Chatham Grammar School for Girls: Comprehensive 11+ Admissions Guide

Key Information Summary

School: Chatham Grammar School for Girls (CGSG)
Location: Rainham Road, Chatham, Kent, ME5 7EH
Type: Selective girls' grammar school (ages 11-16) with mixed sixth form
Established: 1907
Principal: Mrs Wendy Walters
Students: Approximately 950
Ofsted Rating: Good
Trust: University of Kent Academies Trust

About Chatham Grammar School for Girls

Chatham Grammar School for Girls is a distinguished selective academy serving the Medway area of Kent since 1907. As part of the University of Kent Academies Trust since 2017, the school combines academic excellence with a supportive environment tailored specifically for girls aged 11-16, whilst offering a co-educational sixth form experience.

The school has built an exceptional reputation for academic achievement, particularly excelling in English and science subjects. Located in the historic Medway Towns, CGSG benefits from strong community links and access to excellent transport connections across Kent. The school's commitment to developing confident, articulate young women is evident through its comprehensive curriculum and extensive enrichment programme.

With approximately 950 students, CGSG maintains an intimate learning environment where individual attention flourishes. The school's consistent 'Good' Ofsted ratings reflect its dedication to high educational standards and pastoral care. Notable achievements include success in national academic competitions and strong progression rates to leading universities.

The 11+ Assessment Process

Entry to Chatham Grammar School for Girls requires success in the Kent 11+ examination, administered by Medway Council. The assessment is designed to identify students with strong academic potential across four key areas:

Verbal Reasoning: Tests comprehension, vocabulary, and logical thinking using written language. Students must demonstrate ability to understand complex texts and identify relationships between words and concepts.

Non-Verbal Reasoning: Evaluates spatial awareness and pattern recognition through visual puzzles. This section assesses logical thinking without relying on language skills, ensuring fair assessment across diverse backgrounds.

Mathematics: Covers arithmetic, problem-solving, and mathematical reasoning appropriate to Year 6 level. Emphasis is placed on understanding mathematical concepts rather than rote learning.

English: Includes reading comprehension passages followed by detailed questions, plus creative and analytical writing tasks that demonstrate linguistic competence and critical thinking skills.

The examination typically takes place in September, with results determining eligibility for grammar school places across the Medway area.

How to Apply

The application process for Chatham Grammar School for Girls follows Medway Council's coordinated admissions system:

Step 1: Registration
Register your daughter for the 11+ examination during the summer term of Year 5. Registration opens in early May and closes in mid-June. Late registrations may be accepted in exceptional circumstances.

Step 2: Preparation
Prepare thoroughly using official practice materials and familiarise your daughter with the test format. The school recommends starting preparation at least six months before the examination date.

Step 3: Examination
Attend the 11+ examination in September at the designated test centre. Results are typically released in mid-October, indicating whether your daughter has achieved the required standard for grammar school entry.

Step 4: School Application
Submit your secondary school application through Medway Council by 31st October, listing CGSG as your preferred choice. Places are allocated based on 11+ results and the school's oversubscription criteria.

Step 5: Offer Decision
School offers are made on National Offer Day in March, with parents required to accept or decline places by the specified deadline.

Preparing for the Chatham Grammar School for Girls 11+ with Taylor Tuition

Families preparing for the Chatham Grammar School for Girls 11+ usually come to us a year or so before the assessment, though shorter runs work where the foundations are already sound. Having prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools, with placements including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, our tutors build each programme around the format the school actually uses, whether a written paper, an online pre-test, an interview or a combination of them.

More than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status and around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and the pool includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools, so the preparation is led by people who know how selective schools assess. 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.