Academy converter · Kent

Cranbrook School

11–18Ages
958Pupils
SecondaryPhase
SelectiveGrammar school
ChristianReligious character
Sixth formAges 16–18
137739URN

Waterloo Road, Cranbrook, TN17 3JD · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected May 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.2per place

close to Kent median (3.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in KentSelective

281 applications for 88 places · 49th of 103 in Kent

Every year since 2017

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

68.3of 90

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

11th of 100 in Kent

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 6 May 2026Published 6 July 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Strong standard	Expected standard
Inclusion			Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching			Expected standard
Achievement		Strong standard
Attendance and behaviour		Strong standard
Personal development and wellbeing			Expected standard
Early years	Does not apply to this school
Post-16 provision		Strong 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

6 May 2026
Report card · 3 Strong standard, 4 Expected standard
22 March 2022
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

3.2applications per place, Year 7

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

281 applications · 88 places offered · 143 named it first

SelectiveApplications include children who did not pass the entrance test.

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 3.2; Kent median median 3.1
2025 3.1; Kent median median 3.0
2024 2.9; Kent median median 3.2
2023 3.0; Kent median median 3.2
2022 3.6; Kent median median 2.9
2021 5.7; Kent median median 3.6
2020 4.0; Kent median median 3.1
2019 3.6; Kent median median 2.9
2018 3.9; Kent median median 3.1
2017 4.7; Kent median median 3.0

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	88	281	3.2	143	1.63
Sep 2025	89	272	3.1	140	1.57
Sep 2024	90	258	2.9	133	1.48
Sep 2023	90	268	3.0	147	1.63
Sep 2022	59	211	3.6	118	2.00
Sep 2021	57	326	5.7	157	2.75
Sep 2020	58	229	4.0	94	1.62
Sep 2019	60	216	3.6	92	1.53
Sep 2018	59	229	3.9	93	1.58
Sep 2017	30	140	4.7	52	1.73

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

144 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)68.311th of 100 in Kent

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths89%21st of 100 in Kent

Kent 35% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths97%

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.)	144	68.3	89%	97%	–
2024/25	153	66.9	86%	95%	–
2023/24	149	69.1	94%	100%	+0.43
2022/23	153	66.0	83%	96%	+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

Cranbrook SchoolThis school
This school

2026

3.2applications per place 68.3Attainment 8 Selective
Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre
11.1 km · Kent

Good2023

1.9applications per place 37.7Attainment 8
Leigh Academy Mascalls
13.2 km · Kent

2026

1.8applications per place 41.9Attainment 8
Robertsbridge Community College
13.4 km · East Sussex

Special measures Inadequate2024

1.9applications per place 40.3Attainment 8
Uplands Academy
14.5 km · East Sussex

Standards maintained2025

1.9applications per place 46.4Attainment 8
Cornwallis Academy
15.0 km · Kent

Remains Good2023

3.2applications per place 37.2Attainment 8
New Line Learning Academy
17.0 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.3applications per place 29.2Attainment 8
Skinners' Kent Academy
17.9 km · Kent

Good2023

3.6applications per place 43.8Attainment 8
Maidstone Grammar School
18.7 km · Kent

Standards maintained2024

3.1applications per place 67.0Attainment 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: 137739 · 886/5416
Trust: Cranbrook School Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Selective
Religious character: Christian
Capacity: 954 pupils · 958 on roll
Free school meals: 4.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 December 2011
Replaced: Cranbrook School (URN 118888)
Address: Waterloo Road, Cranbrook, TN17 3JD
Local authority: Kent · Tunbridge Wells

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