The Harvey Grammar School
Folkestone, Kent · Boys · 11-18
Reviewed against the school’s own admissions policy · September 2026
The Harvey Grammar School, Folkestone — a selective 11-18 boys' grammar school founded in 1674. Kent Test (or the school's own Shepway Test) admissions with a Folkestone & Hythe priority.
Key facts
| Gender intake | Boys |
| Age range | 11-18 |
| Admissions test | Kent Test |
| Year 7 places (PAN) | 150 |
| Official website | www.harveygs.kent.sch.uk/ |
The entrance test
Every applicant sits the first stage; each step below narrows to the last.
Sit the Kent Test or the school's Shepway Test
Reach the selective standard in either
Ranked — Folkestone & Hythe district first, then distance
Places offered
150
A boys' grammar school (11-18) in Folkestone, founded 1674. A boy is eligible for consideration by reaching the selective standard in either the county Kent Test or the school's own 'Shepway Test' — the two are alternative routes. When oversubscribed, priority runs looked-after children, then Pupil Premium-eligible boys in the Folkestone & Hythe district, then other boys in the district, then everyone else — nearest first within each group.
How places are decided
Priority order when the school is oversubscribed. The small categories are settled first.
- 1Looked-after & previously looked-after boys
- 2Pupil Premium boys in the Folkestone & Hythe district
- 3Other boys in the Folkestone & Hythe districtmost places
- 4Boys outside the district — by distance
Catchment & priority area
Area-based priority
No true catchment area, but the district of Folkestone & Hythe (formerly Shepway — Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate, Hawkinge and the Romney Marsh towns) is a priority band in the oversubscription order. Its exact boundary is a map in the school's admission policy. Straight-line distance decides within each tier.
Key dates
The same timetable for every Kent grammar school. Confirm the current year with KCC.
1 June – 1 July
Register for the Kent Test with KCC
Early September
Test sat, in Year 6
15 October
Results released
1 March
National offer day
Always verify against the school’s own current admissions policy — criteria, catchment boundaries and places-available can all change between admissions cycles, and The Harvey Grammar School’s own website is the authoritative source, not this page.
All Kent grammar schools use the same county-wide test — see the format, timeline and registration process. For the wider picture of grammar schools across England, see UK Grammar Schools: List, Competition & Results.
Common questions about The Harvey Grammar School
What is the catchment area for The Harvey Grammar School?
There is no true catchment, but the district of Folkestone & Hythe (formerly Shepway) is a priority band — Pupil Premium boys in the district come first, then other boys in the district, then boys elsewhere, nearest first within each group.
Does The Harvey Grammar School admit girls?
No — it is a boys' school throughout, including the sixth form.
What is the Shepway Test at The Harvey Grammar School?
The school's own selection test (verbal and non-verbal reasoning, English and maths). It is a full alternative route to the county Kent Test — reaching the standard in either qualifies a boy for consideration. Parents still register for the Kent Test as part of the process.
How many places does The Harvey Grammar School offer?
The Published Admission Number for Year 7 is 150.
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