Best Secondary Schools in Kent 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 99 schools across Kent. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Kent has 99 open secondary schools. Of the 95 with a published Ofsted inspection, 17 (18%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 85% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Kent follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

99
Total schools
17
Outstanding (historic grade)
18%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
63.5%
Avg KS2 SATs
37.6
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
🥈 Dartford Grammar School
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
🥉 Tonbridge Grammar School
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
4. Invicta Grammar School
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
5. Dartford Grammar School for Girls
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
6. Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
Secondary
 Outstanding 93 View school
7. Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend
Secondary
 Outstanding 90 View school
8. The Skinners' School
Secondary
 Good 90 View school
9. Oakwood Park Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 89 View school
10. Maidstone Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 88 View school
11. The Harvey Grammar School
Secondary
 Outstanding 87 View school
12. Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 87 View school
13. The Norton Knatchbull School
Secondary
 Good 87 View school
14. Cranbrook School
Secondary
 Good 86 View school
15. Wilmington Grammar School for Girls
Secondary
 Good 86 View school
16. Barton Court Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 86 View school
17. Dane Court Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 84 View school
18. Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 84 View school
19. Wilmington Grammar School for Boys
Secondary
 Good 83 View school
20. Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
Secondary
 Good 82 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Kent

Best primary schools in KentTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in KentTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in KentPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in KentReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in MedwayCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Southend-on-SeaCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in ThurrockCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BexleyCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Kent

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Kent?
There are 99 open secondary schools in Kent (closed schools are excluded). 17 of the 95 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Kent?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Kent is Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Kent?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Kent?
Primary and secondary applications in Kent are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Kent council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.