Apply to Highsted Grammar School, in plain English.
Highsted Grammar is a girls' grammar school in Sittingbourne. Like nearby Borden, it offers a dual test route — Kent PESE or Highsted's own computer-based assessment. With a relatively simple structure of 4 criteria, distance ultimately decides most places. The one critical thing to know: the PP SIF deadline is 31 January — three months after the school application deadline — which is unlike almost every other Kent grammar.
The three things to know first.
If you read nothing else on this page, read these. They're the bits that catch parents out.
The PP SIF deadline is 31 January 2027 — not 31 October. It comes after you have already applied.
At almost every other Kent grammar, the Pupil Premium Supplementary Information Form must be submitted by 31 October — the same day as the school application. At Highsted, the PP SIF deadline is 31 January 2027. This means you submit your SCAF listing Highsted by 31 October, then separately send the PP SIF to the school by 31 January — three months later, before the March offer. If your daughter is PP-eligible and lives in ME9/ME10/ME11/ME12, do not mistake the October date for the PP SIF deadline.
Two equal test routes: Highsted's computer-based assessment or the Kent PESE. One is enough.
Highsted runs its own optional Highsted Procedure — a computer-based test (verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, plus an English paper) held on a Saturday in September, shortly after the Kent Test. To enter it, register with the school between 1 June and 30 June 2026. Your daughter can qualify through the Kent PESE alone, the Highsted Procedure alone, or both. Both routes carry equal weight. There is no SIF required to sit the Highsted Procedure.
PP criterion priority only applies to girls in ME9, ME10, ME11, or ME12 postcodes.
The second oversubscription criterion at Highsted is restricted to girls who are both PP-eligible (FSM in the last 6 years, excluding Universal Infant FSM) and live in postcodes ME9, ME10, ME11, or ME12. A PP-eligible girl living outside these postcodes does not qualify for criterion 2 and competes in criterion 4 (distance) alongside all other girls. Check your postcode before assuming PP priority applies.
Five steps — note the PP SIF deadline falls in January, not October.
The Highsted Procedure registration closes at the end of June — before the Kent Test. If you want both routes open, register for Highsted's test first.
If too many girls qualify, these four criteria decide.
Children with an EHCP naming Highsted are admitted before these criteria apply. All other qualifying girls are placed in the highest criterion that applies to them. Within each criterion, closest girls rank first. Tap any criterion to read the detail.
In plain English: Girls currently or previously in council care (including those internationally adopted from state care) who qualify by passing either test receive the highest priority, regardless of where they live.
What the document says: Looked After Children, Previously Looked After Children and Internationally Adopted Previously Looked After Children who have met the selection requirements.
In plain English: Girls who are PP-eligible (FSM in the last 6 years, excluding Universal Infant FSM) and live in postcodes ME9, ME10, ME11, or ME12 receive second priority. Both conditions must be met — postcode alone or PP eligibility alone is not sufficient. Within this group, closest girls rank first. Submit the Supplementary Information Form to the school by 31 January 2027 — this is an unusually late deadline and comes three months after the SCAF application date.
What the document says: Children eligible for Pupil Premium (FSM in the last 6 years, excluding UIFSM) who are resident in ME9, ME10, ME11 or ME12, ranked by distance. SIF to school by 31 January 2027.
In plain English: Girls who have a sister attending Highsted Grammar in Years 7 to 13 at the start of the September term are given third priority. There is no postcode restriction on this criterion — siblings from outside ME9/ME10/ME11/ME12 still qualify. Half-sisters and step-sisters at the same address are included. Within this group, closest girls rank first.
What the document says: Children who have a sibling (including half and step siblings at the same address) attending the school in Years 7–13, ranked by distance.
In plain English: All other qualifying girls — anyone not admitted under criteria 1, 2, or 3 — compete for remaining places ranked by distance from school, closest first. This is the main criterion for most applicants. Unlike Borden Grammar (which divides distance by postcode tiers), Highsted uses a single distance ranking for all girls not in earlier criteria. There are no Traditional School Area sub-tiers — it is purely how far you live from school.
What the document says: All other children who have met the selection requirements, ranked by distance from the school, closest first.
Closer to school = higher rank — no postcode tiers in the main criterion.
Highsted is distance-ranked. Once your daughter qualifies by passing either test, her rank in criterion 4 (the main criterion for most applicants) is determined entirely by how far she lives from school — closest first. Unlike the nearby Borden Grammar, which uses Traditional School Area postcode tiers, Highsted's criterion 4 is a single distance ranking. All girls outside criteria 1–3 compete in the same pool, regardless of postcode. Score has no bearing on ranking beyond the qualifying threshold.
Distance is measured in a straight line from the address point of your home (from 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.) to a fixed point on the school site.
See the approximate catchment on the GrammarBound mapTwo girls in criterion 4 — the closer one ranks higher, regardless of postcode.
Both girls are in criterion 4 and have qualified. Girl A is 1.3 miles from school — she ranks higher than Girl B at 2.1 miles. Postcode and test score make no difference in criterion 4; only distance counts.
Joining Year 12 — open to boys and girls. 20 external places.
Highsted's sixth form admits both girls and boys from external schools. 20 external places are available. Internal Year 11 students have priority. Entry requires a minimum of 6 GCSEs at grade 5 or above.
6 GCSEs at grade 5+ including English and Maths — plus subject minimums.
External applicants need at least 6 GCSEs at grade 5 or above, including both English Language and Maths. Each A-level subject has its own additional entry threshold: typically grade 6 or above in the relevant GCSE subject. Check the school's sixth form prospectus for specific subject requirements.
Internal students prioritised — apply directly to the school.
The total Year 12 PAN is 150. Internal Year 11 students who meet entry requirements are allocated first. 20 external places are available for boys and girls from other schools. Apply directly to the sixth form at Highsted. Contact the school for the current application deadline and process.
See highsted.kent.sch.uk for the sixth form prospectus and subject entry requirements.
You have two routes, and you can use both.
Waiting list
Ask your council to add your daughter to the Highsted Grammar waiting list after National Offer Day. The list is re-ranked each time a new child joins, using the same distance-based criteria. A late addition who lives closer can move above your daughter's position.
Appeal
Lodge an appeal with the school within 20 school days of your refusal letter. An independent panel hears the case. Appealing does not affect your position on the waiting list.