Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School: Comprehensive 11+ Admissions Guide

Key Information Summary

• School Type: Co-educational Grammar School
• Location: Ramsgate, Kent
• Age Range: 11-18 years
• Student Numbers: Approximately 1,700 pupils
• Founded: 2013 (merger of two historic grammar schools)
• Admissions: Selective via Kent Test (11+)
• Status: Academy

About Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School

Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School represents a unique educational institution in Ramsgate, Kent, formed in 2013 through the strategic merger of two distinguished single-sex grammar schools: Chatham House Grammar School for boys and Clarendon House Grammar School for girls. This merger created one of Kent's largest co-educational grammar schools, combining the best traditions of both founding institutions whilst embracing modern educational practices.

Located in the coastal town of Ramsgate, the school serves families across East Kent and benefits from excellent transport links. The school's substantial size, with approximately 1,700 students, enables it to offer an exceptionally broad curriculum and extensive extracurricular opportunities that smaller institutions simply cannot match.

The school has built a strong reputation for academic achievement, with recent GCSE results showing nearly 50% of grades awarded at Grade 7 or above. This places the school amongst Kent's higher-performing grammar schools, reflecting both the calibre of students admitted and the quality of teaching provided.

The school's co-educational environment provides students with a balanced social experience, preparing them effectively for university and professional life. The merger has allowed for innovative teaching approaches whilst maintaining the rigorous academic standards expected of a grammar school education.

The 11+ Assessment Process

Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School uses the standardised Kent Test (11+) for all Year 7 admissions. This assessment system ensures fair and consistent evaluation of all applicants across Kent's grammar schools.

Assessment Components

The Kent Test comprises three distinct papers designed to evaluate different aspects of academic ability:

• English Paper: Focuses on reading comprehension skills, vocabulary, and written expression. Students encounter various text types and must demonstrate understanding through multiple-choice and written responses
• Mathematics Paper: Covers arithmetic skills, problem-solving abilities, and mathematical reasoning. Questions range from straightforward calculations to complex multi-step problems
• Reasoning Paper: Assesses both verbal and non-verbal reasoning skills, testing logical thinking, pattern recognition, and analytical abilities

Test Schedule and Results

The Kent Test typically takes place in September of Year 6, with results released in October. Students who achieve the required standard become eligible for grammar school places, though meeting the pass mark does not ensure admission to any specific school due to oversubscription.

The school's large size means it offers more places than many other Kent grammar schools, though competition remains intense due to its strong reputation and desirable coastal location.

How to Apply

The application process for Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School follows Kent County Council's standardised procedure:

Registration and Testing

• Register your child for the Kent Test through Kent County Council's online portal
• Ensure registration is completed by the summer deadline (typically early July)
• Attend the designated test centre in September of Year 6
• Await results notification in October

School Application

• Submit your secondary school preferences through Kent's online application system
• List up to four grammar schools in order of preference
• Include Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School among your choices if your child meets the Kent Test standard
• Submit applications by the end of October deadline

Allocation Process

Places are allocated based on Kent County Council's admissions criteria, with priority typically given to looked-after children, siblings of current students, and then distance from the school. Given the school's size and location, it often admits students from a wider geographical area than smaller grammar schools.

Preparing for the Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School 11+ with Taylor Tuition

Preparation for the Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School 11+ tends to go best when it starts early and stays steady, and most families who work with us begin between twelve and eighteen months out. Our tutors, who have prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, plan the work backwards from the school's own assessment format and registration deadline.

The tutors we match to 11+ preparation are drawn from a pool in which more than half hold Qualified Teacher Status, around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and which includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.

Families work with us online from anywhere in the UK or abroad, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation to talk through your child's current level and the timeline to the 11+. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact, and we reply to enquiries within one working day with tutor recommendations.

Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.