Academy converter · Kent

King Ethelbert School

11–18Ages
845Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
136584URN

Canterbury Road, Birchington, CT7 9BL · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2024 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.6per place

0.5 above Kent median (3.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in KentSelective

537 applications for 150 places · 35th of 103 in Kent

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

38.7of 90

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

68th of 100 in Kent

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 4 June 2024Ofsted'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

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

3.6applications per place, Year 7

0.5 above Kent median (3.1) 1.4 above England median (2.2)

537 applications · 150 places offered · 144 named it first

2026 3.6; Kent median median 3.1
2025 3.6; Kent median median 3.0
2024 4.0; Kent median median 3.2
2023 4.3; Kent median median 3.2
2022 4.0; Kent median median 2.9
2021 5.3; Kent median median 3.6
2020 4.7; Kent median median 3.1
2019 5.2; Kent median median 2.9
2018 5.2; Kent median median 3.1
2017 4.9; Kent median median 3.0
2016 4.5; Kent median median 3.3
2015 4.2; Kent median median 3.2
2014 3.5; Kent median median 3.1

More applications per place than the Kent median in 13 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	150	537	3.6	144	0.96
Sep 2025	151	542	3.6	164	1.09
Sep 2024	151	597	4.0	189	1.25
Sep 2023	148	633	4.3	190	1.28
Sep 2022	147	587	4.0	179	1.22
Sep 2021	156	822	5.3	170	1.09
Sep 2020	152	720	4.7	273	1.80
Sep 2019	147	771	5.2	266	1.81
Sep 2018	148	772	5.2	283	1.91
Sep 2017	157	766	4.9	278	1.77
Sep 2016	151	677	4.5	218	1.44
Sep 2015	158	661	4.2	231	1.46
Sep 2014	158	546	3.5	195	1.23

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

145 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)38.768th of 100 in Kent

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths26%77th of 100 in Kent

Kent 35% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths50%

Kent 60% England 66%

This school
Kent median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.43

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	145	38.7	26%	50%	–
2024/25	141	36.8	22%	39%	–
2023/24	138	35.2	20%	47%	−0.43
2022/23	145	42.6	29%	62%	−0.16

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

King Ethelbert SchoolThis school
This school

Good2024

3.6applications per place 38.7Attainment 8
Ursuline College
0.4 km · Kent

Good2022

2.7applications per place 40.0Attainment 8
Hartsdown Academy
3.3 km · Kent

2026

2.4applications per place 35.3Attainment 8
The Royal Harbour Academy
5.7 km · Kent

Requires significant improvement 2026

2.3applications per place 31.1Attainment 8
St George's Church of England Foundation School
6.3 km · Kent

Standards maintained2024

4.2applications per place 37.4Attainment 8
Dane Court Grammar School
6.9 km · Kent

Good2022

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

Good2023

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

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.8applications per place 62.2Attainment 8 Selective
Sir Roger Manwood's School
11.8 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: 136584 · 886/4120
Trust: Coastal Academies Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 870 pupils · 845 on roll
Free school meals: 40.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 April 2011
Replaced: King Ethelbert School (URN 118810)
Address: Canterbury Road, Birchington, CT7 9BL
Local authority: Kent · Thanet

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