Apply to Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys, in plain English.
TWGSB is a boys' grammar school maintained by Kent County Council. Entry requires the Kent 11+ (PESE). With 300 places, it is one of Kent's largest grammars. Places are allocated by a tiered system: boys living within 3 miles of school are prioritised (after LAC, siblings and medical), followed by boys in 34 named parishes, then everyone else. Within each tier, distance decides — closest boys rank highest.
The three things to know first.
If you read nothing else on this page, read these. They're the bits that catch parents out.
Living within 3 miles gives your son criterion 4 priority — but distance still decides within that ring.
Boys who live within 3 straight-line miles of the school gate are placed in criterion 4, ahead of boys in the named parishes and ahead of everyone else. But within criterion 4, places still go to the closest boys first. If more boys within 3 miles pass the 11+ than there are places available, the boys who live closest will be offered. Living just inside the 3-mile boundary does not guarantee a place — exact distance matters throughout.
Pupil Premium does not give your son a separate criterion here — it is only a tiebreaker.
At many Kent grammars, PP-eligible children have their own oversubscription criterion. At TWGSB, PP is not a standalone criterion. PP-eligible boys compete in the same criterion tier as all other boys, ranked by distance. PP is only applied as a final tiebreaker when two boys in the same criterion are measured at exactly the same distance from school. Submit the PP Supplementary Information Form to the school by 31 October 2026 if applicable.
The named parish criterion only helps boys who live more than 3 miles away.
Criterion 5 covers boys in any of the 34 named civil parishes — but only if they live more than 3 miles from school. A boy who lives 1.5 miles away in a named parish falls into criterion 4 (within 3 miles), which takes priority over criterion 5. If your son is outside the 3-mile ring, check whether your address is in one of the 34 named parishes — civil parishes often differ from postal towns or district boundaries.
Five steps — starting with the Kent 11+.
From registering for the test to your son starting Year 7. Steps 3 and 4 both have 31 October deadlines.
If too many boys pass the 11+, these criteria decide.
Children with an EHCP naming TWGSB are admitted before these criteria apply. All other qualifying boys are placed in the highest criterion that applies to them. Within each criterion, closest boys rank first. Tap any criterion to read the detail.
In plain English: Boys currently or previously in council care (including those internationally adopted from state care) who pass the Kent 11+ are admitted first, 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: Boys who have a brother attending TWGSB in Years 7 to 13 at the start of the September term are given second priority. Half-brothers and step-brothers living at the same address are included. Within this group, closest boys 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 at the start of the academic year, ranked by distance, closest first.
In plain English: Boys with a serious medical or social need that means they must attend this particular school. You need written evidence (letters from doctors, consultants or social workers) explaining why TWGSB specifically — not just any grammar school — is required. A general preference for the school does not meet this criterion.
What the document says: Children for whom there is a compelling medical or social reason why they need to attend this school. Written evidence must be submitted with the application explaining why this school is necessary.
In plain English: Boys whose home is within 3 straight-line miles of the school rank in criterion 4. Within this group, closest boys rank first. With 300 places, TWGSB is large enough that the 3-mile ring often fills many or all available places — but it is not automatic. Whether your son is 0.5 miles or 2.9 miles away, his exact distance determines his rank against every other boy in criterion 4.
What the document says: Children who live within 3 miles (straight line, NLPG) of the school, ranked by distance, closest first.
In plain English: Boys who live more than 3 miles from school but within one of 34 named civil parishes rank in criterion 5. Within this group, closest boys rank first. This criterion covers the broader area that the school has historically served. You need to verify which civil parish your address falls in — civil parishes often differ from postal town names, so an online look-up is advisable.
What the document says: Children residing in the named civil parishes who live more than 3 miles from the school, ranked by distance, closest first.
In plain English: Boys who live more than 3 miles from school and outside all 34 named parishes. Because TWGSB has 300 places — one of Kent's largest grammars — this criterion is sometimes reached. Boys here are ranked by distance and are admitted when earlier criteria are not oversubscribed enough to fill all 300 places.
What the document says: All other children who meet the selection requirements, ranked by distance, closest first.
Closer to school = higher rank within your criterion.
TWGSB is distance-ranked. Once your son qualifies by passing the 11+, his rank within each criterion is determined by how far he lives from school — nothing else. A boy with the maximum test score who lives further away ranks below a boy with the minimum qualifying score who lives closer. Score is irrelevant to ranking. The tier structure (3-mile ring → named parishes → everywhere else) determines which group your son competes in, and within that group, distance decides.
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 boys in criterion 4 — the closer one ranks higher.
Both boys live within 3 miles of school and passed the 11+. Boy B is further away at 1.8 miles. Boy A lives 1.2 miles away — so he ranks higher in criterion 4. Test score makes no difference once the qualifying threshold is passed.
Joining Year 12 — GCSE grades gate each A-level subject.
TWGSB's sixth form has a total Year 12 PAN of 200 (400 across Years 12 and 13 combined). Internal Year 11 students have priority. External applicants must meet minimum GCSE thresholds before any subject-specific requirements apply.
48+ points from best 8 GCSEs — plus subject minimums.
External applicants need at least 48 points from their best 8 GCSE grades (on the 1–9 scale, so 48 ÷ 8 = average grade 6). Grade 5 or above in both English Language and Maths is required. Each A-level subject also has its own minimum: grade 7+ to study Maths A-level, and grade 6+ for all other A-level subjects.
Internal students transfer first — then external places open.
The Year 12 PAN is 200, with the total sixth form capped at 400 (Years 12 and 13 combined). Internal Year 11 students who meet the entry requirements are allocated places first. External places are whatever remains once internal students have been accommodated. Apply directly to the school by the published sixth form deadline.
See the school website 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 son to the TWGSB 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 can move above your son if they live closer or hold a higher criterion.
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.