School Chooser

Maidstone Grammar School

Secondary · ages 11-18BoysFoundation (grammar)1,443 pupilsSixth formMaidstoneKent
School Chooser Score
96
Well above
similar schools
Likely range 94 to 98
Out of 100. Better than 48% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
Strong pass in English and maths92%England 46%
Attendance95.4%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families9%Far fewer than most schools
PlacesFull1,443 pupils, 1,393 places
Pupils per teacher19.6School workforce census
Average A level gradeB2024/25

Maidstone Grammar School is a foundation school in Maidstone for boys aged 11 to 18. It has 1,443 pupils, 50 more than it has places for. About 9 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 96 out of 100. That puts it well above schools like it, ahead of 48% of the 50 schools most like it.

Barton Road, Maidstone, ME15 7BT01622 752101mgs.kent.sch.ukMr Mark Tomkins headteacherAll details

Ofsted

Ofsted hasn't published an inspection for this school yet.

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

212 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score68.4
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths92%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths99%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11+0.50In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 62.262.220182019: 65.565.520192022: 66.866.820222023: 64.864.820232024: 66.666.620242025: 68.468.42025
Since 2018: +6.2Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018KentEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11212216208208179163
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 868.466.664.866.865.562.247.846.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8+0.50+0.25+0.20+0.16-0.12
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths92%88%86%89%91%88%48%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths99%99%97%98%97%98%67%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score6.576.276.026.165.915.744.284.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry98%93%77%83%59%64%48%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged69.862.459.767.062.653.1
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged68.366.765.266.865.662.7
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers70.669.069.665.762.4

Subjects

Results came out for 25 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Strongest subjects

Combined Science91%grades 9 to 5, England 36% · 30th of 3,084 schools
Film Studies95%grades 9 to 5, England 52% · 3rd of 122 schools
Physical Education98%grades 9 to 5, England 56% · 34th of 1,559 schools
Mathematics95%grades 9 to 5, England 53% · 112th of 3,211 schools
What is taught hereOffers triple science, 4 languages, computer science, music, classics.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics212 entries · 12th of 101 in Kent
95%England 53%
English Literature212 entries · 22nd of 100 in Kent
89%England 58%
English Language212 entries · 9th of 101 in Kent
92%England 54%
Religious Studies209 entries · 22nd of 45 in Kent
79%England 60%
History132 entries · 18th of 98 in Kent
89%England 52%
Physics124 entries · 13th of 64 in Kent
98%England 82%
Chemistry124 entries · 22nd of 64 in Kent
94%England 81%
Biology124 entries · 7th of 67 in Kent
99%England 82%
Geography107 entries · 24th of 99 in Kent
84%England 51%
Business96 entries · 6th of 52 in Kent
92%England 51%
German92 entries · 12th of 21 in Kent
75%England 63%
Combined Science88 entries · 3rd of 87 in Kent
91%England 36%
Spanish79 entries · 19th of 64 in Kent
75%England 54%
Computer Science64 entries · 8th of 55 in Kent
92%England 56%
Physical Education60 entries · 6th of 45 in Kent
98%England 56%
Design & Technology56 entries · 20th of 43 in Kent
80%England 50%
French49 entries · 20th of 65 in Kent
76%England 60%
Film Studies41 entries · 1st of 4 in Kent
95%England 52%
Food Preparation & Nutrition34 entries · 8th of 30 in Kent
85%England 52%
Social Studies28 entries · 8th of 37 in Kent
71%England 54%
Art and Design21 entries · 11th of 81 in Kent
95%England 58%
Classical Civilisation21 entries · 1st of 3 in Kent
91%England 58%
Latin16 entries
100%England 82%
Music16 entries
75%England 61%
Drama10 entries
70%England 60%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics21259%95%99%53%112 of 3,211
English Literature21246%89%97%58%157 of 3,202
English Language21248%92%99%54%118 of 3,210
Religious Studies20941%79%87%60%364 of 1,825
History13252%89%96%52%143 of 3,126
Physics12458%98%99%82%552 of 2,546
Chemistry12455%94%99%81%879 of 2,537
Biology12465%99%100%82%356 of 2,570
Geography10748%84%96%51%189 of 3,116
Business9657%92%97%51%59 of 1,806
German9226%75%87%63%199 of 571
Combined Science8848%91%99%36%30 of 3,084
Spanish7941%75%90%54%332 of 1,941
Computer Science6458%92%95%56%107 of 1,861
Physical Education6088%98%100%56%34 of 1,559
Design & Technology5645%80%91%50%166 of 1,478
French4918%76%92%60%541 of 1,974
Film Studies4139%95%100%52%3 of 122
Food Preparation & Nutrition3424%85%97%52%83 of 1,098
Social Studies2825%71%75%54%184 of 1,043
Art and Design2191%95%95%58%104 of 2,818
Classical Civilisation2148%91%91%58%7 of 45
Latin1694%100%100%82%
Music1613%75%88%61%
Drama1030%70%100%60%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

183 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeB38.7 points per entry
A level progress-0.02Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better23%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished100%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students183177204188322346
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry38.6736.5237.9841.1237.2235.80
Average A level gradeBB-B-BB-B-
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS38.8837.1537.9242.0037.5736.22
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects23%13%21%31%19%21%
A level progressA level value added-0.02-0.16+0.12+0.00
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed100%98%98%98%98%99%

A level subjects

22 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

Strongest A levels

Film Studies93%A* to B, England 57% · 15 entries
Fine Art100%A* to B, England 65% · 13 entries
Business Studies81%A* to B, England 47% · 31 entries
History84%A* to B, England 55% · 31 entries
A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsMathematics72Biology40Physics39English Literature36Psychology35Economics33History31Geography31Business Studies31Chemistry28Physical Education / Sports Studies28Media / Film / TV Studies28Sociology22Computer Science21Government and Politics19Film Studies15Mathematics (Further)14Fine Art13Classical Civilisation12Design and Technology (Product Design)11Logic / Philosophy10French7
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Mathematics72 entries · 46% A* or A · 97% passed
68%England 60%
Biology40 entries · 28% A* or A · 100% passed
55%England 49%
Physics39 entries · 31% A* or A · 100% passed
69%England 51%
English Literature36 entries · 31% A* or A · 100% passed
69%England 52%
Psychology35 entries · 20% A* or A · 100% passed
66%England 46%
Economics33 entries · 30% A* or A · 97% passed
64%England 57%
History31 entries · 45% A* or A · 100% passed
84%England 55%
Geography31 entries · 29% A* or A · 100% passed
55%England 51%
Business Studies31 entries · 39% A* or A · 100% passed
81%England 47%
Chemistry28 entries · 36% A* or A · 100% passed
54%England 53%
Physical Education / Sports Studies28 entries · 11% A* or A · 100% passed
46%England 41%
Media / Film / TV Studies28 entries · 14% A* or A · 100% passed
64%England 46%
Sociology22 entries · 41% A* or A · 100% passed
73%England 49%
Computer Science21 entries · 29% A* or A · 100% passed
62%England 46%
Government and Politics19 entries · 37% A* or A · 100% passed
74%England 55%
Film Studies15 entries · 33% A* or A · 100% passed
93%England 57%
Mathematics (Further)14 entries · 36% A* or A · 100% passed
93%England 76%
Fine Art13 entries · 54% A* or A · 100% passed
100%England 65%
Classical Civilisation12 entries · 25% A* or A · 100% passed
75%England 55%
Design and Technology (Product Design)11 entries · 18% A* or A · 100% passed
27%England 38%
Logic / Philosophy10 entries · 20% A* or A · 100% passed
60%England 46%
French7 entries · 43% A* or A · 100% passed
71%England 60%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. Every gap at this school is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
69.868.3
Gap 1.5England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
83%93%
Gap 9 ptsEngland 22 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Grammar school. This is a grammar school, so places depend on an entrance test.

Full1,416 pupils for 1,393 places, 2024/25
102% full

The school is full, with 23 more pupils than it has places for. More families apply than can get in, so things like how close you live and whether an older brother or sister is already here decide who gets a place. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Kent council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll1,443Census January 2026
Places1,393104% full
Pupils from low-income families8%9% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English20%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support2%26 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan1%8 pupils with a plan
Average class size24.255 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils35%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)9%£105,600 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls1,362 / 81
White British pupils61%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (9), Specific learning difficulty (7), emotional and mental health (5), language and communications needs (4), Other difficulty or disability (3), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (3).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll1,4431,4151,4161,4251,4431,381
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals8%7%6%5%4%4%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language20%20%19%17%16%15%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support2%2%1%1%1%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans0%0%0%0%0%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.4% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance95.4%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school9.7%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils5.12024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission0.6%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence4.7%5.6%6.8%7.1%5.0%4.7%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.1%5.0%6.3%6.7%4.6%4.3%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence0.6%0.6%0.5%0.4%0.5%0.4%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence9.7%13.0%23.3%25.2%21.1%9.4%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate5.15.46.74.74.8
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 208 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training99%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 100%, compared with 98% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training99%99%100%99%
Education95%98%99%99%
Apprenticeship3%1%1%0%
Work0%0%0%0%
Not in education, work or training0%1%1%1%

After sixth form

Where the 202 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training89%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 67%, compared with 90% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training85%England 72%
Top-third universities40%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship5%England 6%
Higher technical course0%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND
Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training89%92%91%
Education63%72%64%
Apprenticeship5%4%5%1%
Work20%17%23%
Not in education, work or training8%6%7%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers73.6full-time equivalent, 77 people
Pupils per teacher19.6Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers97%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants6.2full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£52,847
Teachers who left in the year12%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher3.32024/25

Money

From the council school accounts, year to March 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£6,823England £8,524. Total £9.7m
Income per pupil£6,744England £8,454. Total £9.5m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,792England £4,610
Money in reserve9%A healthy amount put by: £825k, £583 per pupil. England 5%
Money in against money out-£111kit spent more than it took in this year
Where the money goes£6,823spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m43112 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate88 per 1,000 peopleabout the England average
Typical house price£365,000Maidstone
Nearest bus stop100 mUpper Road, 16 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Invicta Grammar SchoolAcademy (grammar)0.7 miles1,670Outstanding 202498Compare
Valley Park SchoolAcademy0.7 miles1,555No overall grade 202520Compare
School of Science and Technology MaidstoneFree school0.8 miles1,056Outstanding 202363Compare
New Line Learning AcademyAcademy1.1 miles826No overall grade 20256Compare
Maidstone Grammar School for GirlsFoundation (grammar)1.3 miles1,254Outstanding 202395Compare
The Maplesden Noakes SchoolAcademy1.4 miles1,418Good 202419Compare
St Augustine AcademyAcademy1.4 miles673Report card 202610Compare
Oakwood Park Grammar SchoolAcademy (grammar)1.4 miles1,100Good 202494Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Maidstone Grammar School with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats48%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the lower half of its group. Its score of 96 is about the same as the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 84 · middle 96 · highest 100100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 96 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 96% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 94 to 98. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%well above
+0.61
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 212 pupils
Ofsted inspection0%no data
Progress pupils make20%well above
+0.29
DfE progress measure; 212 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%well above
+0.19
results and attendance rising year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%well above
+0.19
2024/25; 1,061 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%below
-0.08
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 212 pupils
What pupils do next5%well above
+0.10
208 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Maidstone Grammar School a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. Maidstone Grammar School scores 96 out of 100. That is well above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 48% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 94 to 98, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

How good are Maidstone Grammar School's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 92% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 68.4, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Maidstone Grammar School have?

1,443 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,393 places, so it is 104% full. It is a boys' school.

Is Maidstone Grammar School oversubscribed?

Probably. The school was full in 2024/25, with 23 more pupils than places. How close you live, and the school's other admissions rules, decide who gets in.

Does Maidstone Grammar School have an entrance exam?

Yes. It is a grammar school, so places depend on an entrance test, usually sat in September of Year 6. Check the school's admissions page for the test dates and the pass mark.

What is attendance like at Maidstone Grammar School?

Pupils were in school 95.4% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 10% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Maidstone Grammar School?

The average class had 24.2 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 35% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Maidstone Grammar School have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was B. 22 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Barton Road, Maidstone, ME15 7BT
Telephone
01622 752101
Website
www.mgs.kent.sch.uk
Headteacher
Mr Mark Tomkins
Type of school
Foundation school (Foundation school, local authority maintained schools)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Boys
Religious character
None
Local authority
Kent
Ward
High Street
Constituency
Maidstone and Malling
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
URN
118835 · LAESTAB 8864522 · UKPRN 10004156

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from