Cranbrook School, Cranbrook
This co-educational grammar school, sitting in the heart of Kent’s countryside, has a strong academic reputation. Plus, it’s one of only 7 state boarding schools in England, making it a highly sought after option.
WHAT? WHERE?
A rather unique, co-educational grammar school in the heart of Kent’s glorious Wealden countryside, Cranbrook School is one of only nine selective state boarding schools in the whole of the UK (two of which are in Northern Ireland).
Founded in 1518 (and given its royal charter by Elizabeth I in 1574) it has a long-standing history, although today you’ll find it buzzing with a vibrant, modern approach to education, having built an excellent reputation from Year 7 through to its highly-sought after Sixth Form.
The 250 boarders give the school a rare and special dimension among grammar schools. With over 650 day pupils (for whom it’s free) and highly competitive fees for boarding (the cost is only for boarding, not tuition) – plus a brand new Head from the independent school sector – this school continues to go from strength to strength.
FACILITIES
For a state school, Cranbrook does very well in terms of facilities – the main difference between here and the independents being that some bits might not be quite as show-stopping and shiny. But that blow is no doubt softened by the zero school fees.
Facilities include a Performing Arts Centre (pictured above) and the Queen’s Hall Theatre (pictured below), a local community theatre located in the heart of the school, which is where Cranbrook pupils put on curricular and co-curricular performances as well as it playing host to a full annual calendar of touring theatre and comedy.
There’s also a large Library, Sixth Form Centre, Sports Hall, Astro, outdoor swimming pool, CCF shooting range and the Sellers Observatory. Appropriately this is named after Old Cranbrookian and NASA astronaut Dr Piers Sellers OBE.
Also, although Cranbrook is a town-based school it’s not short on green space, spreading over 75 acres of grounds and fields, smack bang in the middle of the Weald’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Cranbrook itself is a charming, smaller and picturesque town which offers just the right amount of freedom for Sixth Form pupils (who are allowed into town for lunch if they sign in/out) while being a very manageable size. And unlike many of the secondary/senior schools in towns, this is the ONLY school in Cranbrook, so that puts it right at the heart of the community.
SPORT
The Sports Hall is equipped with weights gym, cardio suite and dance studio – and outside there’s a heated swimming pool, netball courts, squash courts, playing fields and an all-weather astroturf pitch.
Traditional sports are on offer – rugby, hockey, netball, tennis, cricket and athletics. Fixtures take place most Saturdays against top grammar and independent schools. Many teams enter county and national cup competitions and are often very successful. They have also recently introduced rowing in the Sixth Form, which has already become an extremely popular option.
In addition to team sports, there’s fitness and dance led by staff, specialist outside teachers and students. The dance clubs include street, contemporary and musical theatre and work towards choreographed pieces for the popular annual performance of ‘DanSing’ which is held every year in November (pictured above). Yoga has also been a popular new addition for students and staff alike.
ART
The Art department at Cranbrook is a bit of a hidden gem. Few highly selective grammars get a really strong reputation for their Arts offering, but we think this might be one to watch.
While at first glance it might seem that other schools have more choice – there are no individual GCSE or A Level options for Graphic Art, Photography and Design, for example. But what is evident in the Art department here is that ALL of those genres are covered – and indeed encouraged. So as well as the basics of fine art your child can pursue their particular creative interests in a free and supportive environment where they will be given a full, er, artistic licence.
Muddy had the privilege of attending the 2023 GCSE and A Level Art Exhibition and it was a vibrant space, jam-packed full of creativity and a huge scope of experimental art.
From a door bursting with other-worldly organisms (see image above, top left – this student went on to study Set Design) to a mannequin that depicted one pupil’s struggle with Leukemia… the freedom to experiment and find their own creative voice and talent is evident here. Students have gone on to study at the world-renowned arts and design institution, Central Saint Martins, University of Arts London.
MUSIC & DRAMA
The School has an Orchestra, Jazz Band, Choir, Saxophone group, String Quartets, Rock Group, Stomp Style Percussion group, Brass Group and a chamber choir. In addition to providing music for whole school occasions, students regularly take part in concerts and recitals.
There are also many opportunities for pupils to play in School and House Assemblies. The school has nineteen visiting music teachers, with over 200 peripatetic music lessons taught each week.
There are opportunities for all to participate in the Whole School Production (the school alternates between a play and musical) and the Junior Production. They also perform all GCSE and A Level pieces to a public audience, creating further opportunities for performances.
Being under the spotlight not your child’s thing? The Queen’s Hall is largely run by Cranbrook School’s Theatre Manager and he is supported by a student-led technical team. The students are provided with training in such skills as lighting, sound, and stage-management.
ACADEMICS
Average class sizes hover around 25 (and never exceeds 30) at KS3 & KS4 and 15 at KS5. So normal numbers for a state school, having said that, as a selective environment, most pupils are highly engaged in their learning so discipline and focus are excellent.
Five years ago Cranbrook was 13-plus entry level (so Year 9) which resulted in a large number (around 70 per cent) of the cohort coming from local prep schools. In September 2018 Year 7 entry began for the first time, opening the school up via the Kent Test and each year 90 pupils are offered a place.
The Year 9 entry is expected to greatly reduce and is currently under consultation. For 2024, Year 9 admissions will remain and 38 day students and 52 boarding students, but this is expected to be almost entirely phased out. Sixth Form is another entry point option, with around 30 additional pupils joining at this stage.
As far as exam results go, almost half of all GCSE grades were achieved in grades 7 to 9 – the equivalent of A – *A under the previous grading system. At A Level over 80 per cent were grade A*- C.
Places are highly sought after and families will move into the CCA – Cranbrook Catchment Area – solely driven by the desire to get their offspring into this school. In fact, securing a place at Cranbrook is the end goal for a lot of parents at several local preps. For example, Marlborough House School in Hawkhurst boasts in their marketing material that pupils achieve ‘an enviable 100% Cranbrook School Year 9 entrance exam pass rate.’ It’s what parents want to hear.
SIXTH FORM
One of the most memorable stages in a student’s time at school is Sixth Form and this is very much recognised at Cranbrook. With a combined total of 320 students in the Lower & Upper Sixth, a dedicated Sixth Form Centre (pictured above and below) and a bespoke Cranbrook Diploma Programme – it’s a busy, challenging and rewarding time.
A Level options are fairly traditional – no Film Studies or Design & Technology here (although if you do have a creative child, Drama & Theatre or Art A Levels are very highly regarded).
Teaching at this age has a very collaborative feel – with pupils starting to move towards that higher education model. While students are well supported they are encouraged to take charge of their own studies.
Progress is closely monitored and everyone receives careers advice from CSK, the school’s provider, and next steps/higher education guidance is given individually by teachers who have specialist knowledge of a particular range of degree courses.
Results are typically much higher than the UK average but importantly students have a record of exceptional success in achieving places at leading higher education destinations in the UK.
Annually students gain places at Oxbridge and around half of students go on to the prestigious Russell Group Universities with Exeter, Cardiff, Edinburgh, UCL and Warwick all popular. Performing Arts continue to go from strength to strength with students entering top institutions such as Central Saint Martins University of Arts London.
PASTORAL CARE
There are five day houses and six boarding houses. Junior students have their own day house: Sellers House which consists of the 120 students in Years 7 and 8.
Within the houses each year group has a Tutor who works with the Head of House in sharing the responsibility for the welfare, wellbeing, safety and progress of all students in their house. The school partners Place2Be – a children and young people’s mental health charity providing counselling, mental health support, and training in UK schools.
Laura Mercer is the School Project Manager who works closely with the Heads of Houses, the Safeguarding Team and the Medical Centre as well as other staff across the school.
There’s a dedicated room in Crane House where young people can go to express themselves and think about their worries through talking and creative work alongside Trained Counsellors.
BOARDING & WRAP AROUND CARE
School Lodge is the entrance house for boys boarding with 34 Year 9 boys coming from a wide variety of different schools. The girls boarding is split between two houses, Blueberry and Scott and home to pupils from Year 9 to Year 13.
The majority of boarders are also fairly local and often live within a 50 mile radius of the school, such as London and the South East.
250 boarders gives Cranbrook a rare and special dimension among grammar schools. Each of the six Houses has its own character and traditions with a dedicated House team. Tutors visit the house daily to supervise prep time and offer additional academic or pastoral support and guidance.
There’s plenty of hard-fought Inter-House competitions that are testament to the attachment of pupils to their house. Boarding is popular, students benefit from having all the school’s sports facilities in the evenings and at weekends, plus the town on their doorstep.
THE HEAD
David Clark took over as Head teacher at the start of this academic term (Sept 2023), joining the school after a decade at Battle Abbey, in Sussex. Clark is an extremely affable and approachable leader, highly energised and passionate about his new role. He comes with his wife and three boys, plus experience of boarding schools while growing up and a love of sports.
Having started his teaching career in big comprehensives, Clark then moved to Caterham School where he was head of Politics then Head of Sixth Form, before being promoted to Deputy Head. From there, he secured his first headship at Battle Abbey School and he had ten happy years there before recently joining Cranbrook School.
In his role as Head he still somehow manages to find the time to teach Year 7 History lessons – in order to get to know the students from the grass roots up as they join the school. Already proving popular with both pupils and parents, the general refrain from everyone is Battle Abbey’s loss is Cranbrook’s gain. Clark has inherited a school in good shape, but he wants to evolve the school into its next phase and is clearly just the right man for the job.
QUIRKS & USP
A state school that offers many of the attractive features of an independent – reputation, academics, opportunities and boarding – is a pretty strong USP. Having just hooked a head from the independent sector, it might come as no surprise to hear that Cranbrook School has set its intention of becoming the leading co-educational selective state boarding school in the UK.
WHAT ELSE?
Parents report that students tend to thrive thanks to the breadth and challenge of the curriculum and the school’s emphasis on growing character as much as minds. As well as a traditional academic curriculum, there’s a busy co-curriculum of competitive sport, music, drama, CCF (pictured above), DofE and student-led societies.
OFSTED REPORT
Click here for Inspection Reports. Cranbrook School was found to be Outstanding in Behaviour and attitudes as well as Personal development.
MOBILE PHONE POLICY
During the school day, students in Years 7-11 must not use mobile phones or headphones/earphones in or out of lessons, unless this has been permitted by the class teacher. Sixth Form students may use mobile phones in the Sixth Form Centre only.
TRANSPORT
Kent County Council School Transport provide transport to and from school for children who are eligible. Details can be found on their website here
FEES
Boarding Fees for the 2023-2024 academic year:
Boarders starting in Years 9-11 – £5,050 per term (£15,150 per annum)
Boarders starting in Years 12-13 – £6,050 per term (£18,150 per annum)
WORD ON THE GROUND
Parents are pretty unanimous that Cranbrook is a genuinely unique place and a stand-out state school offering. The boarding element brings a welcome mix of pupils from different backgrounds and countries giving it an international feel that benefits all.
At the same time, moving into the catchment area and gaining a place here is the raison d’être for a lot of local families too and many feed in from several nearby preps. Every year large cohort will choose Cranbrook over independent schools, which says it all really.
THE MUDDY VERDICT
Good for: A friendly, inclusive school with a welcoming vibe that runs through its veins. There’s certainly no ‘type’ here, but if you have a child that wants to get stuck in, then they’ll thrive. Brilliant option for Boarding – fees are extremely competitive, in fact comparable to Day fees at independent schools. And, of course, boarders don’t have to be international. You might live fairly locally – like London, Surrey or Sussex – instead of looking at independent Day options, why not consider boarding at Cranbrook School for the same price? It’s definitely character building.
Not for: As a selective school there’s a lot of focus on preparing for the Kent 11+ Test, but consider whether your child will keep up once at the school. This is a big school and there is an expectation that pupils take responsibility for their own learning, so anyone who benefits from smaller class sizes and lots of support might be better suited elsewhere.
Go see for yourself: If you have any questions at all about the admissions procedure or for more info on joining Cranbrook School in September 2024, please contact the Registrar by emailing registrar@cranbrook.kent.sch.uk.
Cranbrook School, Waterloo Rd, Cranbrook, TN17 3JD, Tel: 01580 711800
Open in Google Maps