Head: David Clark
An accessible co-educational grammar school in Kent with a Good Ofsted rating.
0
Year 7 Places
0.0:1
Applicants/Place
Pass Mark
0
Pupils
Max Score
423
Qualifying Score
332
78% of max
Cutoff Score
349
83% of max
Applications
272
Offers Made
89
Catchment, then Score
Catchment area students get priority. Within catchment, places by test score.
The civil parishes of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst, Goudhurst, Staplehurst, Frittenden, Benenden, Sandhurst and Hawkhurst as defined by civil parish boundaries. Any other property which is not within the civil parish boundaries as outlined above, but is within 8.5 kilometres (5.28166 miles) of the school by straight line.
Max distance: 5.28 miles
Sibling Priority
Pupil Premium
Process
Appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel. All appeals will be heard online. Use the specific link to complete your appeal online. Include all evidence with your appeal form and state the grounds for appeal. Additional information must be received by 12 noon, 5 working days before the hearing.
Waiting List
From Reallocation Day, Cranbrook School will hold the Waiting List
1. Register
1 Jun 2026
2. Take Test
Kent Test
3. Results
15 Oct 2026
4. Offer Day
1 Mar 2027
A shared 11+ entrance exam used by 32 grammar schools, administered by GL Assessment, testing English, Mathematics, Reasoning. Three multiple-choice papers administered by GL Assessment. Each paper is 50 minutes. State-funded grammar school for boys and girls catering for top 20-25% of academic ability range. Places always oversubscribed. Entry via Kent PESE Test (11+), which is administered through Kent County Council. Historic lowest scores offered: 2025 - 338, 2024 - 337, 2023 - 353. All applications made via KCC, not directly to Cranbrook School. Those living in Priority Area given priority in accordance with Over Subscription Criteria.
Max
423
Qualifying Score
332
78% of max
Registration Opens
Registration opens for the 11+ exam
1 Jun 2026
Open Evening
Years 7 & 9 Day + Year 9 Boarding Open Morning
23 Jun 2026
8:45am
Registration Deadline
Final day to register for the 11+ exam
1 Jul 2026
Exam Date
11+ entrance exam
10 Sep 2026
9:00am
Results Released
11+ results released to parents
15 Oct 2026
CAF Deadline
National Common Application Form deadline (set by each local authority — usually 31 October).
31 Oct 2026
National Offer Day
National Offer Day. All secondary school offers are released today.
1 Mar 2027
66.7
Attainment 8
Average achievement across 8 qualifications
84%
English + Maths 5+
Grade 5 or above in both
95%
English + Maths 4+
Grade 4 or above in both
88%
EBacc Entry
Entered the English Baccalaureate suite
6.56
EBacc APS
Average points across EBacc subjects
B
Avg A-Level Grade
Average grade achieved across all A-Level entries
Bar shows this school. Ticks mark the England state-funded average (grey) and the typical grammar-school average (indigo).
Grammar median computed from up to 163 grammars.
| Metric | Disadvantaged | Non-Disadvantaged | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 | 47.8 | 67.4 | +20 |
| E+M grade 5+ | 17% | 87% | +70pp |
| EBacc entry | 67% | 88% | +22pp |
Disadvantaged = pupils eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years, looked-after, or adopted from care. A small or zero gap is the goal — it means the school helps every pupil reach the same outcomes.
100%
continued to sixth form
% of pupils who stayed on after GCSEs
High retention is a positive sign — pupils choose to stay and the sixth form supports them through. Low retention can indicate weaker post-16 provision or curriculum mismatch.
DfE breakdown, 2024/25
Eng+Maths 9-5
EBacc entry
40.6avg points / entry
Average grade: B
DfE doesn't publish the % at each grade band at school level — this is the school-wide average instead.
54%
Continued in education
HE + FE + other
51%
Higher Education
−17pp vs grammar avg
63%
Russell Group
Cohort destination breakdown
Destinations trend
Strongest at
Drama
26 entries
100%
+11.0pp vs school
Other Modern Languages
19 entries
100%
+11.0pp vs school
Music
18 entries
100%
+11.0pp vs school
Watch list
Combined Science
25 entries
0%
-89.0pp vs school
Physical Education
53 entries
75%
-13.5pp vs school
Strongest at
Business Studies
42 entries
100%
+0.3pp vs school
Psychology
41 entries
100%
+0.3pp vs school
Economics
39 entries
100%
+0.3pp vs school
Watch list
Biology
38 entries
97%
-2.4pp vs school
Maths
55 entries
98%
-1.6pp vs school
Entry Requirements
Minimum of 35 points from best six GCSE subjects on a 1-9 point scale. At least Grade 5 at GCSE in Maths and either English Language or English Literature. Must meet specific requirements for each A level course.
Subjects Offered
Largest group: White British (76.4%)
England avg ≈ 24%
≈ 20 pts below the England average — proportion of pupils whose family qualifies for free school meals (a measure of catchment affluence).
England avg ≈ 18%
≈ 11 pts below the England average — proportion of pupils whose first language is not English.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form
Good
Per-pupil funding
2025/26≈ £393 (-6%) below the English average
Most English state secondaries spend 75–80% of their budget on staff. Higher figures usually mean smaller class sizes; lower figures mean more spent on premises, supplies, or capital projects.
£4,400
Teaching Staff / pupil
£1,016
Educational Supplies / pupil
£486
Premises / pupil
Revenue reserve / pupil
£31
The school holds a surplus per pupil — money set aside that can absorb unexpected costs or fund future projects without affecting day-to-day teaching.
Total grant: £4,020,346 · 608 pupils funded
How the 2025/26 allocation broke down. Each stream is a signal about the school's intake — bigger deprivation / EAL / SEN top-ups indicate a school serving a more challenging cohort.
Basic entitlement
£3,440,696
Core per-pupil funding before any top-ups.
Pupil Premium
£38,700
Targeted funding for 36 disadvantaged pupils.
Deprivation top-up
£100,814
Aggregates FSM, FSM6 and IDACI deprivation bands.
EAL top-up
£59,492
English-as-additional-language premium — paid for pupils whose first language isn't English.
Prior attainment top-up
£18,265
Funding for pupils arriving below age-related expectations.
Notional SEN
£308,502
Earmarked SEN budget inside the schools block.
Lump sum
£142,484
Fixed per-school grant — size-independent.
Schools budget support grant
£37,601
Government pay-and-pension support grant.
National Insurance grant
£48,701
Compensation for the increase in employer NI contributions.
918 / 954(96%)
Subjects Offered
Entry Requirements
Minimum of 35 points from best six GCSE subjects on a 1-9 point scale. At least Grade 5 at GCSE in Maths and either English Language or English Literature. Must meet specific requirements for each A level course.
1:18.7
Staff:Pupil Ratio
96.1%
Qualified Teachers
5.06%
Absence Rate
8.79%
Persistent Absence
Mixed state day and boarding school with historic buildings and modern facilities including Queen's Hall Theatre.
Sports
25-metre indoor swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, all-weather pitch, tennis courts, netball courts, rugby pitches, football pitches, cricket pitches, athletics track, and extensive playing fields covering over 90 acres.
STEM
Science laboratories for biology, chemistry and physics projects
Arts
Queen's Hall Theatre, drama studios, music facilities
Library
Well-resourced library with over 15,000 books, periodicals, and digital resources. Open access during school hours with study areas for individual and group work. Online databases and e-book access available.
Capital Projects
Recent projects include refurbishment of science laboratories, upgrade of IT facilities across the school, and improvements to the sixth form centre. Plans are in place for further development of sports facilities and classroom spaces.
CCF Combined Cadet Force, Duke of Edinburgh programme, extensive clubs and activities, sports, drama productions, music groups, trips and exchanges.
Sports
Music & Performing Arts
Music groups, drama productions, theatre performances
Clubs & Societies
Young Farmers club participation, Latin competitions, extensive clubs and societies
Duke of Edinburgh
Duke of Edinburgh programme available
Trips & Exchanges
Trips, tours and exchanges programme available
Community Service
Students participate in various community service activities including charity fundraising, volunteering at local primary schools, environmental projects, and supporting elderly residents in the local community.
Uniform
School uniform and sports kit required - see School Uniform & Sports Kit page
School Meals
Cranbrook Catering provides school meals
Homework Policy
Homework is set regularly across all subjects with clear expectations. Years 7-9 receive approximately 4-5 hours per week, Years 10-11 receive 8-10 hours per week, and Sixth Form students are expected to complete independent study equivalent to their timetabled hours.
Behaviour Policy
The school operates a positive behaviour policy based on mutual respect, high expectations and clear boundaries. A house point system rewards positive behaviour and achievement. Sanctions are applied fairly and consistently for inappropriate behaviour.
Mobile Phone Policy
Mobile phones must be switched off during lessons and may only be used in designated areas during break and lunch times. Phones must not be used to take photographs or videos on school premises.
SEND Provision
The school has a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) policy and provides support for students with additional needs. They work with parents, external agencies, and specialists to ensure appropriate provision. The school has a SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) who oversees support arrangements. Specific provisions include learning support, exam access arrangements, and pastoral care adapted to individual needs. Students with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) are supported through regular reviews and tailored interventions.
Enter your postcode to see directions to Cranbrook
Dedicated school bus services operate from Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Headcorn, and surrounding villages. Routes include services from Sissinghurst, Goudhurst, Hawkhurst, and Benenden areas.
Nearest Station: Staplehurst
Transport Info
The school is accessible by car via the A229 and A262. Public transport includes regular bus services from Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and surrounding areas. Parents are encouraged to use public transport or car sharing where possible.
Ask AI Advisor
About Cranbrook
