Fully selective state school · Medway
Holcombe Grammar School 11+ admissions
September 2027 entryEvidence reviewed 24 October 2026Current entrance requirements, dates and school facts with links to the official evidence used. Unknown information is labelled rather than estimated.
At a glance
- Address
- Holcombe, Chatham, South East, ME4 6JB
- Year 7 admission
- Mixed Year 7 admission
- School type
- Fully selective state school
- Funding
- State-funded
- Day or boarding
- Day school
- Religion or denomination
- GIAS records no applicable religious character.
- Published admission number
- 180September 2027 entry
- Academically selected places
- 180September 2027 entry
- Preferences per offer
- 5.4DfE National Offer Day, September 2026 entry. This is not a pass probability.
- Assessment provider
- GL AssessmentGL Assessment is verified for the linked assessment route. GIAS does not publish the current assessment provider.
Selection route
- Medway Test
Local authority selection test · GL Assessment · Three multiple-choice papers with a minimum 20-minute break between papers. Medway maintained primary/junior pupils sit at their own school; pupils from non-Medway primary/junior schools sit at an allocated Medway Council test centre in Medway. Medway independent-school candidates follow their school-specific allocated arrangements.
English and maths age-standardised scores count twice and reasoning once. For September 2027 entry, the minimum weighted total for a grammar assessment is 478, equivalent to 26% of the Medway maintained-school cohort. A grammar assessment does not guarantee a school place.
Check the official test registration page
- Eligibility
- Co-educational applicants must achieve the pre-set standard in the Medway testing arrangements and be deemed of selective ability.
- Score policy
- The Medway testing arrangements determine selective ability; no separate numeric school qualifying score is published in the 2027 policy.
- Registration
- GIAS does not publish the current test registration URL.
Who gets priority
Priority school groups: The Gordon Children's Academy, New Horizons Children's Academy, All Faiths Children's Academy, Cedar Children's Academy.
Category 3 depends on attending one of these four TSAT Medway primary schools. It does not define a home-address catchment or remove the Medway selective-ability requirement. Other qualifying children can apply under the remaining criteria.
The 180-place Year 7 intake is co-educational from September 2026 and applicants must be deemed selective through the Medway arrangements. Qualifying named EHCP/statement admissions precede the allocation. Priority is looked-after or previously looked-after children, including policy-defined overseas state-care/adoption cases; continuing same-address siblings; pupils attending one of the four named TSAT Medway primary schools; qualifying staff children; evidenced child health need; then nearest homes. Primary-school priority depends on attendance, not a home postcode. Staff need two years of employment when the application is made or recruitment to a demonstrable shortage post. Health claims need GP or hospital-consultant evidence showing why Holcombe specifically is required. Distance applies when any category is oversubscribed and follows the shortest-home-to-school method in the Medway coordinated scheme; this policy does not define the detailed route calculation, so confirm that method with admissions. For identical distances, both applicants are admitted above PAN. Multiple births or siblings in the same year group can also receive places above PAN when only one place remains. The home is the normal residence notified to relevant agencies; separated parents must agree and nominate one address. Families can request the waiting list, which follows the criteria rather than time spent on the list and changes as applicants join or leave; the school holds it from 1 September 2027. In-year testing and post-16 TSAT secondary-school priority are separate rules.
For September 2027 entry. Policy checked 2026-10-01. A priority category does not guarantee an offer.
Read the admissions policyApplications and offers over time
DfE preferences and offers at National Offer Day. A child can appear at several schools or through more than one recorded route at the same school. These figures describe past demand and do not predict an offer.
| September entry | Preferences | Offers | Preferences per offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Preferences968 | Offers179 | Preferences per offer5.41 |
| 2025 | Preferences733 | Offers179 | Preferences per offer4.09 |
| 2024 | Preferences632 | Offers150 | Preferences per offer4.21 |
| 2023 | Preferences630 | Offers150 | Preferences per offer4.20 |
| 2022 | Preferences570 | Offers148 | Preferences per offer3.85 |
| 2021 | Preferences681 | Offers147 | Preferences per offer4.63 |
| 2020 | Preferences596 | Offers150 | Preferences per offer3.97 |
| 2019 | Preferences562 | Offers142 | Preferences per offer3.96 |
| 2018 | Preferences533 | Offers146 | Preferences per offer3.65 |
| 2017 | Preferences517 | Offers126 | Preferences per offer4.10 |
| 2016 | Preferences494 | Offers91 | Preferences per offer5.43 |
| 2015 | Preferences482 | Offers80 | Preferences per offer6.03 |
| 2014 | Preferences424 | Offers80 | Preferences per offer5.30 |
School identifiers are joined across documented predecessor links. Missing and suppressed values stay unpublished. Latest dataset: September 2026 entry. Checked 2026-10-24.
- Compare other schools and read the method
- Department for Education: School level secondary and primary applications and offers 2026 (AppsandOffers_2026_SchoolLevel29062026.csv)
- Department for Education: Get Information about Schools all establishments CSV (edubasealldata20261001.csv)
- Department for Education: Get Information about Schools establishment links CSV (links_edubasealldata20261001.csv)
What the assessment covers
These subjects are verified for the linked shared assessment route. GIAS does not publish the current assessed subjects.
- English
- Mathematics
- Spatial reasoning
- Non-verbal reasoning
- Verbal reasoning
1. Medway Test
Applicants must achieve the pre-set standard determined by the Medway testing arrangements and be deemed of selective ability.
Key dates
- Registration opens
- GIAS does not publish the current registration opening date.
- Registration deadline
- GIAS does not publish the current registration deadline.
- Test date
- GIAS does not publish the current test dates.
- Published CAF date
- GIAS does not publish the current CAF deadline.
- National Offer Day
- GIAS does not publish the current offer date.
Shared assessment-route dates
Dates for September 2027 entry
| Date | Route | When |
|---|---|---|
| Registration opens (9am) | RouteMedway Test | When18 May 2026 |
| Registration closes (5pm) | RouteMedway Test | When12 June 2026 |
| Closing date for school requests for special arrangements | RouteMedway Test | When22 June 2026 |
| Medway maintained primary/junior school test day 1 | RouteMedway Test | When15 September 2026 |
| Medway maintained primary/junior school test day 2 | RouteMedway Test | When16 September 2026 |
| Possible special-arrangements test date for Medway primary/junior pupils | RouteMedway Test | When17 September 2026 |
| Possible special-arrangements test date for Medway primary/junior pupils | RouteMedway Test | When18 September 2026 |
| St Andrew’s School test date | RouteMedway Test | When19 September 2026 |
| King’s School Rochester test-date range begins (one day allocated) | RouteMedway Test | When19 September 2026 |
| King’s School Rochester test-date range ends (one day allocated) | RouteMedway Test | When20 September 2026 |
| Non-Medway primary/junior school test-centre date range begins (one day allocated) | RouteMedway Test | When19 September 2026 |
| Non-Medway primary/junior school test-centre date range ends (one day allocated) | RouteMedway Test | When20 September 2026 |
| Medway Test results | RouteMedway Test | When14 October 2026 |
| Secondary-school application deadline | RouteMedway Test | When31 October 2026 |
Shared assessment dates are in the 11+ dates calendar. To decide where this school goes on the application form, use the school application order planner.
Fees
Holcombe Grammar School is a state-funded school, so there is no tuition fee for a Year 7 place. Uniform and optional activities can have separate costs. Check the Department for Education school record and the GOV.UK guide to state schools for the funding rule. The school can confirm current uniform and activity costs.
Inspection context
Inspection outcomes are maintained separately and are not present in current GIAS downloads.
Practise for this school's test
Start with the subjects confirmed in the admissions sources. Topic quizzes build skills; they are not replicas of this school's entrance test.
Three topic quizzes to try
- Try the infer implicit meaning quiz
Free scored topic practice with an explanation after each answer.
- Try the solve a multi-step problem quiz
Free scored topic practice with an explanation after each answer.
- Try the select closest meaning quiz
Free scored topic practice with an explanation after each answer.
24 original questions across four subjects in 30 minutes. This is a short practice sample; check the local test format and timings separately.
Official paper directory records
Try the free diagnostic to choose what to practise next.
Sample papers
Official papers for this school's test, from the school itself or the body that runs the test, linked from the publisher's own site. Smart Cub Learning does not host copies.
| Paper | Published by | Subjects | Answers | Opens on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medway Test familiarisation booklet | Published byMedway Test · Familiarisation booklet | SubjectsEnglish, Maths, Non-verbal reasoning, Verbal reasoning | Answersno answers published | Opens onopens on medway.gov.uk |
Relevant skills and exercises
- Build English comprehension skills
Draw one supported conclusion that is not directly stated.
- Try Comprehension X-Ray
Free interactive practice relevant to English comprehension.
- Build maths and numerical reasoning skills
Select and perform a short sequence of operations in context.
- Try Step Builder
Free interactive practice relevant to maths and numerical reasoning.
- Build verbal reasoning skills
Choose the option closest in meaning to a target word.
- Try Synonym Spectrum
Free interactive practice relevant to verbal reasoning.
- Build non-verbal and spatial reasoning skills
Combine row or column rules to select one missing figure.
- Try Matrix Machine
Free interactive practice relevant to non-verbal and spatial reasoning.
- Try a short GL-style timed mock
24 original questions across four subjects in 30 minutes. This is a short practice sample; check the local test format and timings separately.
Questions families ask
Which 11+ test does Holcombe Grammar School use?
Holcombe Grammar School uses Medway Test for September 2027 entry. The route names GL Assessment as the assessment provider.
How many Year 7 places does Holcombe Grammar School have?
Holcombe Grammar School's published admission number is 180 for September 2027 entry.
Who is eligible to apply to Holcombe Grammar School?
Co-educational applicants must achieve the pre-set standard in the Medway testing arrangements and be deemed of selective ability.
Are Holcombe Grammar School's 2027/28 oversubscription criteria published?
The 180-place Year 7 intake is co-educational from September 2026 and applicants must be deemed selective through the Medway arrangements. Qualifying named EHCP/statement admissions precede the allocation. Priority is looked-after or previously looked-after children, including policy-defined overseas state-care/adoption cases; continuing same-address siblings; pupils attending one of the four named TSAT Medway primary schools; qualifying staff children; evidenced child health need; then nearest homes. Primary-school priority depends on attendance, not a home postcode. Staff need two years of employment when the application is made or recruitment to a demonstrable shortage post. Health claims need GP or hospital-consultant evidence showing why Holcombe specifically is required. Distance applies when any category is oversubscribed and follows the shortest-home-to-school method in the Medway coordinated scheme; this policy does not define the detailed route calculation, so confirm that method with admissions. For identical distances, both applicants are admitted above PAN. Multiple births or siblings in the same year group can also receive places above PAN when only one place remains. The home is the normal residence notified to relevant agencies; separated parents must agree and nominate one address. Families can request the waiting list, which follows the criteria rather than time spent on the list and changes as applicants join or leave; the school holds it from 1 September 2027. In-year testing and post-16 TSAT secondary-school priority are separate rules.
What subjects should a child prepare for Holcombe Grammar School?
The verified school or linked route evidence covers English, Mathematics, Spatial reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning, and Verbal reasoning.
How current is the information for Holcombe Grammar School?
Smart Cub Learning reviewed 18 attached evidence sources by 2026-10-24. Unknown facts stay labelled and should be checked again before applying.
Sources and review record
- Open state-funded school fields CSV
Department for Education. Accessed 21 October 2026. GIAS register snapshot on 20 October 2026.
- Open state-funded school fields CSV, 24 October 2026
Department for Education. Accessed 24 October 2026. GIAS register snapshot on 24 October 2026.
- Holcombe Grammar School Admissions Policy 2027-28
Holcombe Grammar School. Accessed 23 October 2026. September 2027 entry.
- School admission arrangements 2027
Medway Council. Accessed 26 August 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Key dates for applying for secondary school: September 2027 entry
Medway Council. Accessed 26 August 2026. September 2027 entry.
- About the Medway Test
Medway Council. Accessed 26 August 2026. September 2027 entry.
- How the Medway Test is marked
Medway Council. Accessed 20 October 2026. September 2027 entry.
- ONS Postcode Directory May 2026 school-postcode centroid extract
Office for National Statistics. Accessed 21 October 2026. ONS Postcode Directory, May 2026; candidate-school postcodes queried 21 October 2026.
- Holcombe Grammar School Admissions Policy 2027-28
Holcombe Grammar School. Accessed 1 October 2026. September 2027 entry.
- School admissions arrangements 2027
Medway Council. Accessed 24 October 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Medway Test information for children outside of Medway
Medway Council. Accessed 24 October 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Register for the Medway Test
Medway Council. Accessed 24 October 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Key dates for applying for secondary school: September 2027 entry
Medway Council. Accessed 24 October 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Medway Test dates
Medway Council. Accessed 24 October 2026. September 2027 entry.
- About the Medway Test
Medway Council. Accessed 24 October 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Children get their Medway Test results
Medway Council. Accessed 24 October 2026. September 2027 entry.
- How the Medway Test is marked
Medway Council. Accessed 24 October 2026. September 2027 entry.
- The Medway Test: Familiarisation Booklet
Medway Council. Accessed 24 October 2026. September 2027 entry.
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