Apply to Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School, in plain English.
CCGS is a mixed selective grammar in Ramsgate, split across three sites: Chatham Street (Y7–9), Clarendon Gardens (Y10–11) and the CCVI Sixth Form Centre. Entry to Year 7 requires the Kent 11+ (PESE). When there are more applicants than places, 7 tiers decide — including a defined area covering Thanet plus the Whitstable/Herne Bay/Reculver coast.
The three things to know first.
If you read nothing else on this page, read these. They're the bits that catch parents out.
Your child needs the Kent 11+ (PESE).
Only pupils who reach the required Kent Test standard — normally around the 75th percentile of ability or above — are eligible for Year 7 at CCGS. In-year applicants who didn't sit the Kent Test take the school's own test (three multiple-choice papers, standardized age score 110+ in each of Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths skills).
You apply through your council, by 31 October 2026.
List CCGS on your council's SCAFSecondary Common Application FormThe single form you submit to your home council listing up to six schools in order of preference. by 31 October 2026. If you're applying under Health/Special Access, PP or Service Premium, return the school's Supplementary Information Form to the Admission Registrar within 10 school days of that national deadline.
There's a defined area covering Thanet plus parts of the north Kent coast.
Criterion 6 is for children living in Thanet, Broomfield, Chestfield, Herne, Herne Bay, Reculver, Swalecliffe or Whitstable. A map in the school's policy shows the exact boundary. If your home is inside the area you sit above tier 7 (which is everyone else).
Five steps, spread over a year.
From registering for the test to your child starting Year 7. Step 4 has a slightly later deadline than the national 31 October — 10 school days after it for the SIF.
If too many pupils pass the 11+, these 7 tiers decide.
EHCPs naming the school are admitted first (reducing the 180 PAN). Every other eligible child is sorted into the highest tier that applies. Within each tier, children are ranked by straight-line distance — closest first. Tap any tier to see the document's exact wording.
In plain English: Children currently in council care, or who left care via adoption, child arrangements or special guardianship orders — including those adopted from state care outside England.
What the document says: A looked after child is a child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (see the definition in Section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989) at the time of making an application to a school. A previously looked after child means such children who were adopted (or subject to child arrangements orders or special guardianship orders) immediately following having been looked after and those children who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
In plain English: Children with a demonstrable medical, health, social or special-access need that means CCGS in particular is the right school. Written evidence from a qualified medical or other practitioner is required, showing a special connection to CCGS. The Headteacher and Admission Registrar decide whether to accept the application under this criterion.
What the document says: Medical, health and special access reasons will be applied in accordance with the school's legal obligations, in particular those under the Equality Act 2010. Priority will be given to those children whose mental or physical impairment means they have a demonstrable and significant need to attend a particular school. Such claims will need to be supported by written evidence from a suitably qualified medical practitioner or other practitioner who can demonstrate a special connection between these needs and the School.
In plain English: Children eligible for Pupil Premium or Service Premium (funded under section 14 of the Childcare Act 2006 where the current school receives the payment). Send the SIF with proof to the Admission Registrar within 10 school days of 31 October, and attach a letter from the current school confirming PP/SP status.
What the document says: Students who are eligible for additional funding paid annually to schools under section 14 of the Childcare Act 2006 and the current school is in receipt of the payment. To be considered under this criterion, please complete and submit a supplementary form, with your evidence, as required.
In plain English: If your child will have a brother or sister (including step- or foster-siblings) already at CCGS in September 2027 — across any of the three sites — they get sibling priority.
What the document says: Eligible students with a current family association. Children who live as brother or sister in the same house, including natural brothers or sisters, adopted siblings, step brothers or sisters and foster brothers and sisters AND who are attending the School at the time the applicant will start.
In plain English: If a parent has been employed at CCGS on a permanent contract for 2 or more years, or has been recruited within the last 2 years to fill a skill-shortage vacancy, your child gets priority here. The child must live in the same household as the staff member, full or part time.
What the document says: The member of staff must be employed on a permanent contract and either have been a) employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission is made; and/or b) recruited to fill a vacant post at the school, within the last two years for which there was a demonstrable skill shortage. The child must live in the same household as the member of staff either full or part time and includes natural, adopted/fostered and step children.
In plain English: Children living anywhere in Thanet or in the named north-Kent-coast settlements. A map of the exact boundary is in the school's policy — contact the Admission Registrar if you're uncertain whether your address falls within this area. Within this tier, ranked by straight-line distance.
What the document says: Eligible students who live within Thanet; Broomfield; Chestfield; Herne; Herne Bay; Reculver; Swalecliffe and Whitstable. A map of the above areas is attached. Please contact the Admission Registrar if you are in anyway uncertain as to whether your address falls within this criterion.
In plain English: Anyone who passed the Kent Test (or the school's in-year test) but doesn't qualify under tiers 1–6. Ranked by straight-line distance to the school. If two homes have the same address point (e.g. a block of flats), or the same distance and equal eligibility on the last place, a verified random draw decides.
What the document says: All other eligible students. Within each criterion students will be ranked in order of those living closest to the school. Where more than one child has the same address eg a block of flats having a single address point reference or each child of a multiple birth family, or have the same distance from the school and in all other ways have equal eligibility, the names will be issued a number and drawn randomly to decide each child's ranked number.
Straight line, not driving time.
Inside each tier — and again to fill the last few places — CCGS uses the straight-line distance between your home and a fixed point at the Chatham Street site in Ramsgate. Routes, bus times and travel difficulty are not considered. The defined area boundary (criterion 6) acts as a hard split between tier 6 and tier 7.
Distance uses the National Land and Property GazetteerNLPGThe official UK address database. Distance is measured as a straight line between two address points: your home and a fixed point at the school. address point. For new-build homes not yet in that database, KCC uses planning coordinates.
See the approximate catchment on the GrammarBound mapThe defined area beats raw distance.
Both children passed the Kent Test, neither claims PP/SP, neither has a sibling at the school, neither parent is staff, neither has medical priority. Child A lives in the defined area (Thanet plus the named north-Kent settlements) and competes in tier 6. Child B lives outside the area in tier 7. Inside each tier, distance still ranks the applicants — but the boundary keeps Child A in front.
Three-site sixth form at the CCVI Centre, Cavendish Street.
Total Year 12 cohort is 250; minimum external PAN is 40. The school may enroll above 40 if there are sufficient spaces on the particular combination of courses requested.
Two 6s and three 5s, plus subject criteria.
Minimum: two grade 6s and three grade 5s at GCSE. Subject-specific requirements are detailed in the Sixth Form prospectus. Applications close on Friday 12 February 2027 for September 2027 entry.
Internal first, then highest GCSE average.
Priority order: (1) Internal applicants (current CCGS Y11), (2) External applicants. Within each category, if a particular course is over-subscribed, priority goes to the candidate with the highest average GCSE points score. A place may be offered where an applicant has extenuating circumstances for not meeting the required GCSE results.
Apply via the Kentchoices4U or UCAS Progress website. Conditional offers are confirmed once GCSE results are confirmed in August 2027.
You have two routes, and you can use both.
Waiting list
The waiting list for each year is maintained until 31 August 2028. Should a place become available, the 7 oversubscription criteria are used to determine allocation.
Appeal
Right of appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel. Complete the appeal form via the Year 7 Kent Co-Ordinated Scheme, or write a letter, and send to the Admission Registrar by the date in the appeal timetable (published on the school's website by 28 February). An appeal may take up to 30 school days to arrange.
Apply via Kent's In-Year Common Application Form (IYCAF). If your child hasn't taken the Kent Test, they sit the school's admission test (Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Maths — minimum aggregated standardized score of 110 in each). Test results remain valid for a full calendar year. If your child has already taken the Dane Court Grammar in-year test within the same academic year, CCGS will accept that result and apply its own standard.