Mayfield Grammar School: Comprehensive 11+ Admissions Guide

Key Information Summary

• School: Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend
• Type: Selective Grammar School (Academy)
• Location: Pelham Road, Gravesend, Kent, DA11 0JE
• Contact: 01474 352 896 | enquiries@mgsg.kent.sch.uk
• Age Range: 11-18 years
• Gender: Girls (Boys admitted to sixth form)
• Capacity: 1,207 pupils
• Current Roll: Approximately 1,394 students
• Ofsted Rating: Outstanding (April 2024)
• Specialisms: Science and Languages

About Mayfield Grammar School

Founded in 1914 as the County School for Girls, Mayfield Grammar School has established itself as one of Kent's premier educational institutions. Located in the historic town of Gravesend, the school underwent significant transformation in 2011 when it adopted its current name and introduced its progressive sixth form policy, welcoming boys for A-level studies.

The school's dual specialisms in Science and Languages reflect its commitment to preparing students for an increasingly globalised world. With state-of-the-art laboratories and language facilities, Mayfield provides an environment where academic excellence flourishes. The school's recent Ofsted inspection recognised this commitment, awarding Outstanding ratings across all key areas.

What distinguishes Mayfield is its unique position as a girls' grammar school that embraces diversity in its sixth form. This approach creates a supportive environment for girls aged 11-16 whilst offering collaborative learning opportunities at A-level. The school's ethos centres on developing confident, articulate young women who are prepared to excel in higher education and beyond.

With over 1,390 students, Mayfield maintains an intimate community feel despite its size. The school's location in Gravesend provides excellent transport links across Kent and into London, making it accessible to families throughout the region whilst offering the benefits of a town-based education with strong community ties.

The 11+ Assessment Process

Entry to Mayfield Grammar School is determined through the Kent Test, a comprehensive assessment designed to identify students with strong academic potential. The examination typically takes place in September of Year 6, allowing families sufficient time to prepare whilst ensuring results are available for secondary school applications.

The Kent Test comprises four key components:

• Mathematics: Numerical reasoning, problem-solving, and mathematical concepts appropriate to Year 6 level
• English: Reading comprehension, vocabulary, and language understanding
• Verbal Reasoning: Logic and reasoning using words, testing analytical thinking
• Non-Verbal Reasoning: Pattern recognition and spatial awareness using shapes and diagrams

Students who achieve the required standard in the Kent Test become eligible for grammar school places. Mayfield Grammar School then allocates places based on proximity to the school and other admissions criteria outlined in their admissions policy.

For families considering Mayfield, it's essential to understand that the school seeks students who will thrive in an academically rigorous environment. The assessment process is designed to identify those who will benefit from the accelerated pace and depth of learning that characterises grammar school education.

How to Apply

Year 7 Admissions

Applications for Year 7 entry must be submitted through Kent County Council's coordinated admissions scheme. The process follows these essential steps:

• Registration: Register for the Kent Test through Kent County Council, typically opening in June
• Testing: Attend the Kent Test in September of Year 6
• Application: Submit secondary school preferences via Kent Choices online portal by the October deadline
• Results: Kent Test results released in October, followed by school place offers in March

Parents should list Mayfield Grammar School among their preferences on the application form. Meeting the Kent Test threshold makes students eligible, with places allocated according to the school's published oversubscription criteria.

Sixth Form Entry

External students seeking sixth form places at Mayfield apply through the Applicaa online system. Entry requirements typically include:

• Minimum six GCSEs at Grade 5 or above
• Specific subject requirements for chosen A-level courses
• Successful interview demonstrating commitment to academic excellence

Current Mayfield students automatically progress to the sixth form, provided they meet academic requirements for their chosen subjects.

Preparing for the Mayfield Grammar School 11+ with Taylor Tuition

Families preparing for the Mayfield Grammar School 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.