Academy converter · Kent

Highsted Grammar School

11–18Ages
793Pupils
SecondaryPhase
SelectiveGrammar school
GirlsPupils
Sixth formAges 16–18
136305URN

Highsted Road, Sittingbourne, ME10 4PT · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jan 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.1per place

close to Kent median (3.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in KentSelective

336 applications for 109 places · 53rd of 103 in Kent

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

61.9of 90

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

30th of 100 in Kent

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 17 January 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

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

3.1applications per place, Year 7

close to Kent median (3.1) 0.9 above England median (2.2)

336 applications · 109 places offered · 139 named it first

SelectiveApplications include children who did not pass the entrance test.

2026 3.1; Kent median median 3.1
2025 2.9; Kent median median 3.0
2024 2.8; Kent median median 3.2
2023 3.3; Kent median median 3.2
2022 2.6; Kent median median 2.9
2021 2.8; Kent median median 3.6
2020 2.4; Kent median median 3.1
2019 2.3; Kent median median 2.9
2018 2.1; Kent median median 3.1
2017 2.2; Kent median median 3.0
2016 3.1; Kent median median 3.3
2015 3.0; Kent median median 3.2
2014 3.2; Kent median median 3.1

This school
Kent median

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

Selective: register for the entrance test with the school first, usually by the summer before (dates vary). Dates

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	109	336	3.1	139	1.28
Sep 2025	111	326	2.9	143	1.29
Sep 2024	130	368	2.8	159	1.22
Sep 2023	106	347	3.3	133	1.25
Sep 2022	118	309	2.6	141	1.19
Sep 2021	133	378	2.8	223	1.68
Sep 2020	147	350	2.4	187	1.27
Sep 2019	138	316	2.3	163	1.18
Sep 2018	142	304	2.1	154	1.08
Sep 2017	120	268	2.2	146	1.22
Sep 2016	111	344	3.1	149	1.34
Sep 2015	104	307	3.0	140	1.35
Sep 2014	103	327	3.2	134	1.30

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

143 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)61.930th of 100 in Kent

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths83%26th of 100 in Kent

Kent 35% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths94%

Kent 60% England 66%

This school
Kent median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.04

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	143	61.9	83%	94%	–
2024/25	142	61.1	82%	94%	–
2023/24	148	60.6	76%	92%	−0.04
2022/23	143	57.7	64%	90%	−0.25

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

Highsted Grammar SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

3.1applications per place 61.9Attainment 8 Selective
Fulston Manor School
0.1 km · Kent

Special measures 2026

4.5applications per place 36.8Attainment 8
Borden Grammar School
0.4 km · Kent

2026

2.8applications per place 62.7Attainment 8 Selective
The Sittingbourne School
1.3 km · Kent

Good2023

2.9applications per place 34.8Attainment 8
Westlands School
2.1 km · Kent

Remains Good2024

3.6applications per place 42.3Attainment 8
Leigh Academy Rainham
8.5 km · Medway

Good2024

3.9applications per place 44.5Attainment 8
Leigh Academy Minster
10.1 km · Kent

Not yet inspected

2.2applications per place 33.2Attainment 8
Rainham School for Girls
10.6 km · Medway

2026

2.2applications per place 44.8Attainment 8
The Howard School
10.6 km · Medway

2026

2.2applications per place 47.3Attainment 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: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 136305 · 886/4080
Trust: Highsted Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Selective
Capacity: 830 pupils · 793 on roll
Free school meals: 12.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 October 2010
Replaced: Highsted Grammar School (URN 118802)
Address: Highsted Road, Sittingbourne, ME10 4PT
Local authority: Kent · Swale

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