Academy sponsor led · Kent

The Sittingbourne School

11–19Ages
1,556Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
137687URN

Swanstree Avenue, Sittingbourne, ME10 4NL · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.9per place

close to Kent median (3.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in KentSelective

808 applications for 275 places · 59th of 103 in Kent

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

34.8of 90

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

92nd of 100 in Kent

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 21 March 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

2.9applications per place, Year 7

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

808 applications · 275 places offered · 187 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

2026 2.9; Kent median median 3.1
2025 3.1; Kent median median 3.0
2024 3.5; Kent median median 3.2
2023 3.2; Kent median median 3.2
2022 2.5; Kent median median 2.9
2021 2.2; Kent median median 3.6
2020 2.7; Kent median median 3.1
2019 2.5; Kent median median 2.9
2018 2.2; Kent median median 3.1
2017 2.5; Kent median median 3.0
2016 3.2; Kent median median 3.3
2015 3.2; Kent median median 3.2
2014 3.0; 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	275	808	2.9	187	0.68
Sep 2025	265	809	3.1	202	0.76
Sep 2024	257	890	3.5	202	0.79
Sep 2023	270	868	3.2	210	0.78
Sep 2022	276	693	2.5	194	0.70
Sep 2021	285	614	2.2	143	0.50
Sep 2020	249	666	2.7	185	0.74
Sep 2019	257	646	2.5	151	0.59
Sep 2018	266	582	2.2	172	0.65
Sep 2017	258	634	2.5	177	0.69
Sep 2016	225	719	3.2	155	0.69
Sep 2015	197	638	3.2	134	0.68
Sep 2014	201	604	3.0	96	0.48

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

281 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)34.892nd of 100 in Kent

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths24%78th of 100 in Kent

Kent 35% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths43%

Kent 60% England 66%

This school
Kent median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.70

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	281	34.8	24%	43%	–
2024/25	271	34.1	24%	48%	–
2023/24	257	33.2	21%	41%	−0.70
2022/23	264	36.6	22%	48%	−0.53

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 Sittingbourne SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.9applications per place 34.8Attainment 8
Highsted Grammar School
1.3 km · Kent

Good2023

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

Special measures 2026

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

2026

2.8applications per place 62.7Attainment 8 Selective
Westlands School
3.4 km · Kent

Remains Good2024

3.6applications per place 42.3Attainment 8
The Abbey School
9.5 km · Kent

Serious weaknesses 2026

1.9applications per place 36.7Attainment 8
Leigh Academy Rainham
9.8 km · Medway

Good2024

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

Not yet inspected

2.2applications per place 33.2Attainment 8
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
9.9 km · Kent

Good2023

3.0applications per place 65.7Attainment 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 sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137687 · 886/4002
Trust: Swale Academies Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,350 pupils · 1,556 on roll
Free school meals: 39.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Opened: 1 January 2012
Replaced: Sittingbourne Community College (URN 118833)
Address: Swanstree Avenue, Sittingbourne, ME10 4NL
Local authority: Kent · Swale

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