How far away did Wilmington Grammar School for Boys offer places?
In March 2026 the school offered 128 of its 180 places to boys living within 1.5 miles or inside its parish and ward boundaries, and reached boys living about 2.732 miles away. In earlier years that distance was 2.891 miles (2025), 2.666 miles (2024), 3.234 miles (2023) and 3.021 miles (2022). Boys are not ranked by their overall Kent Test score: apart from the 18 Governor Places, places go by the school’s criteria and by distance.
Published figures
| Entry | Distance |
|---|---|
| Sept 2026 | about 2.732 miles |
| Sept 2025 | 2.891 miles |
| Sept 2024 | 2.666 miles |
| Sept 2023 | 3.234 miles |
| Sept 2022 | 3.021 miles |
In the school’s words, for example: "In 2025 we took everyone that lived within 2.891 miles of our parish boundaries." For 2021 it says it took everyone inside the parish boundaries and went 2.66 miles outside them.
| Entry | Highest | Lowest |
|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 | 270 | 252 |
| Sept 2025 | 262 | 251 |
| Sept 2024 | 274 | 258 |
| Sept 2023 | 273 | 252 |
| Sept 2022 | 269 | 258 |
English and reasoning scores added together. Maths is not counted, so these are not the three-paper total.
How places are decided
- The school has 180 Year 7 places. Entry is through the Kent Test: places go to boys assessed suitable for grammar school.
- Boys are not ranked by their overall score. If there are more eligible boys than places the order is: children in or previously in local authority care; siblings at this school or at Wilmington Grammar School for Girls; children of staff; up to 18 Governor Places; boys living within 1.5 miles of the school or in the named parishes and ward; other Pupil Premium children within 3 miles; then all other eligible boys by distance, closest first.
- Governor Places: up to 18 places (10%) go to the highest Kent Test scorers, with the maths test excluded, among boys living within 5 miles of the school.
- Within the group living within 1.5 miles or in the named parishes and ward, children eligible for the Pupil Premium come first, and then boys are ranked by distance from the school, nearest first.
- The named parishes are Ash Cum Ridley, Badgers Mount, Bean, Crockenhill, Darenth, Dartford, Dunton Green, Eynsford, Farningham, Fawkham, Halstead, Hartley, Hextable, Horton Kirby & South Darenth, Kemsing, Longfield & New Barn, Meopham, Otford, Shoreham, Southfleet, Stanstead, Stone, Sutton at Hone & Hawley, Swanley, Swanscombe & Greenhithe, West Kingsdown, Wilmington, Wrotham and the Unparished Area of Ebbsfleet. The named ward is Istead Rise, Cobham & Luddesdown.
- Living in a named parish does not guarantee a place. In March 2026 the school offered 128 of its 180 places to boys within 1.5 miles or inside the parish and ward boundaries, and reached boys living about 2.732 miles away. All the other places went to the top 10% or to boys with a sibling link.
- A Supplementary Form is needed only for a sibling link or for Pupil Premium priority. For September 2027 entry it goes to the school by 31 October 2026.
Questions parents ask
How do the two Wilmington grammar schools decide places?
Not by overall score. After children in care, siblings at either Wilmington school and children of staff, up to 18 Governor Places go to top scorers living within 5 miles (maths paper only at the girls’ school; English and reasoning at the boys’). Then come children living within 1.5 miles or in the named parishes, then other Pupil Premium children within 3 miles, then everyone else by distance. Both schools publish how far their offers reached each year.
Does passing the Kent Test guarantee a grammar school place?
No. Passing makes your child eligible, but grammar schools are often oversubscribed and each one ranks the eligible children by its own admissions criteria. Some rank by score, some by where you live and how far away, and some by both.
A cut-off or a distance is what was needed that year. It changes every year and is not a promise for the next. The school’s own website is wgsb.co.uk.
Sources: FAQs for admissions into Year 7 2026 · Admission policy for entry in September 2027 · Admission policy for entry in September 2027 · Apply for a Kent grammar school place
Checked on 5 October 2026. If you spot something out of date, please tell us.
