Holcombe Grammar School 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Holcombe Grammar School.
How to get into Holcombe Grammar School
Holcombe Grammar School is a selective secondary school in Medway, Kent. To get into Holcombe Grammar School children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into Holcombe Grammar School with all the important information you need to know.
Admission Requirements
Children born between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014 are eligible for Year 7 entry in September 2025 (see key dates). Holcombe Grammar School is a selective 11-18 boys' school with a mixed Sixth Form [1].
The school is becoming a Co-Educational institute from September 2026 [1]. This means boys and girls can apply for entry in September 2026.
Children must pass the Medway 11+ examination to be eligible for admission. The test is designed to identify children working within the top 25% of their year group, with pass marks determined after scoring and ranking.
- Child must be of secondary school age for September 2025 entry
- Must pass the Medway 11+ examination
- No formal catchment area restrictions apply
- Currently for boys only until September 2026
- Contact the school information section for specific eligibility queries
Application Process
The deadline to register for the 11+ exam is Friday 13th June 2025, with registration available on the Medway Council website. School applications open from 9am on 2nd September 2024 and close on 31st October 2024 at 5pm [1].
Families must apply through Medway Council if they live in Medway, or through their own local authority if they live outside Medway [1]. The Common Application Form must be submitted to the home local council by 31st October 2025 (see key dates).
- Register for the Medway 11+ by Friday 13th June 2025 (see key dates)
- Complete the Common Application Form through the relevant local authority
- Submit applications by 31st October 2024 (see key dates)
- Complete separate applications for multiple children such as twins, as they will not count as sibling links [1]
- Contact the school information section for application support
Examination Schedule and Process
Children attending Medway primary schools will take the test at their current school on either Tuesday 16th September or Wednesday 17th September 2025. Children not attending Medway primary schools will take the exam at a test centre on either Saturday 20th September or Sunday 21st September 2025.
Families will receive their child's results on Wednesday 15th October 2025 (see key dates). The recent standardised pass mark was 488, which correlates to roughly 80%+ in practice tests.
- Test dates:Tuesday 16th-Wednesday 17th September 2025 for Medway schools
- Test centre dates:Saturday 20th-Sunday 21st September 2025 for external candidates
- Results day:Wednesday 15th October 2025 (see key dates)
- Three papers: English (comprehension and vocabulary), Mathematics (problem-solving and logical reasoning), and Reasoning (non-verbal, spatial, and verbal reasoning)
- Free practice resources available in our practice papers section
Oversubscription Criteria
When applications exceed available places, the school applies oversubscription criteria. Children living closer to the school receive priority, with distance measured by the shortest available safe walking route.
Places are allocated in the following priority order:
- Children in public care or previously in public care
- Children who have a sibling attending Holcombe Grammar School
- Children attending specific Thinking Schools' Academy Trust primary schools: The Gordon Children's Academy, New Horizons Children's Academy, All Faiths Children's Academy, and Cedar Children's Academy
- Children of staff employed by Holcombe Grammar School
- Children with written medical evidence demonstrating specific health reasons to attend the school
- Children who live closest to the school
Preparation Guidance
Building a good knowledge base before the 11+ is important, using a 'little and often' approach as brains encode information more effectively with smaller chunks. Child psychologists recommend regular study sessions of 20-30 minutes for children aged 10-11.
Families should begin preparation at least 12 months before the examination date. The Medway Test is designed to be challenging, requiring consistent preparation across all subject areas.
- Start early: Begin preparation in Year 5 or early Year 6
- Daily practice:20-30 minute sessions work most effectively
- Cover all areas: English, Mathematics, and Reasoning skills
- Access free resources through our practice papers section
- Consider professional support via our tutor recommendations
- Aim for consistently scoring 80%+ in practice tests
Practical Advice
Preparation for examination day should include ensuring children are familiar with the test format and timing. Practising under timed conditions significantly improves relevant skills and reduces stress.
Families have until 28th March 2025 to submit appeals for September 2025 entry, with late appeals processed as soon as possible [1]. School allocation results will be announced on 2nd March 2026.
- Exam day preparation: Ensure adequate sleep and healthy breakfast
- Timing practice: Regular timed practice sessions build confidence
- Backup options: Consider other Medway grammar schools as alternatives
- Appeal deadlines:28th March 2025 for on-time appeals (see key dates)
- For specific guidance contact the school information section
- Remember that passing the 11+ doesn't guarantee placement as many grammar schools are oversubscribed
School Information
Holcombe Grammar School is located at Holcombe Hill, Chatham, Kent ME4 6TJ. The University of Exeter awarded the school 'Advanced Thinking School status' in 2022, recognising their commitment to helping students develop successful habits.
The school has 1033 students aged 11-18 with a student-teacher ratio of 17:1, and 82% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above at GCSE. For detailed contact information and specific enquiries, families should visit the official school website.
- Address: Holcombe Hill, Chatham, Kent ME4 6TJ
- School type: Selective grammar school for boys (mixed sixth form)
- Age range: 11-18 years
- Student numbers: Approximately 1,033 pupils
- Visit the official website for current contact details and enquiry forms
Medway 11+ Information
In order to get into Holcombe Grammar School, children need to pass the Medway 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.
Medway 11+ Subjects & Structure
The Medway 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:
- English
- Maths
- Reasoning
Aspiring students seeking admission to Holcombe Grammar School are required to sit for an entrance examination known as the Medway Test. This assessment, provided by GL Assessment, is designed to evaluate the academic aptitude and potential of the applicants.
The Medway Test comprises three distinct papers, each focusing on a specific subject area. These subjects include English, which assesses the candidate's language skills, comprehension, and writing abilities; Maths, which tests the student's numerical reasoning, problem-solving skills, and mathematical knowledge; and Reasoning, which evaluates the applicant's logical thinking, pattern recognition, and ability to draw conclusions from given information.
By examining the performance of the candidates across these three subject areas, Holcombe Grammar School aims to identify students who demonstrate exceptional academic promise and are well-suited to thrive in the school's challenging and stimulating educational environment.
Other Schools using Medway 11+
As well as Holcombe Grammar School, several other schools also use Medway 11+. These are:
- Chatham Grammar
- Fort Pitt Grammar School
- Rainham Mark Grammar School
- Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
- The Rochester Grammar School
Medway 11+ Marking Process
The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Holcombe Grammar School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.
Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.
Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.
It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!
Medway 11+ Pass Mark
The pass mark for the Medway 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).
Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Holcombe Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
Key Dates for the Holcombe Grammar School 11+ Entrance Tests
Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into Holcombe Grammar School) as well as other relevant dates.
| Date | Event | Calendar Link |
|---|---|---|
| 19/05/2025 | 11+ Registration Opens | Add Dates to Calendar |
| 13/06/2025 | 11+ Registration Closes | |
| Mid October | 11+ Results Released | |
| Late October | Secondary School Application Deadline | |
| 02/03/2026 | Secondary School National Offers Day |
Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Holcombe Grammar School as they may well change.
11+ Tutor for Holcombe Grammar School
As the Medway 11+ entrance process is particularly gruelling, we would highly recommend using an 11+ private tutor.
Why use a private 11+ tutor?
Personal tutors have the experience and expertise to help children pass their 11+ exams. They know the requirements of the GL Assessment 11+ tests inside-out and can provide tailored support to give children the best possible chance of success. It's also important to bear in mind that plenty of other children will be using private tutors too.
11+ tutors don't need to be face-to-face, plenty of children use online 11+ tutors.
11+ tutors can also provide regular progress reports and feedback, helping parents to monitor their child's progress and make any necessary adjustments to their preparation.
Most importantly, using an 11+ tutor helps ensure that the preparation work gets done!
Private 11+ Tutors for the Holcombe Grammar School 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the Holcombe Grammar School 11+ entrance tests. Please click here to be put in touch with a range of excellent 11+ private tutors from our friends at exams.courses.
11+ Past Papers for Holcombe Grammar School
Unfortunately, Holcombe Grammar School has not made any of their 11+ past papers publicly available. However, you can use However, you can use 11+ practice papers from other exam boards (such as GL Assessment, CEM and CSSE) to help your child prepare.
11+ Practice Papers for Holcombe Grammar School
Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Medway 11+ Ensure you double-check with Holcombe Grammar School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.
This is just a sample of our extensive collection of 11+ practice papers. Please click here to see the full collection.
11+ Practice Papers for Holcombe Grammar School by Bond
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by Bond and cover and cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. As such they are very helpful for children hoping to pass the Medway 11+ to get into Holcombe Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Holcombe Grammar School by GL Assessment
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by GL Assessment themselves. As with the Bond papers, they cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. They remain useful and we encourage parents to download and use them with their children to help them get into Holcombe Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Holcombe Grammar School by Exam Ninja
These Free 11+ Practice Tests by Exam Ninja are extremely useful. They are straight-forward 10-question tests in Maths and English, following the same GL Assessment style (and multiple-choice format) as the Medway 11+.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | English |
11+ Practice Papers for Holcombe Grammar School by Owl Tutors
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by Owl Tutors. These too are written in a GL Assessment style and make useful practice for children hoping to get into Holcombe Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Writing | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Holcombe Grammar School by CGP
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. As with the Bond, GL Assessment and Exam Ninja papers, they're written for the GL Assessment style, in multiple-choice format and are helpful for children hoping to pass their 11+ tests and get into Holcombe Grammar School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
These Free CEM 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. If Holcombe Grammar School ever used them then they don't anymore as grammar schools no longer use CEM for any of their 11+ entrance tests. However, as a general practice tool these 11+ tests remain useful.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEM | Maths | |||
| CEM | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| CEM | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Holcombe Grammar School by 11+ For You
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "11+ For You".
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Holcombe Grammar School by Examberry
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "Examberry".
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Holcombe Grammar School by Independent Junction
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by Independent Junction.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Holcombe Grammar School by IPS
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by IPS (Internet Primary School Ltd).
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
11+ Practice Papers for Holcombe Grammar School by Schofield & Sims
These 11+ practice papers were published by Schofield & Sims, a large UK educational publisher.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
School Information
Below you will find further information about Holcombe Grammar School together with their admissions contact details.
| Address | Holcombe Grammar School, Holcombe, Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 6JB |
|---|---|
| School Website | https://www.holcombegrammar.org.uk/ |
| Telephone | 03333602130 |
| Email Address | office@holcombegrammar.org.uk |
| Gender | Boys only |
| Total Year 7 Places | 150 |
| Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 1067 (112 Girls / 955 Boys) |
| Principal | Mr Lee Preston |
Holcombe Grammar School is a boys only school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).
In total 1,067 pupils attend Holcombe Grammar School and it's led by the Principal, Mr Lee Preston.
Holcombe Grammar School Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
Holcombe Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 30/09/2014 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 22/10/2014, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.
Last Ofsted Report Data
| Date Inspected | Inspection Duration (Days) | Reporting Date | Rating | Full Report | 30/09/2014 | 1 | 22/10/2014 | Good | Full Report |
|---|
GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Holcombe Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.
| GCSE Subjects Offered |
|
|---|---|
| A-Level Subjects Offered |
|
GCSE & A-Level Performance
Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Holcombe Grammar School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.
GCSE Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Art & Design (Fine Art) | 24 | - | - | 2 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | - |
| Astronomy | 14 | - | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - |
| Biology | 57 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 12 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
| Business Studies:Single | 82 | - | - | 3 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 4 |
| Chemistry | 57 | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 9 |
| Computer Studies/Computing | 65 | - | 1 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Design & Technology | 59 | - | 1 | - | 9 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| English Language | 147 | - | - | 2 | 7 | 14 | 40 | 46 | 23 | 13 | 2 |
| English Literature | 146 | - | - | 5 | 8 | 17 | 29 | 48 | 19 | 15 | 4 |
| D&T Food Technology | 18 | - | - | 3 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| French | 13 | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | 8 | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| Geography | 82 | - | - | 5 | 6 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 7 | - |
| History | 82 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 14 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Mathematics | 147 | - | - | - | 4 | 17 | 32 | 41 | 28 | 16 | 9 |
| Media/Film/Tv Studies | 17 | - | - | - | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | - |
| Music | 12 | - | - | - | 2 | - | 8 | 2 | - | - | - |
| Art & Design (Photography) | 12 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - |
| Physics | 57 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 6 |
| Psychology | 53 | - | 1 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Religious Studies | 29 | - | 1 | - | 2 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 4 |
| Sociology | 24 | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | - |
| Spanish | 24 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | - | 2 |
| Physical Education/Sports Studies | 35 | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 11 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Science: Double Award | 89 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
| Art and Design (Fine Art) | 7 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | - | |||
| Biology | 23 | - | 2 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 4 | - | |||
| Business Studies:Single | 38 | - | 1 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 10 | - | |||
| Chemistry | 32 | - | 2 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 3 | |||
| Computer Studies / Computing | 28 | - | 7 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 1 | |||
| Design and Technology (Product Design) | 12 | - | - | 1 | 7 | 4 | - | - | |||
| Economics | 29 | - | - | 5 | 4 | 13 | 7 | - | |||
| English Language and Literature | 19 | - | 2 | 6 | 6 | 4 | - | - | |||
| English Literature | 12 | - | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | - | |||
| Geography | 12 | - | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | - | - | |||
| Government and Politics | 8 | - | - | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | |||
| History | 11 | - | - | 2 | 2 | 6 | - | - | |||
| Law | 28 | - | 3 | 3 | 13 | 6 | 3 | - | |||
| Mathematics | 68 | - | 7 | 4 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 8 | |||
| Mathematics (Further) | 9 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||
| Media/Film/Tv Studies | 17 | - | - | 3 | 1 | 10 | 3 | - | |||
| Physical Education / Sports Studies | 10 | - | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | - | - | |||
| Physics | 20 | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 4 | |||
| Psychology | 21 | - | - | 2 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 2 | |||
| Sociology | 34 | - | 3 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 7 | 3 | |||
FAQ
Is Holcombe Grammar School hard to get into?
Yes, Holcombe Grammar School is hard to get into! Children need to pass their challenging 11+ entrance test (with a high pass mark) and there's tough competition with many other children trying to get a place for Year 7.
Is Holcombe Grammar School a private school?
No, Holcombe Grammar School is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is Holcombe Grammar School free?
Yes, Holcombe Grammar School is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Holcombe Grammar School won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into Holcombe Grammar School?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Holcombe Grammar School for how up to date information on how to apply (it may be automatic or it may require some forms to be filled in). More information on their 11+ entrance test can be found here.
Is Holcombe Grammar School a boys-only school?
Yes, Holcombe Grammar School is a boys-only school.
