The Skinners' School
School summary
A boys' grammar school in Tunbridge Wells, The Skinners' School has built a strong academic reputation while drawing praise for the way it develops its pupils beyond the classroom. Entry at 11 is via the Kent Test, with around 160 places each year for a school that is notably full: roughly 1,141 boys are on roll against a stated capacity of 945. Ofsted rated it Good overall at its most recent inspection, but singled out both personal development and the sixth form as Outstanding. Around one in six pupils speaks English as an additional language, and the school supports a meaningful proportion of boys with special educational needs.
How hard is it to get in?
Very competitive · 3 of 5 on the Passmate scale. Demand comfortably exceeds the 160 Year 7 places each year - a clear pass, not a borderline one, is what wins a place.
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
70.8
National average 46.9
GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)
93%
National average 47%
Inspection reports
- Ofsted overall
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour & attitudes
- Good
- Last inspected
- 16 November 2021
Teaching & academics
Results sit well above the national picture. The average Attainment 8 score of 70.8 compares with a national average of 46.9, and 93 per cent of pupils achieve grade 5 or above in English and Maths, against 47 per cent nationally. A pupil-to-teacher ratio of about 17.8 is typical for a large school, and the Outstanding sixth form suggests strong momentum into the senior years.
School life & ethos
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 11.57%
- EHC plans
- 0.09%
- English as additional language
- 18.3%
- Free school meals
- 5.6%
Schools nearby
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
Tunbridge Wells, South East
Maidstone Grammar School
Maidstone, South East
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
Rochester, South East
Holcombe Grammar School
Chatham, South East
Fort Pitt Grammar School
Chatham, South East
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys
Dartford, 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 boys' grammar where strong GCSE outcomes are matched by genuinely outstanding personal development and sixth form. Families should expect competitive entry through the Kent Test, at a school running well above its stated capacity.
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.
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The Skinners' 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.