Academy converter · Kent

Hartsdown Academy

11–18Ages
868Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
136571URN

George V Avenue, Margate, CT9 5RE · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Feb 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.4per place

0.7 below Kent median (3.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in KentSelective

345 applications for 144 places · 74th of 103 in Kent

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

35.3of 90

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

90th of 100 in Kent

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 24 February 2026Published 28 April 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Strong standard	Expected standard	Needs attention
Inclusion		Strong standard
Curriculum and teaching			Expected standard
Achievement				Needs attention
Attendance and behaviour				Needs attention
Personal development and wellbeing			Expected standard
Early years	Does not apply to this school
Post-16 provision			Expected standard
Leadership and governance			Expected standard

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

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

24 February 2026
Report card · 1 Strong standard, 4 Expected standard, 2 Needs attention
7 December 2021
Graded inspection: 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

2.4applications per place, Year 7

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

345 applications · 144 places offered · 103 named it first

2026 2.4; Kent median median 3.1
2025 1.6; Kent median median 3.0
2024 1.5; Kent median median 3.2
2023 1.1; Kent median median 3.2
2022 1.3; Kent median median 2.9
2021 0.9; Kent median median 3.6
2020 0.9; Kent median median 3.1
2019 0.7; Kent median median 2.9
2018 1.0; Kent median median 3.1
2017 1.0; Kent median median 3.0
2016 1.6; Kent median median 3.3
2015 1.4; Kent median median 3.2
2014 1.4; Kent median median 3.1

More applications per place than the Kent median in 0 of 13 years.

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	144	345	2.4	103	0.72
Sep 2025	167	262	1.6	84	0.50
Sep 2024	172	249	1.5	84	0.49
Sep 2023	242	258	1.1	84	0.35
Sep 2022	142	183	1.3	82	0.58
Sep 2021	176	165	0.9	47	0.27
Sep 2020	176	156	0.9	62	0.35
Sep 2019	175	122	0.7	46	0.26
Sep 2018	178	172	1.0	51	0.29
Sep 2017	180	186	1.0	55	0.31
Sep 2016	164	254	1.6	87	0.53
Sep 2015	170	240	1.4	61	0.36
Sep 2014	175	247	1.4	99	0.57

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

147 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)35.390th of 100 in Kent

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths27%71st of 100 in Kent

Kent 35% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths45%

Kent 60% England 66%

This school
Kent median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.39

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	147	35.3	27%	45%	–
2024/25	137	32.1	20%	38%	–
2023/24	123	33.1	17%	37%	−0.39
2022/23	97	33.5	25%	42%	−0.40

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

Hartsdown AcademyThis school
This school

2026

2.4applications per place 35.3Attainment 8
Ursuline College
2.9 km · Kent

Good2022

2.7applications per place 40.0Attainment 8
King Ethelbert School
3.3 km · Kent

Good2024

3.6applications per place 38.7Attainment 8
St George's Church of England Foundation School
3.5 km · Kent

Standards maintained2024

4.2applications per place 37.4Attainment 8
The Royal Harbour Academy
3.7 km · Kent

Requires significant improvement 2026

2.3applications per place 31.1Attainment 8
Dane Court Grammar School
4.0 km · Kent

Good2022

3.5applications per place 67.2Attainment 8 Selective
The Charles Dickens School
4.2 km · Kent

Good2023

3.9applications per place 42.8Attainment 8
Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School
5.8 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.8applications per place 62.2Attainment 8 Selective
Sir Roger Manwood's School
12.2 km · Kent

Good2022

3.4applications per place 59.0Attainment 8 Selective

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: 136571 · 886/4172
Trust: Coastal Academies Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,175 pupils · 868 on roll
Free school meals: 63.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 April 2011
Replaced: Hartsdown Technology College (URN 118816)
Address: George V Avenue, Margate, CT9 5RE
Local authority: Kent · Thanet

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