Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys vs Wilmington Grammar School for Boys
Both are grammar schools in Kent, 19.4 miles apart. Side-by-side on official DfE, Ofsted and council admissions data.
Side by side
| Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys | Wilmington Grammar School for Boys | |
|---|---|---|
| Phase | Secondary | Secondary |
| Gender | Boys | Boys |
| Pupils on roll | 1,875 | 1,174 |
| Free school meals | 5.5% | 10.1% |
| Ofsted rating | Not published | Good |
| Attainment 8 — 2025/26 | 64.5 | 67.6 |
| 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 | 300 | 180 |
| First preferences per place — higher means more competition for a first-preference place | 0.99 | 0.99 |
Qualifying scores
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
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.
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys
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.
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
- Looked after and previously looked after children
- A brother attending the school when the child starts
- Health and special access reasons
- Boys living within 3 miles of the school — nearest first
- Boys living in the named parishes (including Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Southborough, Pembury, Edenbridge, Hildenborough and others) — nearest first
- All other boys — nearest first (straight line)
Source: school admissions policy.
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys
- Looked after and previously looked after children
- A sibling at the school or at Wilmington Grammar School for Girls
- Children of staff
- Boys living within 1.5 miles or in the listed parishes
- Boys living in the named parishes and wards (Pupil Premium boys first)
- Other Pupil Premium boys living within 3 miles
Source: school admissions policy.
Choosing between them
Both schools admit boys, so the decision usually comes down to the admission criteria above and how far each one reaches. 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 Dane Court Grammar School
- 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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