Academy converter · Kent

The Norton Knatchbull School

11–18Ages
1,348Pupils
SecondaryPhase
SelectiveGrammar school
BoysPupils
Sixth formAges 16–18
138019URN

Hythe Road, Ashford, TN24 0QJ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Dec 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.2per place

0.9 below Kent median (3.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in KentSelective

417 applications for 192 places · 82nd of 103 in Kent

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

64.2of 90

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

23rd of 100 in Kent

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 13 December 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

Inspection history

13 December 2023
Graded inspection: Good
20 October 2022
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good (Concerns)

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

2.2applications per place, Year 7

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

417 applications · 192 places offered · 225 named it first

SelectiveApplications include children who did not pass the entrance test.

2026 2.2; Kent median median 3.1
2025 2.2; Kent median median 3.0
2024 2.1; Kent median median 3.2
2023 2.2; Kent median median 3.2
2022 1.9; Kent median median 2.9
2021 2.7; Kent median median 3.6
2020 2.2; Kent median median 3.1
2019 2.0; Kent median median 2.9
2018 2.3; Kent median median 3.1
2017 2.0; Kent median median 3.0
2016 2.3; Kent median median 3.3
2015 2.7; Kent median median 3.2
2014 2.2; 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

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	192	417	2.2	225	1.17
Sep 2025	173	376	2.2	203	1.17
Sep 2024	198	407	2.1	229	1.16
Sep 2023	190	412	2.2	222	1.17
Sep 2022	184	347	1.9	197	1.07
Sep 2021	179	480	2.7	263	1.47
Sep 2020	185	414	2.2	229	1.24
Sep 2019	170	337	2.0	197	1.16
Sep 2018	153	354	2.3	184	1.20
Sep 2017	157	306	2.0	172	1.10
Sep 2016	180	418	2.3	220	1.22
Sep 2015	121	329	2.7	165	1.36
Sep 2014	145	320	2.2	173	1.19

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

208 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)64.223rd of 100 in Kent

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths83%27th 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)+0.32

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	208	64.2	83%	97%	–
2024/25	208	67.3	91%	97%	–
2023/24	205	64.2	86%	97%	+0.32
2022/23	187	63.3	87%	96%	+0.43

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 Norton Knatchbull SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.2applications per place 64.2Attainment 8 Selective
The North School
0.4 km · Kent

Standards maintained2024

3.4applications per place 39.4Attainment 8
Highworth Grammar School
2.0 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.1applications per place 69.2Attainment 8 Selective
Towers School and Sixth Form Centre
3.1 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.5applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
The John Wallis Church of England Academy
3.2 km · Kent

Good2024

1.9applications per place 36.4Attainment 8
Chilmington Green School
5.4 km · Kent

2026

3.9applications per place
Wye School
5.5 km · Kent

Remains Good2024

4.5applications per place 45.3Attainment 8
Brockhill Park Performing Arts College
14.2 km · Kent

2026

3.0applications per place 36.1Attainment 8
Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre
15.8 km · Kent

Good2023

1.9applications per place 37.7Attainment 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: 138019 · 886/4528
Trust: The Norton Knatchbull School
Admissions policy: Selective
Capacity: 1,316 pupils · 1,348 on roll
Free school meals: 8.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 April 2012
Replaced: The Norton Knatchbull School (URN 118838)
Address: Hythe Road, Ashford, TN24 0QJ
Local authority: Kent · Ashford

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