Highworth Grammar School for Girls: Comprehensive 11+ Admissions Guide

Key Information Summary

School: Highworth Grammar School for Girls
Location: Maidstone Road, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8UD
Type: Selective Grammar School for Girls (co-educational Sixth Form)
Established: 1904
Head Teacher: Duncan Beer
Students: Approximately 1,534 (448 in Sixth Form)
Age Range: 11-18 years
Ofsted Rating: Outstanding
Admissions: 11+ examination required

About Highworth Grammar School for Girls

Highworth Grammar School for Girls represents one of Kent's most established centres of academic excellence, having educated young women for over 120 years. Located in Ashford, this selective grammar school has built an exceptional reputation for nurturing intellectual curiosity whilst maintaining strong pastoral care values.

The school's transition to academy status in 2011 has enhanced its ability to deliver innovative educational programmes tailored to high-achieving students. With approximately 1,534 pupils, including a thriving co-educational Sixth Form of 448 students, Highworth creates a dynamic learning environment where academic rigour meets comprehensive personal development.

The school's Outstanding Ofsted rating reflects its commitment to excellence across all areas. Students benefit from specialist teaching in state-of-the-art facilities, with particular strengths in STEM subjects, humanities, and creative arts. The school's ethos centres on developing confident, articulate young women prepared for leadership roles in their chosen fields.

Highworth's comprehensive extra-curricular programme includes competitive sports teams, performing arts societies, debating clubs, and extensive volunteering opportunities. This holistic approach ensures students develop both academic prowess and essential life skills valued by top universities and employers.

The 11+ Assessment Process

Entry to Highworth Grammar School requires success in Kent's selective 11+ examination system. The assessment is designed to identify students with the academic potential to thrive in a challenging grammar school environment.

Assessment Components:

• English Language: Reading comprehension, grammar, punctuation, and creative writing tasks designed to assess linguistic sophistication and analytical thinking
• Mathematics: Problem-solving exercises covering numerical reasoning, algebraic concepts, and mathematical logic appropriate for high-achieving Year 6 students
• Verbal Reasoning: Tests evaluating logical thinking, vocabulary knowledge, and ability to identify patterns in language and meaning
• Non-Verbal Reasoning: Spatial awareness challenges using visual patterns, sequences, and abstract reasoning tasks

The examination typically takes place in September, with results determining eligibility for grammar school places across Kent. Students must demonstrate consistent high performance across all components to secure admission to Highworth.

Preparation Timeline: Most successful candidates begin focused preparation 12-18 months before the examination, developing both subject knowledge and examination technique through structured practice and professional tuition.

How to Apply

The application process for Highworth Grammar School follows Kent County Council's centralised admissions system:

Step 1: Registration
Register for the 11+ examination through Kent County Council's online portal between May and June of Year 5. Early registration is essential as places are limited.

Step 2: Examination
Attend the 11+ test session in September of Year 6. The examination takes place at designated test centres across Kent, with specific arrangements for students with additional needs.

Step 3: School Application
Submit your secondary school preferences through Kent's online admissions system by the October deadline. Highworth should be listed as a preference to be considered for admission.

Step 4: Results and Offers
11+ results are published in October, followed by school place allocations in March of Year 6. Successful candidates receive conditional offers subject to maintaining academic standards.

Appeals Process: Families may appeal unsuccessful applications through Kent County Council's formal appeals procedure, though places at Highworth are highly competitive.

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

Preparation for the Highworth Grammar School for Girls 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 in the South and South West and further afield work with us online, 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.