Barton Court Grammar School
School summary
A mixed grammar school in Canterbury, Barton Court draws on the county-wide Kent Test for its 150 places at age 11. Ofsted judged the school "Good" overall, but awarded the highest "Outstanding" grade for behaviour, personal development and leadership - a sign that pupils are well supported and the school is purposefully run. With 1,005 pupils against a capacity of 1,050, it is a large school operating close to full. Its intake reflects something of the wider community, with around one in ten pupils eligible for free school meals and a similar proportion speaking English as an additional language.
How hard is it to get in?
Competitive · 2 of 5 on the Passmate scale. Demand exceeds the 150 Year 7 places in most years, though less sharply than at the most oversubscribed schools.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
Key dates · 2028 entry
Free month · No payment needed
Latest results
Attainment 8
66.4
National average 46.9
GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)
85%
National average 47%
A-level A*-B
55%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- Ofsted overall
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour & attitudes
- Outstanding
- Last inspected
- 11 February 2020
Teaching & academics
Academic results stand well above national norms: the average Attainment 8 score of 66.4 comfortably exceeds the national figure of 46.9, and 85% of pupils gain grade 5 or above in English and Maths against a national average of 47%. Ofsted rated quality of education "Good". The pupil-to-teacher ratio of 18.6 is fairly typical for a school of this size.
Languages
Headteacher · Mr J Hopkins
Beyond the classroom
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 6.07%
- EHC plans
- 0.6%
- English as additional language
- 13.5%
- Free school meals
- 10.7%
Schools nearby
Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School
Canterbury, South East
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
Canterbury, South East
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
Faversham, South East
Sir Roger Manwood's School
Sandwich, South East
The Norton Knatchbull School
Ashford, South East
Highworth Grammar School
Ashford, South East
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A sizeable, well-led grammar where strong behaviour and pastoral care sit alongside results that outpace the national picture. Selection is via the Kent Test, so families should prepare for English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Barton Court Grammar School 11+: frequently asked questions
Passmate rating: benchmarked against every selective school in England using official admissions data. It measures demand for places, not school quality. Updated July 2026.
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.