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Welcome to Cranbrook School

Cranbrook is a genuinely unique place. It is a co-educational grammar school in the heart of the glorious Wealden countryside. It is one of only a small number of state boarding schools in the UK. And it is an ancient school, founded in 1518 and given its royal charter by Elizabeth I in 1574.Our students thrive thanks to the breadth and challenge of our curriculum, and our emphasis on growing character as much as minds. We balance a traditional academic curriculum with a busy co-curriculum of competitive sport, music, drama, CCF, DofE and student-led societies. Opportunities for independent thought and leadership are many – particularly for senior pupils, who benefit from the social and academic buzz to be found in our new Sixth Form Centre. Our academic results are consistently among the best for state schools in the country, and our leavers head to a variety of top destinations, including Oxbridge and many Russell Group universities.Our 250 boarders give us a rare and special dimension among grammar schools. Their experience in our boarding family is happy and vibrant thanks to the excellent accommodation in our six Houses, our skilled, dedicated House teams, and an extensive programme of activities. Our boarders hail from the UK and overseas and enrich our community with different cultures and perspectives. We are proud to celebrate and promote them all across the School.Cranbrook is a beautiful place to live and grow up. With 75 acres of our own green space on the site, we are an integral part of the aerial patchwork of the Weald’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – it’s fantastic for the wellbeing of both students and staff. We are half an hour from the coast, and not much further from London and its airports.We are a school for life, with a very active parent and alumnus body locally and further afield. Cranbrookians develop independent spirits, have a passion for team sports and the arts, are curious about their world and make lifelong friendships. They acquire enviable soft skills during their time with us and leave school with confidence to tackle future challenges and to seize exciting opportunities that lie ahead.Please come and visit. It will be a pleasure to meet you and your family.David ClarkHead

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Boarding Type

No Boarder

School Type

Academies

Suitable Ages

11 to 18

Gender

Mixed

No. of Students

918 Total

No. of Boys

488 (53.2%)

No. of Girls

430 (46.8%)


Academic Excellence

GCSE Results

Latest Examination

71.8%

Students achieving A*/A grades (9/8/7)

A-Level Results

Sixth Form Performance

A* grades

12.57%

A*/A grades

36.54%


Leavers' Destinations

Destinations after GCSEs

Staying in education

100%

School

79%

England

Apprenticeships

0%

School

3%

England

Further education

School:3%
England:51%

School sixth form

School:94%
England:19%

Sixth form college

School:1%
England:7%

Other education destinations

School:2%
England:2%

Destinations after A-Levels

UK higher education

51%

School

1%

England

Apprenticeships

1%

School

19%

England

Higher education or training

School:81%
England:63%

Further education

School:3%
England:4%

Employment

School:27%
England:35%

Not sustained in education/employment

School:10%
England:26%


Exciting Events Ahead!

A detailed admissions process on ApplicaaOne is coming soon.

Please see our website for more information on our admissions process.


Admissions Process

Start Application
Nov 2025Dec 2025

Application Window

Sixth Form Open Evening

Key Dates & Deadlines

Nov 1, 2025

Opening of Application for September 2026

Nov 5, 2025

Sixth Form Open Evening

Dec 15, 2025

Application Deadline


Term Dates & Half-Term Holidays

Planning ahead for school holidays? Below are the term dates and half-term dates for the 2025/2026 academic year.

Autumn

2 terms

Half Term 1

Sep 1 - Oct 17

Half Term 2

Oct 27 - Dec 19

Spring

2 terms

Half Term 1

Jan 5 - Feb 13

Half Term 2

Feb 23 - Apr 2

Summer

2 terms

Half Term 1

Apr 20 - May 22

Half Term 2

Jun 1 - Jul 21

Half-Term & Holiday Dates

Autumn Half Term

Oct 20 - Oct 24

Christmas Holidays

Dec 22 - Jan 2

Spring Half Term

Feb 16 - Feb 20

Easter Holidays

Apr 3 - Apr 17

May Half Term

May 25 - May 29

Summer Holidays

Jul 22 - Aug 28


Alumni Stories

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Updates Coming Soon!

We’ll be sharing information about the destinations of our alumni here soon.


Enrichment Activities

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At Cranbrook School, education goes beyond the classroom. Our extensive range of clubs and activities allows students to explore their interests, develop new skills and build friendships in a supportive and stimulating environment. Whether it’s academic enrichment, creative expression or physical activity, there is something for everyone.

Academic Societies
From STEM Club to Debating and Creative Writing, students can deepen their knowledge in their favourite subjects or explore new fields of interest.
Creative Arts
Students can express themselves through Art Club, Drama, Music ensembles and Photography.
Leadership & Service
Clubs like Model United Nations, Eco-Club and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award foster teamwork and personal growth.

Ready to Apply?

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About School

RegionSouth East
Local AuthorityKent
Ofsted RatingGood
Gender TypeMixed