Choosing a Secondary School

Choosing the right secondary school is an important decision for children and their families, and we encourage parents and carers to begin exploring the options available while their child is in Year 5.

Every child is different, and families may wish to consider a range of factors when looking at prospective schools, including the school's ethos and values, curriculum, pastoral support, extracurricular opportunities, travel arrangements and, most importantly, where they feel their child will be happy, supported and able to thrive.

Visit Local Secondary Schools

We strongly encourage families to attend secondary school open days and open evenings. Visiting a school provides an invaluable opportunity to experience the school environment, meet staff and pupils, explore the facilities and ask questions.

Open events are also a good opportunity to find out more about transition arrangements, pastoral care, the curriculum, clubs and enrichment opportunities, SEND provision and any individual admissions requirements.

Dates for open days and evenings are usually published on individual secondary school websites. We also regularly share information about local secondary school open events in our weekly Hadlow Primary School newsletter, so please keep an eye on the newsletter for upcoming dates and opportunities.

Start the Conversation Early

We encourage parents and carers to involve their child in the process. Talk together about the schools you have visited, what your child liked, what made them feel comfortable and any questions or concerns they may have.

It can be helpful to visit more than one school, even if you already have a preferred choice. Seeing a range of settings can help families make an informed decision and give children greater confidence about the transition to secondary education.

Check Admissions Information Carefully

Each secondary school has its own admissions arrangements and oversubscription criteria. Parents and carers should read these carefully and should not assume that living close to a school automatically guarantees a place.

Families considering grammar schools should also ensure that they understand the Kent Test registration process and the individual admissions criteria of the grammar schools they are interested in.

We recommend checking the latest information directly with the secondary schools and Kent County Council, as admissions arrangements, deadlines and open-event dates can change from year to year.

Secondary School Admissions Checklist

To help families through the process, we recommend working through the following checklist:

☐ Start researching local secondary schools during Year 5.

☐ Look out for open day and open evening dates on secondary school websites and in the Hadlow Primary School weekly newsletter.

☐ Visit a range of schools with your child where possible.

☐ Talk to your child about what is important to them and where they feel they would be happy and confident.

☐ Read each school's admissions policy and oversubscription criteria carefully.

☐ Check whether your home address falls within any relevant priority or admissions area.

☐ Consider practical arrangements, including the journey to and from school and available transport.

☐ If considering a grammar school, check the Kent Test registration dates and ensure your child is registered before the deadline.

☐ Check whether any schools you are considering require additional or supplementary application forms.

☐ Make a note of the secondary school application deadline and submit your application on time.

☐ Use all available school preferences on your application and list schools in your genuine order of preference.

☐ Keep copies of your application and any supporting documents you submit.

☐ Make a note of National Offer Day and the deadlines for accepting a place, joining waiting lists or making an appeal if required.

Supporting Your Child's Next Step

At Hadlow Primary School, we want the transition to secondary school to be a positive and exciting next step. We will continue to share relevant information, dates and opportunities with families through our weekly newsletter and support our pupils as they prepare for the next stage of their education.

If you are unsure about any aspect of the secondary school transition process, please speak to a member of the Hadlow Primary School team. We are always happy to help families understand the process and signpost them towards the appropriate admissions information.

The Kent Test and Grammar School Admissions

For families considering a grammar school education for their child, entry to most Kent grammar schools is determined through the Kent Test, sometimes referred to as the 11+.

The Kent Test is administered by Kent County Council and is designed to assess whether a grammar school education is considered suitable for a child. Kent grammar schools are intended to provide for children within approximately the top 25% of the ability range.

Kent Test - Kent County Council  

What does the Kent Test involve?

Children complete two multiple-choice test papers:

• English and Mathematics – including comprehension, literacy and mathematical skills.

• Reasoning – including verbal and non-verbal reasoning.

Children also complete a writing exercise. This is not routinely marked but may be considered as part of the Headteacher Assessment process. The test scores are age-standardised to ensure that younger children within the year group are not disadvantaged.

Registering for the Kent Test

Parents and carers are responsible for registering their child for the Kent Test directly with Kent County Council. Registration takes place while children are in Year 5.

For children seeking entry to secondary school in September 2027, registration opened on 1 June 2026 and closed on 1 July 2026. Children attending a Kent primary school took the Kent Test on 10 September 2026, with results being released on 15 October 2026.

Families considering grammar school for future years should always check the latest dates and arrangements directly with Kent County Council, as these are updated annually.

Understanding the Results

Children receive three standardised scores: English, Mathematics and Reasoning, as well as an overall aggregate score.

The required threshold can vary from year to year. For example, for the 2025 Kent Test, children needed an aggregate score of at least 332, with no individual score below 108, to receive a grammar school assessment. The threshold for the 2026 test will be confirmed by Kent County Council when results are released in October 2026.

It is important to understand that receiving a grammar school assessment does not automatically guarantee a place at a particular grammar school. Grammar schools can be oversubscribed and each school has its own admissions and oversubscription criteria. Parents should therefore carefully check the arrangements for each school they are considering.

Choosing a Grammar School

There are a number of grammar schools across Kent, and individual schools may have different admissions criteria relating to factors such as location, priority areas and Kent Test scores.

Families are strongly encouraged to visit prospective secondary schools, attend open events and read each school's admissions policy carefully before submitting their secondary school application.

Further information about the Kent Test, including registration, familiarisation materials, results and grammar school applications, is available from Kent County Council.

Kent County Council – Kent Test information