Wilmington Grammar School for Boys: 11+ Guide for Parents 2026

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Wilmington Grammar School for Boys (WGSB) is a selective boys' grammar school in Wilmington, Dartford, Kent, with a published admission number of 180 for September 2027 entry, through the Kent Test. To be considered for a place, your child must be assessed as suitable for grammar school in the Kent Test. Kent County Council's threshold for the 2025 test was a total score of 332 or more with no single score below 108, and the threshold for the 2026 test is published in October 2026. For 2027 entry, Kent Test registration opened on 1 June 2026 and closed on 1 July 2026, the tests took place in September 2026, and results are emailed on 15 October 2026 if you gave an email address (otherwise posted). This guide covers the admissions process — the test format, the qualifying threshold, how places are allocated, the key dates, and how to prepare effectively — so that Dartford and Kent families can approach the process with confidence.

Wilmington Grammar School for Boys (WGSB): Overview

Wilmington Grammar School for Boys is a selective academy located at Common Lane, Wilmington, Dartford, DA2 7DA, within the Endeavour Multi-Academy Trust. The school has served the Dartford and surrounding Kent communities for decades. It educates pupils aged 11 to 18 and operates a collaborative sixth form — WG6 — jointly with Wilmington Grammar School for Girls, making Sixth Form provision co-educational.

The school's results are strong on the DfE's April 2026 measures. For pupils who completed Key Stage 4 in the summer of 2025, WGSB's Attainment 8 score is 64.6, compared with 46.7 for Kent and 46.1 for all state schools in England. In the same data, 90.0% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs, compared with 47.0% in Kent.

The school was last inspected by Ofsted in March 2023. WGSB partners with Atom Learning to provide students who are eligible for Pupil Premium with free online learning and 11+ exam preparation. For an overview of all Kent grammar schools and how WGSB compares, see our Kent Grammar Schools Guide 2026.

How Does the Kent Test Work?

The Kent Test is the standardised entrance examination used by grammar schools across Kent to identify pupils suitable for selective education. It is taken in September of Year 6 — the September before your child's intended Year 7 start date; for September 2027 entry, that was September 2026. All Kent grammar schools, including WGSB, use the same test, which means your child only needs to sit it once regardless of how many Kent grammar schools you list on the Secondary Common Application Form.

The test consists of two papers and a short writing task:

Paper 1: English and Maths. This paper is split into two 30-minute sections. The English section involves a comprehension exercise as well as some additional questions drawn from a set designed to test literacy skills. The Kent Test papers are multiple-choice questions with a separate answer sheet, marked by a computer. Each section includes a 5-minute practice exercise before the 25-minute test begins.

Paper 2: Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. This paper has a verbal reasoning section and a non-verbal reasoning section. The non-verbal reasoning is split into short sections, administered and timed individually. The paper lasts about 1 hour including its practice sections, and the verbal and non-verbal sections are of roughly the same length.

Writing Task. There is also a writing exercise, with 40 minutes allowed (including 10 minutes for planning). It is not marked, but may be used by a local headteacher panel as part of the headteacher assessment stage of the process.

Your child receives three standardised scores — one for English, one for Maths, one for reasoning — each converted to a scale running from 69 (lowest) to 141 (highest). The maximum combined total is therefore 423. These standardised scores are age-adjusted, meaning children born later in the academic year are not disadvantaged compared to older pupils in the same Year 6 cohort. For a deeper understanding of how these scores are calculated and what they mean, our guide to 11+ standardised scores explained covers the mechanics in full.

The Kent Test Threshold: Qualifying for WGSB Entry

To be considered for a Year 7 place at Wilmington Grammar School for Boys, your child must be assessed as suitable for grammar school in the Kent Test. Kent County Council's grammar school threshold for the 2025 test was a total score of 332 or more across the three standardised scores, with no single score lower than 108; the threshold for the 2026 test is published in October 2026. A high overall total does not offset a low score in one area — a child who scored 141 in both English and Maths but only 100 in reasoning would not have met the 2025 threshold, even though their combined total would be 382.

It is essential to understand that qualifying for the school does not guarantee a place. With a published admission number of 180 and a school that describes itself as consistently oversubscribed, being assessed as suitable does not guarantee an offer on National Offer Day. The school's oversubscription criteria (explained in the next section) determine which qualifying boys are offered places when demand exceeds supply.

The practical implication is that, once your child has been assessed as suitable, the offer depends on the school's oversubscription criteria. The Governor Places criterion refers to Kent Test performance (excluding the maths test) for boys living within 5 miles of the school; the other criteria refer to care status, siblings, staff, where you live and Pupil Premium eligibility.

How Are Places Allocated at Wilmington Grammar?

When more boys meet the qualifying standard than there are places available — which is typical every year at WGSB — the school applies oversubscription criteria to determine who receives an offer. Understanding these criteria is just as important as understanding the test itself, because a child's address and family circumstances significantly affect their chances of receiving a place even after they have qualified.

The oversubscription criteria, in priority order, are as follows. First priority goes to looked-after children and previously looked-after children. Second priority goes to boys who have a sibling attending either WGSB or Wilmington Grammar School for Girls when the child starts. Third priority is for children of staff at the school — where the member of staff has been employed there for two or more years when the application is made, or has been recruited to fill a post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. Fourth priority consists of 18 Governor Places — up to 10% of the admission number, awarded to boys who have shown exceptional performance in the Kent Test (excluding the maths test) and who live within 5 miles of the school. Families whose child has shown exceptional performance in the Kent Test and lives within 5 miles of the school should be aware of this route.

Fifth priority goes to boys living either within 1.5 miles of the school or within a list of named parishes and wards, with priority within that area for children eligible for Pupil Premium. The parishes and wards listed in the policy are Ash Cum Ridley, Badgers Mount, Bean, Crockenhill, Darenth, Dartford, Dunton Green, Eynsford, Farningham, Fawkham, Halstead, Hartley, Hextable, Horton Kirby & South Darenth, Istead Rise, Cobham & Luddesdown (ward), Kemsing, Longfield & New Barn, Meopham, Otford, Shoreham, Southfleet, Stanstead, Stone, Sutton at Hone & Hawley, Swanley, Swanscombe & Greenhithe, West Kingsdown, Wilmington, Wrotham and the Unparished Area of Ebbsfleet. Sixth priority is for other Pupil Premium children — those registered for free school meals at any point in the last 6 years — who live within 3 miles of the school. Seventh priority is all other eligible boys, ranked by the straight-line distance from home to school, with those living closest ranked highest. Some families must also send the school a Supplementary Form by 31 October 2026: those with a child at WGSB or Wilmington Grammar School for Girls, and those whose child has been registered for free school meals in the last 6 years and who live within the named parishes or a 3 mile radius of the school.

What Are the Key Dates for the 2026 Kent Test (2027 Entry)?

The Kent Test for September 2027 entry took place in September 2026, and registration closed on 1 July 2026. If your child did not register, Kent County Council asks you to email kent.admissions@kent.gov.uk with your child's name, date of birth, full address and current school, and it will then confirm the next steps. Here are the key dates for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle:

One important logistical note: registration for the Kent Test was handled by Kent County Council and closed on 1 July 2026. If you live outside Kent, Kent County Council's advice is to register your child for testing only if you intend to apply for a place at a Kent grammar school. You can also check the 11+ exam dates 2026-2027 timetable for a cross-school comparison of key admissions dates across grammar schools.

If your child is assessed as suitable for grammar school, you name WGSB on your Secondary Common Application Form — the standard secondary school application form submitted to your home local authority — by Monday 2 November 2026. You do not apply directly to WGSB. If you live outside Kent, you still name WGSB on your home local authority's application form, alongside your other preferences. Admission to Year 7 at WGSB is co-ordinated by Kent County Council.

How Should Your Child Prepare for the Kent Test?

Effective Kent Test preparation requires a structured, long-term approach that develops skills in all three assessed areas — English, Maths, and reasoning — while also building the timing and exam technique needed to perform well under test conditions. Kent County Council describes the Kent Test as designed to assess whether grammar school is a suitable option for your child. Preparation should therefore go beyond repetition of facts and focus on developing flexible thinking across all three areas.

When to start. We suggest beginning structured 11+ preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5. Starting in Year 4 allows for a gradual, low-pressure build that develops reasoning skills and extends vocabulary without the stress of an imminent test. Families who begin in Year 5 (September of the year before the test) still have adequate time with a focused programme but will typically need to work more consistently. Starting in Year 6 — the September of the test year — is possible but leaves limited time for any significant skill development, particularly in verbal and non-verbal reasoning which require extended practice to improve.

English preparation. Reading widely and regularly is one of the most useful ways to prepare for the English section of the Kent Test. A child who reads a broad range of fiction and non-fiction — across different genres, authors, and periods — will develop the comprehension skills, vocabulary, and inferential reading that the test demands. Beyond reading, targeted practice with comprehension questions, vocabulary extension (synonyms, antonyms, word meanings in context), and grammar and punctuation exercises all directly support the English paper. Encourage your child to look up words they do not know and to discuss what they read rather than passively consuming text.

Maths preparation. Your child's school maths learning provides the foundation for the Maths section. Practising how to read, interpret and apply mathematical knowledge under time pressure is worthwhile. Particular areas to focus on include times tables (rapid recall), fractions and percentages, ratio and proportion, problem-solving with multiple steps, and data interpretation from tables and graphs. Our 11+ Maths tuition programme covers all of these areas in a structured sequence.

Verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Verbal reasoning involves identifying patterns in sequences of letters, numbers, and words; completing analogies; identifying coded relationships; and selecting words that share properties. Non-verbal reasoning tests visual pattern recognition, spatial awareness, and the ability to identify sequences and relationships between shapes and diagrams. Both require your child to learn a set of question types systematically, then practise them extensively under time conditions.

Mock papers and timing. As the September test approaches, timed mock papers become essential. They help your child become familiar with the format, build the stamina required to stay focused across two papers, and identify which question types cause the most difficulty. The goal is not simply to practise but to review every error, understand why the correct answer is right, and revisit the underlying skill if necessary. Completing several full timed mock papers in the summer term before the test is a reasonable target. For general guidance on exam preparation timeline, see our 11+ preparation timeline from Year 4 to Year 6.

Familiarisation materials. WGSB partners with Atom Learning to provide free familiarisation materials for Pupil Premium families. These are available through the school's website by completing a short form confirming eligibility. For all families, Kent County Council publishes a Kent Test familiarisation paper and links to a range of free familiarisation materials that give your child a sense of the question format before test day. Using official familiarisation materials — rather than only commercial preparation materials — is an important step in the final weeks of preparation.

Leading Tuition is rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 59 reviews, read on 3 October 2026, and 91% of our students achieve their desired grades.

Reviewed September 2026: dates, figures and rules checked against Kent County Council's Kent Test and secondary school places pages, Wilmington Grammar School for Boys' September 2027 admission policy and key information page, and the DfE's school performance data.

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