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How to apply to Mayfield Grammar School
Mayfield Grammar School is selective. This means that your child will need to take the 11+ exam to be eligible for a place.
In Kent, the 11+ is known as the Kent Test, which Mayfield Grammar School uses as the main route for admission. In addition, the school offers an optional Mayfield Procedure for girls who do not meet the required standard in the Kent Test but may still be suitable for a grammar school place.
There are two possible routes for your child to be considered.
Route 1: The Kent Test (Kent PESE)
- Your child must take the Kent Test to be considered for a place at Mayfield Grammar School.
- Girls who achieve the required standard are then eligible for admission.
Route 2: The Mayfield Procedure (optional)
The Mayfield Procedure provides an additional opportunity for girls who do not reach the required standard in the Kent Test but may still be suitable for a selective grammar school environment.
Key points to be aware of:
- The Mayfield Procedure is optional and sits alongside the Kent Test.
- This route is only available to girls who have taken the Kent Test and then choose to sit the Mayfield Procedure as well.
- Registration for the Mayfield Procedure is separate from the Kent Test registration and opens on Monday 1st June 2026, closing on Wednesday 3rd July 2026. Registration forms are available from the school office and must be returned directly to the school — there is no online registration facility.
- The Mayfield Procedure takes place at the school on Saturday 12th September 2026.
- Taking part gives your child another chance to show their suitability for Mayfield Grammar School, recognising that one test day does not always reflect a child's full academic potential.
Your child's results will be emailed to you in mid-October. If they meet the qualifying standard for Mayfield Grammar School, you can apply for a place by naming the school on your common application form. This must be submitted to your local authority by Saturday 31st October 2026.
Important note: passing either of the tests does not guarantee that your child will be allocated a place at your preferred school. Grammar schools are often oversubscribed with children who meet the qualifying standard. After the 31st October deadline, schools apply their admissions criteria to allocate places.
We've outlined the process for Mayfield Grammar School below.
What will my child be tested on?
The Kent Test
The Kent Test is made up of two multiple-choice papers and a short writing task. It's designed to assess your child's skills in English, maths and reasoning and to help grammar schools identify potential.
Each paper lasts around an hour, and your child will mark their answers on a separate answer sheet which gets marked electronically.
Here's what to expect:
Paper 1: English and maths
This paper is split into two 30-minute sections — one testing English and one testing maths. Each section includes a short 5-minute practice activity followed by a 25-minute test. The practice section isn't marked; it just helps your child get familiar with the questions.
What's in the English section?
The English section is mainly made up of a reading comprehension task. There are also questions that check your child's grammar, punctuation and vocabulary. These might include:
- Choosing the best word to complete a sentence
- Spotting spelling or grammar mistakes
- Finding synonyms or antonyms
What's in the maths section?
Your child will be tested on what they've learned in school in maths up to the start of Year 6. They should feel confident with:
- Times tables
- The four operations (adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing)
- Fractions, decimals and percentages
- Ratio
- Area, perimeter and measurements
Some of the questions might feel more challenging than usual. This is so your child can show how they use their knowledge to solve new types of problems.
Paper 2: Reasoning
This paper focuses on verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning and lasts around an hour, including the practice sections.
These topics aren't usually taught in school. They're included in the test to measure your child's potential, not just what they've learned so far.
Verbal reasoning
This checks how well your child can solve problems using words, letters and numbers. For example, they might be asked to spot patterns in sequences or choose words with similar meanings.
Non-verbal reasoning
This section uses shapes, diagrams and patterns. Your child will need to spot similarities and differences, complete sequences, and identify how shapes relate to each other. The non-verbal reasoning section is split into shorter sections, each timed and administered individually.
Both the verbal and non-verbal reasoning sections are roughly the same length.
Creative writing task
All children also complete a short creative writing exercise. This isn't marked as part of the main test, but it might be used if your child's results are reviewed by a headteacher panel. 40 minutes is allowed for the writing task, including 10 minutes for planning.
The Mayfield Procedure
The Mayfield Procedure consists of two parts:
- A computer-based test assessing verbal ability, numerical reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Scores are locally standardised and weighted as follows: 50% verbal, 25% maths, 25% non-verbal reasoning.
- An English writing paper, which is marked separately and is not multiple choice.
The Mayfield Procedure places greater emphasis on English skills, so a child's result may differ from their Kent Test outcome. A minimum standard is required on both parts. Results are shared with parents in line with the Kent Test results timeline.
