammar School for Boys
Dover, South East
Dover Grammar School for Girls
Dover, South East
The Norton Knatchbull School
Ashford, South East
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
Canterbury, South East
Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School
Canterbury, South East
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A high-performing girls' grammar where Outstanding behaviour and pastoral care underpin results well above the national average. The clear phones-away policy signals a school that takes focus seriously.
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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The Folkestone School for Girls 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.