Maidstone Grammar School for Girls vs The Norton Knatchbull School
Both are grammar schools in Kent, 18.8 miles apart. Side-by-side on official DfE, Ofsted and council admissions data.
Side by side
| Maidstone Grammar School for Girls | The Norton Knatchbull School | |
|---|---|---|
| Phase | Secondary | Secondary |
| Gender | Girls | Boys |
| Pupils on roll | 1,254 | 1,348 |
| Free school meals | 9.6% | 8.5% |
| Ofsted rating | Outstanding | Good |
| Attainment 8 — 2025/26 | 62.7 | 64.2 |
| 11+ test board | GL Assessment | GL Assessment |
| Admission system | pass/fail then criteria order (score doesn't give priority after passing) | pass/fail then criteria order (score doesn't give priority after passing) |
| Places offered — 202627 | 133 | 192 |
| First preferences per place — higher means more competition for a first-preference place | 0.99 | 1.17 |
Qualifying scores
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
332 out of 423 (2026 entry)
Aggregate ≥332 with no single paper below 108. County-wide Kent Test threshold: reaching it earns a 'suitable for grammar school' assessment, NOT a place — each school then applies its own oversubscription criteria, and super-selective schools (The Judd School, Skinners', Tonbridge, Dartford) fill in score order well above the threshold.
The Norton Knatchbull School
332 out of 423 (2026 entry)
Aggregate ≥332 with no single paper below 108. County-wide Kent Test threshold: reaching it earns a 'suitable for grammar school' assessment, NOT a place — each school then applies its own oversubscription criteria, and super-selective schools (The Judd School, Skinners', Tonbridge, Dartford) fill in score order well above the threshold.
Who gets priority
Where a school is oversubscribed, these are the first criteria applied, in order. This is usually what decides an application.
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
- Looked after and previously looked after children
- Girls registered for free school meals in the last six years (Pupil Premium) — supplementary form by 31 October
- A sister or brother at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls or Maidstone Grammar School when the child starts
- Nearness of home to the school (straight line)
Source: school admissions policy.
The Norton Knatchbull School
- Looked after and previously looked after children
- Children eligible for the Pupil Premium
- A brother or sister at the school
- Health and special access reasons
- Nearness of home to the school
Source: school admissions policy.
Choosing between them
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls is a girls school and The Norton Knatchbull School is a boys school, so for many families the starting point is which one can admit their child. The figures on this page are the published ones — they describe intakes and results, not what either school would be like for your child. The right choice depends on your family's own priorities and circumstances.
Other Kent comparisons
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- Barton Court Grammar School vs Dover Grammar School for Boys
- Barton Court Grammar School vs Dover Grammar School for Girls
- Barton Court Grammar School vs Highsted Grammar School
- Barton Court Grammar School vs Highworth Grammar School
- Barton Court Grammar School vs Invicta Grammar School
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