The Folkestone School for Girls 11+ Guide

About The Folkestone School for Girls

The Folkestone School for Girls is a selective secondary school in Kent. For children to get into The Folkestone School for Girls they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, The Folkestone School for Girls is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.

Nestled in the charming coastal town of Kent, The Folkestone School for Girls is a beacon of academic excellence and holistic education. This esteemed academy school nurtures the minds of over 1,000 young women, aged 11-18, across six distinct houses: Austen, Curie, Johnson, Lovelace, Pankhurst, and Seacole. With a curriculum that emphasizes core subjects such as science, English, and mathematics, FSG encourages its students to become curious learners, build robust foundations of knowledge, and strive for excellence in higher education.

Beyond the realm of academics, The Folkestone School for Girls offers a rich tapestry of extracurricular activities, including dance, drama productions, and sporting events. As part of the school's enrichment programme, students embark on thrilling expeditions to far-flung destinations like Namibia, Cuba, Tanzania, and Nepal, while also exploring nearby locations of immense cultural, historical, and scientific significance. These experiences not only broaden their horizons but also foster a sense of global citizenship and personal growth.

At the heart of The Folkestone School for Girls' mission lies the unwavering commitment to helping each student realize her full potential, not just academically, but in every facet of life. The school encourages its students to excel in their studies, as evidenced by its impressive academic results. However, FSG also recognizes the importance of nurturing the whole person, empowering girls to explore and develop their talents across a wide spectrum of activities and experiences. This dedication to all-around education has earned The Folkestone School for Girls an "Outstanding" rating from Ofsted, cementing its position as a top-rated grammar academy.

As the sole state school for girls in Folkestone and Hythe that selects students based on academic merit, FSG takes pride in its rigorous educational standards. The school's unique "FSGBacc" programme challenges each student to undertake a personal challenge, cultivating essential qualities such as discipline, motivation, and confidence. Moreover, The Folkestone School for Girls boasts an impressive network of international partnerships with schools in France, Spain, Cuba, Morocco, Nepal, Tanzania, Bangladesh, and Lebanon, providing students with unparalleled opportunities for cultural exchange and global understanding.

School Information

Below you will find further information about The Folkestone School for Girls together with their admissions contact details.

The Folkestone School for Girls is a girls only school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).

In total 1,217 pupils attend The Folkestone School for Girls and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr Mark Lester.

The Folkestone School for Girls Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at The Folkestone School for Girls for the 2022-23 academic year.

Kent 11+ Test Information

In order to get into The Folkestone School for Girls, children need to pass the Kent 11+ Test. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.

Kent 11+ Test Subjects & Structure

The Kent 11+ Test requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• English
• Maths
• Verbal Reasoning
• Non-Verbal Reasoning
• Spatial Reasoning

The Kent Test is the entrance examination for students seeking admission to The Folkestone School for Girls. This assessment, provided by GL Assessment, consists of two multiple-choice papers that evaluate the candidate's abilities in various subjects.

The first paper, which lasts for one hour, focuses on English and maths. The questions in this section are based on the Key Stage 2 national curriculum, ensuring that the content aligns with the students' current level of education.

The second paper, also one hour in duration, assesses the candidate's skills in verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and spatial reasoning. These subjects are not typically taught in schools, so students may be less familiar with the question styles and formats. However, these sections aim to gauge the candidate's innate problem-solving abilities and potential for academic success.

Other Schools using Kent 11+ Test

As well as The Folkestone School for Girls, several other schools also use Kent 11+ Test. These are:

• Barton Court Grammar School
• Borden Grammar School
• Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School
• Cranbrook School
• Dane Court Grammar School
• Dartford Grammar School
• Dartford Grammar School for Girls
• Dover Grammar School for Boys
• Dover Grammar School for Girls
• Gravesend Grammar School
• Highsted Grammar School
• Highworth Grammar School
• Invicta Grammar School
• Maidstone Grammar School
• Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
• Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend
• Oakwood Park Grammar School
• Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
• Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School
• Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
• Sir Roger Manwood's School
• The Harvey Grammar School
• The Judd School
• The Norton Knatchbull School
• The Skinners' School
• Tonbridge Grammar School
• Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School
• Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
• Weald of Kent Grammar School
• Wilmington Grammar School for Boys
• Wilmington Grammar School for Girls

Kent 11+ Test Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as The Folkestone School for Girls is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

Kent 11+ Test Pass Mark

The pass mark for the Kent 11+ Test changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at The Folkestone School for Girls, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Kent 11+ Test Key Dates for your Diary

Here are all the important dates for the Kent 11+ Test tests (to get into The Folkestone School for Girls) as well as other relevant dates.

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with The Folkestone School for Girls as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

The Folkestone School for Girls was last inspected by Ofsted on 11/10/2012 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 25/10/2012, declaring that the school was 'Outstanding'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for The Folkestone School for Girls per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

Past 11+ Paper Downloads

Here are all available past 11+ papers for The Folkestone School for Girls. Please note that this may include past 11+ papers, past familiarisation booklets, past practice materials published by third parties and past 11+ exam guides written by the school. These materials are provided 'as-is' and may no longer reflect the subjects, format, structure or exam board that The Folkestone School for Girls currently uses.

The exam board that The Folkestone School for Girls chooses to use for their 11+ entrance tests can change and we encourage you to check directly with the school.

Practice 11+ Paper Downloads

Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Kent 11+ Test Ensure you double-check with The Folkestone School for Girls which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.