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A personalised 11+ plan for your child's target school that adapts all the way to exam day.
Introduction
The Skinners’ School is a boys-only selective grammar school based in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Founded in 1887, it has specialist status in both science and mathematics and boasts strong examination results and a high Oxbridge acceptance rate. [1]
Catering to over 1,200 students, Skinners’ provides a challenging curriculum, focused on instilling deep academic knowledge. Lessons are of course delivered in the traditional subjects, including mathematics, history, art and chemistry, alongside forward-looking courses such as Multiculturalism in the UK and Climate Change.
The school strongly encourages students’ personal development by offering a plethora of clubs and extracurricular activities. Some of the most popular are rugby, football, drama & theatre, debating and CCF. In addition, The Skinners’ School takes its pupils on multiple adventurous trips throughout the year.
The Skinners’ School values community and believes that strong friendships are the foundation of a happy and successful life. It takes great pride in being a place of learning where students not only gain academic qualifications but also develop self-discipline, self-respect, and self-understanding.
The Skinners’ School produces excellent exam results each year. Recently, the GCSE results showed that 83.2% of students attained 7-9 grades, while the A-level results indicated that 84.3% of students scored A* to B grades. Many leavers continue their education at prestigious universities. The Ofsted report rated the school as “Good”. [2]
The Skinners’ School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2026
Address: St John’s Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells TN4 9PG
County: Kent
Admissions info: enquiries@skinners-school.org.uk, 01892 520 732
School type: Boys’ grammar
Number of places in Year 7: 160
Open Day date: October
Exam date: September 2026
Pass mark: Aim for 75%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Exam type / Board: Kent 11 Plus (PESE) Test
The Skinners’ School 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
To be considered for a Year 7 place at Skinners’ School, pupils must sit the Kent 11 Plus Test. The grammar uses its oversubscription criteria when there are more applicants than places available. The school gives priority to:
- Children in Local Authority Care or previously in Local Authority Care
- Children who live in the West Kent Area (up to 140 places). Priority will be given to:
1) Recipients of Pupil Premium
2) Pupils who scored highly in the Kent Test* and whose: a) siblings attend the school, b) parents are members of staff, and c) place of residence is closest to the school.
Up to 20 places will be offered to pupils who reside in the Outer Area. To read the full list of oversubscription criteria, please consult the school’s admissions policy.
*Kent Test score of at least 40 points higher than the KCC (Kent County Council) threshold score.
You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:
How to Apply for 11 Plus (11+) Entry to The Skinners’ School
The Skinners’ School Year 7 admissions are coordinated by Kent County Council, the Local Authority (LA). To register for the Kent Test at eleven plus, parents must visit the Council’s website and complete the online registration form.
Parents also need to complete the Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF) and submit it to the Kent County Council. In this form, you will be asked to state Skinners’ as your child’s school of preference. Results of the exam will be communicated in October and Year 7 place offers will be sent out in March of the following year.
Does The Skinners’ School belong to a Consortium?
The Skinners’ School belongs to the Kent 11+ Consortium, a group of schools that use the same entrance exam format and share a very similar admissions process.
Does The Skinners’ School have a catchment area?
Yes, there is a catchment area with an Inner and Outer area of priority. The Inner Area of priority covers the area within three miles of the school measured by straight line distance, plus the following parishes:
Badgers Mount, Bidborough, Brasted, Brenchley, Capel, Chevening, Chiddingstone, Cowden, Dunton Green, Edenbridge, Goudhurst, Hadlow, Halstead, Hever, Hildenborough, Horsmonden, Ightham, Kemsing, Knockholt, Lamberhurst, Leigh, Otford, Paddock Wood, Pembury, Penshurst, Plaxtol, Riverhead, Rusthall, Seal, Sevenoaks, Sevenoaks Weald, Shipbourne, Shoreham, Southborough, Speldhurst, Sundridge with Ide Hill, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, and Westerham.
The Skinners’ School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
As per the majority of Kent-based selective schools, The Skinners’ School requires pupils to take the Kent Test, which consists of two multiple-choice tests with a separate answer sheet.
➢ The first test is one hour long and is split into two sections, English and maths. Each section consists of a 5-minute practice exercise and a 25-minute test.
➢ The second test is a Reasoning paper and is split into three sections:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Spatial Reasoning
Prospective pupils will also be required to sit a 40-minute writing task. Although this task isn’t marked as part of the 11 Plus exam, it could be used in appeal cases, borderline cases, or at a Headteacher’s request.
How to Prepare for The Skinners’ School 11 Plus (11+) Exam?
We highly recommend using our practice tests to get ready for the selective admission process at The Skinners’ School. They cover all possible question types and can significantly boost your son’s confidence in the lead-up to the actual exam.
Familiarising your son with the style and format of the 11+ entrance exam can help you identify areas that require more work and discover his strengths. This will enable you to create a customised study plan that targets specific areas and ensures that he is properly prepared for the exam.
By practicing under timed conditions, your son will be able to quickly, efficiently and confidently handle exam questions, giving him a significant advantage over his peers. This can also help remove stress from the preparation process by allowing him to become comfortable with answering questions under time pressure.
The Skinners’ School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
Following the exam, your child will receive three standardised scores, one for English, one for Mathematics, and one total score including Reasoning. In order to pass the exam, your child’s standardised score must be over 109 and their total score must be 332 or more. [1]
Based on historical data, we have found that students who are able to score 75%+ consistently in our 11+ Kent practice tests are on track to pass The Skinners’ School Test.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in The Skinners’ School 11+ exam. Please click here to learn more.
The Skinners’ School 11 Plus (11+) Practice Exam Papers
➢ The Kent Pre-11+ Practice Tests are designed for Year 4 and 5 students to introduce the exam format and boost their confidence. These tests are less challenging than the Kent 11+ Exam. They offer an accurate yet more straightforward representation of the actual exam, allowing students to familiarise themselves with exam specifics. This approach provides a solid foundation for students to progress to more challenging 11+ Practice Tests.
Practice Papers
➢ The following practice tests are specifically designed to help your child prepare for the Kent Test. They provide excellent mock exam preparation, highlighting your child’s strengths and weaknesses.
Practice Papers
➢ The following 11+ resources provide full preparation for the English section of the Kent Test, maximising your child’s comprehension and writing skills.
Practice Papers
Video Masterclasses
10 Minutes Test
Video Masterclasses
➢ The following 11+ resources extensively cover the Mathematics section of the Kent Test, allowing your child to thoroughly prepare for exam day.
Practice Papers
Video Masterclasses
10 Minutes Test
Video Masterclasses
➢ In order for your child to master Verbal Reasoning skills in the lead-up to the Kent Test, we recommend the following resources.
Practice Papers
10 Minutes Test
➢ In order for your child to master Verbal Reasoning skills in the lead-up to the Kent Test, we recommend the following resources.
Video Masterclasses
➢ The following resources will help boost your child’s Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning abilities ahead of the Kent Test.
Practice Papers
Video Masterclasses
Video Masterclasses
If you’d like to have your child’s writing assessed and marked, you may be interested in our Writing Marking Service. Please click here to learn more.
Don’t forget to use the code eppdiscount at checkout to get 10% off orders over £70 and 20% off orders over £250 if you don’t buy a bundle.
Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions have been included in The Skinners’ School 11+ past papers. The information provided about The Skinners’ School is believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the article.
Please note that Exam Papers Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Skinners’ School.
Frequently Asked Questions About 11+ Entry to The Skinners’ School
The Skinners’ School was established in 1887.
The Skinners’ School converted to academy status in 2014
The Skinners’ School typically hosts Open Evening in the Autumn term (October), welcoming prospective families on campus for a lively event packed with activities.
The Skinners’ School assesses prospective pupils through the standardised Kent Test (PESE), also used by other schools in the Kent Grammar School Consortium. The assessment covers English, Mathematics and Reasoning (Verbal, Non-Verbal and Spatial).
Parents applying to The Skinners’ School must register their child for the 11+ exam using an online portal, which can be accessed through the Kent County Council website. Residents of Kent also need to state The Skinners’ School as their preferred secondary school on the Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF).
Yes, you can apply for entry to up to four Kent grammar schools by naming them as preferences on the Secondary Common Application Form.
All 11+ applicants for entry to The Skinners’ School will be asked to sit the Kent (PESE) Test which tests English comprehension, Reasoning abilities and Mathematics. There will also be a creative writing paper, which isn’t marked for the purposes of the 11 Plus exam but may be used as evidence for borderline cases.
Yes, The Skinners’ School 11+ entrance exam does test Non-Verbal Reasoning, combining it with Spatial Reasoning questions.
One of the best ways to prepare for a challenging entrance exam, such as the Kent Test, is to use practice tests. They will provide your son with the opportunity to become familiar with the format and question types that he will encounter in the actual exam. Our practice papers are used successfully every year by hundreds of thousands of students targeting schools with a competitive entrance exam.
We recommend beginning with a few full practice tests, such as this one. These will act as diagnostics so you can quickly work out which areas your child needs to focus on. You can then select the relevant topic based material listed above to target weaker areas. Please get in touch if you need advice on how to prepare or what to focus on for each section and stage of the exam.
Our 11+ Kent Practice Tests replicate the format and style of the actual exam, effectively preparing students for success in this competitive assessment. Each practice test is designed to mimic the full examination experience, covering relevant Maths, English and Reasoning question types. More details are available on this page.
Historical data shows that most schools in the area do not admit applicants who have a standardised score of less than 109 and a total score of less than 332. Exam results from previous years suggest this correlates with a score of roughly 75%+ in our 11+ practice tests.
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Author(s)
Louise Lang
Director of Learning