The Parent’s Guide to the Top UK Grammar Schools and Their Entry Requirements

Let me be honest with you: choosing which grammar schools to apply to is one of the most stressful decisions you’ll make in this whole process.

There are so many schools. They all look amazing in their prospectuses. They all have impressive results. How on earth are you supposed to choose?

And here’s the thing that makes it even more complicated: each grammar school has its own character, its own strengths, its own requirements. Getting your child into “a grammar school” isn’t the goal – getting them into the right grammar school for them is.

So let me walk you through the top grammar schools in London and the South-East (because that’s where most of our families at Geek School Tutoring are based), and what makes each one special.

The London Powerhouses

St. Olave’s Grammar School (Orpington)

This is the one everyone talks about. And for good reason – it consistently ranks as one of the top state schools in the country.

What makes it special:
– Exceptional academic results (regularly 95%+ A*-A at A-Level)
– Strong STEM focus
– Competitive, high-achieving environment
– Brilliant university progression (lots of Oxbridge offers)

What you need to know:
– Uses the Bexley Test
– Extremely competitive (hundreds of applicants for around 120 places)
– Catchment area matters for some places
– They’re looking for academically gifted children who can handle pressure

Is it right for your child?
If your child is academically strong, self-motivated, and thrives in a competitive environment, St. Olave’s could be perfect. If they need more hand-holding or find pressure stressful, it might not be the best fit.

We’ve helped dozens of children get into St. Olave’s at Geek School Tutoring, and they’re thriving. But we’ve also steered some families towards other schools that were better matches for their child’s personality.

Henrietta Barnett School (Barnet)

The girls’ grammar school that everyone wants to get into. And it’s not hard to see why.

What makes it special:
– Outstanding academic results
– Strong pastoral care
– Excellent facilities
– Supportive, collaborative culture (less cut-throat than some grammars)
– Brilliant arts and music alongside academics

What you need to know:
– Girls only
– Uses its own entrance exam (not GL or CEM)
– Includes creative writing
– Distance from school matters for admissions
– Extremely competitive (even more so than St. Olave’s in terms of applications per place)

Is it right for your child?
If you have a daughter who’s academically strong but also creative, and who’d thrive in a supportive environment, Henrietta Barnett is brilliant. The culture is less about competition and more about everyone achieving their best.

Wilson’s School (Wallington)

One of the top boys’ grammar schools in London, and for good reason.

What makes it special:
– Consistently excellent results
– Strong sporting tradition alongside academics
– Good balance of academic rigour and pastoral support
– Brilliant for boys who need structure and high expectations

What you need to know:
– Boys only
– Part of the Sutton consortium (two-stage test)
– The first stage is qualifying, the second stage determines which school you’re offered
– Distance matters

Is it right for your child?
Great for boys who are academically capable and respond well to high expectations and structure. The sporting tradition means it’s good for boys who need physical outlets alongside academic work.

The Kent Grammars

Kent has more grammar schools than anywhere else in the country. Here are the standouts:

Tonbridge Grammar School

What makes it special:
– Excellent results
– Strong community feel
– Good balance of academic and extracurricular
– Less pressured than some of the super-selective London grammars

What you need to know:
– Uses the Kent Test
– Boys only
– Good for boys who are bright but might find the pressure of somewhere like St. Olave’s too much

Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys / Girls

Two separate schools, both excellent.

What makes them special:
– Strong academic results
– Good pastoral care
– Nice balance of tradition and modernity
– Strong sense of community

What you need to know:
– Both use the Kent Test
– Separate schools for boys and girls
– Catchment area matters
– Good all-rounders rather than ultra-competitive

Weald of Kent Grammar School (Girls)

One of the top girls’ grammar schools in Kent.

What makes it special:
– Excellent results
– Strong STEM provision
– Good pastoral support
– Collaborative rather than competitive culture

What you need to know:
– Girls only
– Uses Kent Test
– Multiple sites (Tonbridge and Sevenoaks)
– Distance matters for admissions

The Bexley Grammars

Bexley Grammar School

What makes it special:
– Excellent results
– Mixed (boys and girls)
– Strong academic focus
– Good university progression

What you need to know:
– Uses the Bexley Test
– Catchment area is crucial
– Competitive but not as intense as St. Olave’s

Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School

What makes it special:
– Good results
– Mixed school
– Strong sense of community
– Good pastoral care

What you need to know:
– Uses Bexley Test
– Catchment area matters
– Good option for bright children who’d benefit from a slightly less pressured environment

The Sutton Consortium

Sutton has a whole group of grammar schools that use a shared two-stage test.

Nonsuch High School for Girls

One of the top girls’ grammar schools in the country.

What makes it special:
– Outstanding results
– Strong pastoral care
– Excellent facilities
– Supportive culture

What you need to know:
– Girls only
– Two-stage Sutton test
– Extremely competitive
– Distance matters

Wallington County Grammar School

What makes it special:
– Excellent results
– Mixed school
– Strong academic tradition
– Good all-round education

What you need to know:
– Uses Sutton two-stage test
– Catchment area crucial
– Competitive but achievable with good preparation

How to Choose a Grammar School

Here’s what I tell every family: don’t just chase the name at the top of the league table.

Think about:

• Your child’s personality – would they thrive in a highly competitive environment, or do they need more support?
• Their strengths – are they all-rounders, or do they have specific passions the school should support?
• The journey – an hour each way on public transport is exhausting for an 11-year-old
• The culture – visit the schools, talk to current parents, get a feel for whether it’s right for your child
• Your backup plan – what if they don’t get in? Are there good alternatives nearby?

At Geek School Tutoring, we help families think through these questions because we’ve seen what happens when a child gets into the “wrong” grammar school – even a top one – and struggles because it’s not the right fit.

We’ve also seen children thrive at schools that weren’t their first choice, because they turned out to be perfect for them.

The Bottom Line

We’ve helped children get into all of these schools – St. Olave’s, Henrietta Barnett, Wilson’s, the Kent grammars, the Sutton schools, all of them.

Our 100% pass rate for Kent, Bexley, and Medway isn’t because we only take the brightest children. It’s because we prepare them thoroughly and help families choose schools that are genuinely right for their child.

Book a £5 assessment with us today, and let’s talk about which grammar schools would be right for your child and how we can help them get there. We’ve got centres in Beckenham and Lewisham, plus online tuition available.

Because getting into a top grammar school is brilliant. But getting into the right grammar school for your child? That’s what really matters.

Joycellyn
Managing Director, Geek School Tutoring