Foundation school · Kent

The Archbishop's School

11–18Ages
770Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
Sixth formAges 16–18
118898URN

St Stephens Hill, Canterbury, CT2 7AP · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.1per place

1.0 below Kent median (3.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in KentSelective

275 applications for 133 places · 87th of 103 in Kent

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

32.1of 90

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

95th of 100 in Kent

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 22 November 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education	Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Good
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management	Good
Sixth form provision		Requires improvement

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.1applications per place, Year 7

1.0 below Kent median (3.1) close to England median (2.2)

275 applications · 133 places offered · 64 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.1; Kent median median 3.1
2025 2.1; Kent median median 3.0
2024 1.7; Kent median median 3.2
2023 1.2; Kent median median 3.2
2022 0.8; Kent median median 2.9
2021 1.6; Kent median median 3.6
2020 1.9; Kent median median 3.1
2019 2.3; Kent median median 2.9
2018 3.2; Kent median median 3.1
2017 3.5; Kent median median 3.0
2016 3.9; Kent median median 3.3
2015 3.5; Kent median median 3.2
2014 4.1; Kent median median 3.1

This school
Kent median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	133	275	2.1	64	0.48
Sep 2025	142	302	2.1	68	0.48
Sep 2024	127	214	1.7	51	0.40
Sep 2023	160	195	1.2	53	0.33
Sep 2022	220	170	0.8	45	0.20
Sep 2021	183	295	1.6	32	0.17
Sep 2020	161	307	1.9	68	0.42
Sep 2019	140	323	2.3	64	0.46
Sep 2018	138	435	3.2	96	0.70
Sep 2017	147	513	3.5	125	0.85
Sep 2016	140	540	3.9	101	0.72
Sep 2015	136	476	3.5	112	0.82
Sep 2014	138	560	4.1	137	0.99

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

140 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)32.195th of 100 in Kent

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths19%90th of 100 in Kent

Kent 35% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths39%

Kent 60% England 66%

This school
Kent median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.79

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	140	32.1	19%	39%	–
2024/25	126	35.2	21%	44%	–
2023/24	110	36.6	31%	49%	−0.79
2022/23	116	37.8	23%	44%	−0.43

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

The Archbishop's SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.1applications per place 32.1Attainment 8
The Canterbury Academy
1.9 km · Kent

2026

4.2applications per place 35.2Attainment 8
Barton Court Grammar School
2.3 km · Kent

Standards maintained2024

6.7applications per place 66.1Attainment 8 Selective
Barton Manor School
2.9 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2025

4.5applications per place
Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School
3.6 km · Kent

Remains Good · improving2023

3.1applications per place 66.0Attainment 8 Selective
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
3.8 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.3applications per place 69.4Attainment 8 Selective
St Anselm's Catholic School, Canterbury
3.9 km · Kent

Good2023

4.8applications per place 45.0Attainment 8
Orion Spires
5.6 km · Kent

Good2023

2.5applications per place 39.2Attainment 8
The Whitstable School
6.8 km · Kent

Good2024

2.6applications per place 37.4Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Foundation school
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 118898 · 886/5426
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 900 pupils · 770 on roll
Free school meals: 56.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Address: St Stephens Hill, Canterbury, CT2 7AP
Local authority: Kent · Canterbury

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources