Highsted Grammar School
Sittingbourne, Kent · ME10 4PT
Highsted Grammar School is a day girls' grammar school in Sittingbourne, Kent, serving 837 pupils from age 11 through the sixth form. The school emphasises a 'Compassion Curriculum' and student leadership, positioning itself as a place where young women are encouraged to take intellectual and personal risks. With a motto-like statement 'To seek, to learn, today... to shape, to lead, tomorrow', Highsted projects an ethos combining academic rigour with pastoral care and cultural capital development.
- →Selective grammar school entry ensures academically cohesive peer group
- →Emphasis on student voice, leadership development, and pastoral wellbeing (the 'Highsted Hive')
- →Strong STEM provision ('STEM for All') and commitment to reading/literacy across the curriculum
- →Girls-only environment positioned to empower female students in leadership roles
Who thrives here
Highsted suits academically able girls from middle-class professional families who value traditional grammar school rigour alongside modern pastoral care and enrichment. It appeals to families seeking a selective single-sex environment with strong focus on student leadership and wellbeing culture.
Strengths at a glance
Percentiles within UK independent + grammar schools we track.
At a glance
Contact & visit
Highsted Road
Sittingbourne, Kent
ME10 4PT
Nearest stations
Frequently asked questions
How much does Highsted Grammar School cost?
Highsted Grammar School is a state grammar school, so there are no tuition fees — places are free and allocated by the 11-plus exam and the school’s admissions criteria.
How do you get into Highsted Grammar School?
Highsted Grammar School admits pupils at 11+, 13+, 16+. Entry is assessed by 11+ Selective Examination. See the Admissions section above for open days and key dates.
What are Highsted Grammar School's exam results?
At Highsted Grammar School, 9.6% of A-levels were graded A*–B and 34% of GCSEs were grade 7/A or above. Full results are in the Results section above.
Is Highsted Grammar School a boarding school?
Highsted Grammar School is a day school in Sittingbourne and does not offer boarding.
What is Highsted Grammar School's latest inspection rating?
Ofsted rated Highsted Grammar School “Good” (2023).
What parents say
Frequently praised
✓Strong pastoral care and mental health support ('Highsted Hive' wellbeing framework)
✓Excellent student leadership opportunities and student voice in school decision-making
✓Emphasis on cultural capital, enrichment, and 'super-curriculum' beyond exam content
✓Girls-only environment empowering female students to lead and take risks
✓Caring, cohesive community culture described as 'happy'
Common concerns
!Not yet inspected by Ofsted — no independent validation of teaching quality or progress measures
!Limited public information on examination results, university destinations, or sports/music facilities
!As newer academy (likely), track record of sustained excellence not yet established
!Selective intake may limit diversity of perspectives and backgrounds within the school