Mon 2 Nov 2026
Applications close at midnight
Mon 1 Mar 2027
Offers sent
Mon 15 Mar 2027
Accept or refuse the offer
Tue 13 Apr 2027
Last day to lodge an appeal on time
1.
Where the line was this year
To be assessed suitable for grammar school in the test sat in September 2026, a child needed a total of 345 or more, with no single score lower than 111. The year before it was 332, with no score below 108.
The line is not as sharp as it looks. In Kent County Council’s report of this year’s scores, 733 children with a total below 345 were still assessed suitable (a panel of headteachers can assess a child suitable below the pass mark). And 520 children with 345 or more were not, as a total is not enough on its own: every one of the three scores must be 111 or more.
Source: Kent Test results
2.
The headteacher panel came before the results
Before results are sent, a child’s primary school headteacher can refer an assessment they disagree with to the Headteacher Assessment panel of local headteachers. The panel looks at further evidence, such as the child’s work and the writing task, and changes an assessment only if it is confident the child will be well placed in a grammar school.
So the result in your letter already includes that stage. You cannot appeal against the Kent Test result itself.
Sources: Kent Test results · Admission to secondary school in Kent 2027 (guide for parents)
3.
You can still name a grammar school
Even if your child was not assessed suitable, you can name a grammar school on your secondary school application. It will be refused on offer day, and you then have the right to appeal for a place.
Name up to four schools, in your true order of preference. Schools are not told how you ranked them, so naming a grammar school first costs nothing at the other schools. Include at least one school your child is likely to be offered. Applications close at midnight on Monday 2 November 2026.
Source: Admission to secondary school in Kent 2027 (guide for parents)
4.
Offer day, and what to do with the offer
Offers are sent on Monday 1 March 2027, and you must accept or refuse by Monday 15 March 2027. Kent County Council recommends accepting the place you are offered: accepting it does not affect a waiting list place or an appeal for another school.
You are put on the waiting list of any school you ranked higher than the one you were offered. A grammar school can only put children who were assessed suitable on its waiting list.
Sources: After you get your school offer · Admission to secondary school in Kent 2027 (guide for parents)
5.
How an appeal works
Every parent has the right to appeal against the refusal of a place at a school they named. Appeals are decided by an independent panel, usually of three people, who do not work for the school, its trust or the council.
An appeal must be lodged by Tuesday 13 April 2027 to count as on time. Gather what shows your child is ready for a grammar school: school reports, work, and anything that affected them on the test day.
Source: Appeal a secondary school offer
Questions parents ask
No. The Kent Test result cannot be appealed. You can name a grammar school on your application, and if it refuses a place on offer day you have the right to appeal to an independent panel.
You can: it is the only way to have the right to appeal for a place there. Schools are not told your order, but include at least one school your child is likely to get, in case the appeal is not successful.
For September 2027 entry an appeal must be lodged by Tuesday 13 April 2027 to count as on time. Offers come on Monday 1 March 2027.