Apply to The Rochester Grammar School, in plain English.
Rochester Grammar (RGS) is a girls' grammar school in the Thinking Schools Academy Trust (TSAT). Entry uses the Medway Test. The school has a unique criterion (4th priority) for girls attending a TSAT Medway primary school. PP-eligible girls should return a SIF to the school by 31 October 2026.
The three things to know first.
If you read nothing else on this page, read these.
Medway Test — register through Medway Council, not KCC.
RGS uses the Medway Test run by Medway Council. It is entirely separate from the Kent PESE. Register through Medway Council's admissions website. Results come out in October, before the CAF deadline. If your daughter wants to apply to both Kent and Medway grammar schools, she must sit both tests separately.
PP priority: submit a SIF to the school by 31 October 2026.
PP-eligible girls (including FSM, looked-after history, and armed forces families — see criterion 2) get second priority after LAC. To claim this, a Supplementary Information Form must be submitted to the school by 31 October 2026. Without a SIF, your daughter will not be considered under criterion 2.
TSAT Medway primary school pupils get 4th-priority — before staff and distance.
Girls currently attending one of four TSAT Medway primary schools (New Horizons, Gordon, All Faiths, Cedars) get priority above staff children and distance. This is criterion 4. There is no limit on the number of places that can be filled under this criterion. The TSAT link reflects the schools' shared trust, Thinking Schools Academy Trust.
Five steps — starting with the Medway Test.
If more girls pass than there are places, these 7 criteria decide.
Only girls who passed the Medway Test are eligible. Places are allocated in this order. Tap any criterion to see the exact wording.
In plain English: Girls currently or previously in council care who passed the Medway Test get the highest priority.
What the document says: Looked-after children and all previously looked-after children who have met the selection requirements.
In plain English: PP includes: children currently on FSM; children who have been on FSM at any point in the last six years; children of regular UK Armed Forces; and children of ex-forces personnel who left within the last three years; and children whose parent died while serving. A SIF must be submitted to the school by 31 October 2026 to claim this criterion.
What the document says: Children eligible for Pupil Premium, including: current FSM, FSM in last 6 years, regular Armed Forces, ex-Armed Forces (left within 3 years), parent killed in service. SIF to the school by 31 October required.
In plain English: Girls who have a sibling (sister or otherwise qualifying sibling) currently at RGS who will still be at the school in September 2027.
What the document says: A sibling attending the school at the time of application and expected to be at the school at the time of entry.
In plain English: Girls currently attending one of the four TSAT Medway primary schools — New Horizons Primary Academy, Gordon Primary School, All Faiths Children's Academy, or Cedars Primary Academy — get 4th priority, ahead of staff children and distance. This reflects the shared trust between these primaries and RGS.
What the document says: Children currently attending a TSAT primary school in Medway: New Horizons Primary Academy, Gordon Primary School, All Faiths Children's Academy, Cedars Primary Academy.
In plain English: Girls whose parent or carer has been employed at RGS for at least 2 continuous years, or was recruited to fill a role where there was a demonstrable skill shortage.
What the document says: Children of members of staff employed at the school for two or more years, or recruited to fill a vacancy for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
In plain English: Children for whom a health or medical reason makes attendance at RGS specifically necessary. Written evidence from a GP or consultant is required — a parental statement is not sufficient.
What the document says: Children for whom there are compelling health reasons for attending the school, supported by written evidence from a GP or consultant.
In plain English: Girls who live closest to the school (shortest road route) get priority. Distance is measured by Medway Council's GIS system. If two children live exactly equidistant and there is only one place remaining, both are offered a place (both are admitted above the Published Admission Number).
What the document says: Distance measured by shortest route using Medway Council's GIS. In the event of a tie at the last place, both children will be admitted.
Shortest road route — Medway Council GIS.
Distance is the 7th and final criterion — it only applies when all earlier criteria (LAC, PP, sibling, TSAT primaries, staff, health) leave two or more girls equal and one place remains. Medway Council measures the shortest available road route from the home address to the school entrance using their GIS mapping system. Road distance, not straight-line. The admissions document notes that if two children are exactly equidistant at the last place, both are admitted above the PAN.
Home address is your child's permanent address at the time of application. If parents live at different addresses, the address where the child spends the majority of the school week is used. Proof of residency may be requested.
See the approximate catchment on the GrammarBound mapTwo criterion-7 girls: the closer one gets the place.
Both girls passed the Medway Test but neither has LAC, PP, sibling, TSAT primary, staff, or health priority. Both reach criterion 7 (distance). Child A's road route measures 1.2 miles; Child B's measures 2.8 miles by Medway GIS. Child A is closer and is offered the last place.
Joining Year 12 from outside.
Rochester Grammar recruits at least 20 external students into Year 12 each September. Applications close 1 October and offers are made on GCSE results day.
Academic requirements
You need at least 4 GCSEs at grades 6–9, including at least grade 5 in both Maths and English (Language or Literature). Individual A-level subject requirements will also apply.
How to apply
At least 20 external places available. Apply directly to the school by 1 October 2026. Offers are conditional and made on GCSE results day only. Sixth form oversubscription order: LAC → TSAT Medway secondary (Holcombe, Victory) → Sibling → Staff (2+ years) → Health → Distance.
Visit rochestergrammar.org.uk for the application form.
You have two routes, and you can use both.
Waiting list
The waiting list is maintained in the same 7-criterion order and re-ranked when new names are added. Only girls who passed the Medway Test can be added to the Year 7 waiting list.
Appeal
Contact the school to request an Appeal Form. Appeals are heard by an independent panel and do not affect your waiting-list position.