Cranbrook School (11+) 11 Plus Exam - 2026 Key Information

​Cranbrook School is a historic co-educational selective grammar school located in the Weald of Kent. Established in 1518, it provides education to 900+ students aged 11 to 18, covering Key Stage 3 (KS3) and sixth form (6th Form).

Regarded as one of the best grammar schools in UK, Cranbrook combines academic rigour with a supportive environment. The school maintains a strong reputation, and its latest Ofsted Rating reflects its commitment to quality education.

Cranbrook distinguishes itself as a rare co-educational state boarding grammar school, providing tuition-free excellence since 1518. Beyond the classroom, students explore the cosmos via the on-site Collins Observatory, ensuring a unique blend of historic tradition and scientific innovation.

In this guide, I apply 18+ years of education consultancy to help parents navigate Cranbrook School 2026 11 plus (11+) Exam admissions with confidence.

School Details

• Type of School: State Boarding Grammar School (Academy)
• Boarding Type: Day and Boarding
• Gender Type: Co-educational (Mixed)
• Religion: None
• Age Range: 11–18 years
• Number of Pupils (Total): 920+
• Cranbrook School GCSE Results (2025): 53.4% achieved Grades 9–7
• Cranbrook School A-Level Results (2025): 66.4% achieved Grades A*–B

​​

Year 7 Admissions Details

• Year 7 Admissions Policy: Selective
• Number of Places in Year 7 (PAN): 90
• Exam Board: GL Assessment (Kent Test)
• Number of Stages: 1
• School Catchment Area: Yes. (See Below for more details)
• Sibling Policy: Yes. (See Below for more details)
• Pass Mark: Aim for 90%(Standardised Score 332)

Preparing for the Cranbrook School open day requires foresight, as this unique state boarding school follows a specific timeline. I have compiled the essential Cranbrook School 11 plus exam dates, including the overarching 11+ Exam date schedule, to help you navigate the Kent Test process for Year 7 entry.

These dates are arranged chronologically to assist your academic planning.

Admission to Year 7 at Cranbrook School is highly competitive and determined by student performance in the 11+ Exam known as the Kent Test. As one of the few co-educational boarding grammar schools in Kent, parents must adhere to strict Local Authority deadlines.

How to Register for 11+ Exam

The 11 plus exam process requires parents to complete specific registrations depending on whether they apply for a Day or Boarding place.

• Kent Test Registration: Parents must register their child for the eleven plus exams through the Kent County Council website.
• Registration Window: The online registration for the test opens in early June 2025 and closes at midnight in early July 2025.
• Common Application Form (CAF): You must submit the Secondary Common Application Form to your home Local Authority by 31^st October 2025.
• Boarding Applicants: In addition to the CAF, you must complete the Cranbrook School Admissions Policy supplementary 'Boarding Application Form'.
• Boarding Form Deadline: This separate form must be returned directly to the Cranbrook School Registrar by 31^st October 2025.

Cranbrook School enforces a strict geographic Priority Area for all day pupils. To meet the School catchment area criteria, your child’s permanent residence must be located within specific civil parishes.

As stated in the Cranbrook School Admissions Policy, the Cranbrook Catchment Area (Priority Area) exclusively includes the following civil parishes:

• Cranbrook & Sissinghurst
• Goudhurst
• Staplehurst
• Frittenden
• Benenden
• Sandhurst
• Hawkhurst

Residing here is mandatory to be considered for a day place after passing the 11 plus test. If oversubscribed, the 11+ exam catchment criteria use distance, measured in a direct line from the child’s home to the school, to allocate places.

As stated in the Cranbrook School Admissions Policy, admission for year 7 entry in September 2026 relies on the Kent Test (PESE). This Cranbrook School 11 Plus Test assesses if a child is suitable for a grammar school education.

The examination consists of two main multiple-choice papers and a writing exercise.

The Kent Test (PESE)

Parents researching secondary schools in Kent must register their child for the Kent test 2025 to be eligible. The first paper covers English and Maths, utilizing 11+ GL assessment standards. The second paper focuses on reasoning abilities.

To understand what is in the 11 Plus exam fully, note that questions are timed specifically. The scores are standardised and age-weighted to ensure fairness for younger children in the cohort.

Parent’s Top 2 Queries

What exam board does Cranbrook School follow? 

GL Assessment Kent Grammar Schools (Kent PESE)

How long is the 11+ Exam for Cranbrook School? 

Total test time is approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Important Note for Parents - OMR Sheet Guidance

The machine-readable answer sheets are sensitive, so candidates must use an HB pencil to mark answers with a firm horizontal line. Any mistakes must be rubbed out completely to avoid grading errors by the optical reader.

Cranbrook determines Year 7 entry using the Kent Test. To qualify, candidates must meet the aggregate threshold defined in the Cranbrook School Admissions Policy.

Recent Kent Test Thresholds

• 2024 Entry: Aggregate score of 337 (Minimum 107 per section).
  
• 2023 Entry: Aggregate score of 353 (Minimum 109 per section).

Simply passing the eleven plus exam does not ensure admission due to oversubscription. Consistent practice helps students secure strong 11 plus exam results above the cutoff.

Cranbrook is often the primary choice for families in the Weald. However, with strictly limited day places, relying solely on one option is risky.

As an experienced consultant, I advise parents to cultivate a balanced list of backups. You should aim for a portfolio of 3 Grammar schools and 2 Independent options.

This strategy protects your child’s academic future against the unpredictability of the 11+ results. Below are the schools most frequently chosen alongside Cranbrook by local parents.

Top 5 Alternative Grammar and Independent Schools

Families targeting Cranbrook often look towards Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge. Here is how the top academic alternatives compare for the 2025 entry cycle:

Why these schools are the top alternatives to Cranbrook School

• The Judd School & Skinners' School: These are the premier choices for boys in the region. They share the same GL Assessment board as Cranbrook, meaning your preparation strategy remains consistent across all three applications.
• Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar (TWGGS): For families with daughters, TWGGS offers a highly academic environment similar to Cranbrook. It is strictly zoned, so proximity is key, but it serves as an excellent parallel state option.
• Benenden School: If you are considering the boarding aspect of Cranbrook, Benenden is the closest private equivalent. It offers world-class pastoral care and facilities, though the entry process involves the ISEB Pre-test rather than the Kent Test.
• Sutton Valence School: This is a robust co-educational backup that offers both day and boarding options. It provides a more holistic admissions process compared to the binary pass/fail nature of the grammar system.

According to the National School Census, competition for a place at Cranbrook is consistently high. For the last four years (2022–2025), there have been roughly three to four applications for every boarding or day place.

As stated in the Cranbrook School Admissions Policy, this indicates that comprehensive preparation for the eleven plus exam is mandatory. You must ensure your child is competitive enough to succeed.

Source: National School Census.

Cranbrook School remains oversubscribed, with a 51% oversubscription rate in 2025.

How hard is it to get into Cranbrook School?

Parents often come to me and ask, "Is Cranbrook School hard to get into?" due to the intense competition.

Based on my experience, I assure you that with a solid, targeted strategy, this is a predictable, winnable challenge.

Cranbrook School follows the Kent Consortium selection process, utilizing the GL Assessment board. The entrance exam consists of Maths, English, and Reasoning papers designed to test academic potential.

Analysis of 11+ Exam Maths topics

Our analysis of Kent test past papers highlights that numerical fluency is crucial. The questions often focus heavily on Numbers and Geometry, which form the bulk of the marks.

We found that mathematical reasoning and data handling are also significant components. Students must be comfortable with mental arithmetic to succeed in these 11+ maths papers.

To master these areas, we recommend practicing with our targeted resources used by thousands of successful students. Ensure your child revises key concepts using our comprehensive 11+ practice papers and topic-specific worksheets

​

Which are the Best 11+ Practice Papers for Cranbrook School Maths?

We highly recommend practicing with specific Kent test practice papers to get used to the format. Our packs mirror the difficulty of the actual exam.

​

Analysis of 11+ Exam English topics

The English paper for the Kent 11 plus test tests reading skills and language proficiency. Comprehension and Vocabulary usually account for the majority of the questions.

Students should also be prepared for grammar and punctuation tasks. A strong grasp of literary techniques can help differentiate a student's performance.

​

Which are the Best 11+ Practice Papers for Cranbrook School English?

To prepare effectively, use our comprehensive 11+ English papers. These resources cover everything from comprehension to spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

​

Analysis of 11+ Exam Verbal Reasoning topics

Our review of 11 plus verbal reasoning papers shows a focus on logic and word patterns. Key areas often include Code Breaking and Missing Words.

These topics require regular practice to improve speed and accuracy. Mastering these types of questions is essential for a high score.

Elevate your child's score with our targeted 11+ practice papers. We provide detailed answer hints to help students understand complex verbal puzzles.

​

Analysis of 11+ Exam Non-Verbal Reasoning topics

For the non verbal reasoning 11 plus section, spatial awareness is key. Questions frequently test 2D and 3D shapes, analogies, and series.

This section assesses a student's ability to process visual information quickly. Consistent practice with shapes helps identify patterns faster during the exam.

Prepare for success with our extensive collection of 11 plus exam papers. Our resources include specific guides for spatial reasoning and matrices.

Cranbrook School is highly competitive, making thorough preparation vital. Sitting a Cranbrook School 11 plus mock exam helps students master the specific test format. These sessions identify weak areas and improve speed under strict conditions.

Since the school uses GL Assessment, we recommend these resources to mirror the challenge:

You can try our free 11 plus mock test to evaluate starting levels. An 11 plus mock test Kent based practice ensures readiness for this selective school.

• Autumn Half Term 1: Thursday 3^rd September 2026 to Friday 16^th October 2026
• Autumn Half Term 2: Monday 2^nd November 2026 to Saturday 19^th December 2026
• Spring Half Term 1: Tuesday 5^th January 2027 to Thursday 11^th February 2027
• Spring Half Term 2: Monday 22^nd February 2027 to Thursday 25^th March 2027
• Summer Half Term 1: Tuesday 13^th April 2027 to Saturday 29^th May 2027
• Summer Half Term 2: Monday 7^th June 2027 to Wednesday 14^th July 2027

This information has been sourced from Get Information about Schools and Cranbrook School Official Website.

Navigating the 11+ grammar school entry requires coordinating with your local authority and understanding specific exam formats. Here are the essential, official resources to help you prepare your application for Cranbrook School.

• Kent Test Familiarisation Materials
• UK Govt. - Get Information on Cranbrook School Page
• Cranbrook School Ofsted Report
• Gov.UK Find your Local Council Page
• Cranbrook School Admissions Policy
• UK Govt. - Schools, pupils and their characteristics data