Academy converter · Kent

Astor Secondary School

11–18Ages
732Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
138167URN

Astor Avenue, Dover, CT17 0AS · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Mar 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.9per place

1.2 below Kent median (3.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in KentSelective

224 applications for 117 places · 90th of 103 in Kent

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

30.3of 90

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

98th of 100 in Kent

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 10 March 2026Published 12 May 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Expected standard	Needs attention
Inclusion			Needs attention
Curriculum and teaching			Needs attention
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			Needs attention

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

10 March 2026
Report card · 2 Expected standard, 5 Needs attention
31 October 2023
Graded inspection: Requires improvement

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

1.9applications per place, Year 7

1.2 below Kent median (3.1) 0.3 below England median (2.2)

224 applications · 117 places offered · 66 named it first

2026 1.9; Kent median median 3.1
2025 2.1; Kent median median 3.0
2024 2.6; Kent median median 3.2
2023 2.3; Kent median median 3.2
2022 1.7; Kent median median 2.9
2021 2.1; Kent median median 3.6
2020 2.1; Kent median median 3.1
2019 2.3; Kent median median 2.9
2018 1.7; Kent median median 3.1
2017 2.3; Kent median median 3.0
2016 3.1; Kent median median 3.3
2015 2.6; Kent median median 3.2
2014 2.5; 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	117	224	1.9	66	0.56
Sep 2025	135	282	2.1	82	0.61
Sep 2024	100	264	2.6	83	0.83
Sep 2023	137	314	2.3	83	0.61
Sep 2022	146	242	1.7	103	0.71
Sep 2021	162	333	2.1	117	0.72
Sep 2020	147	301	2.1	90	0.61
Sep 2019	121	278	2.3	107	0.88
Sep 2018	200	337	1.7	120	0.60
Sep 2017	125	281	2.3	101	0.81
Sep 2016	124	389	3.1	109	0.88
Sep 2015	181	469	2.6	151	0.83
Sep 2014	185	453	2.5	155	0.84

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

143 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)30.398th of 100 in Kent

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths12%98th of 100 in Kent

Kent 35% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths35%

Kent 60% England 66%

This school
Kent median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−1.04

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	143	30.3	12%	35%	–
2024/25	139	27.9	10%	22%	–
2023/24	127	28.6	9%	28%	−1.04
2022/23	137	26.8	9%	29%	−1.37

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

Astor Secondary SchoolThis school
This school

2026

1.9applications per place 30.3Attainment 8
Dover Grammar School for Boys
0.2 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.2applications per place 63.1Attainment 8 Selective
Dover Grammar School for Girls
1.5 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.4applications per place 56.7Attainment 8 Selective
St Edmund's Catholic School
1.7 km · Kent

Good2022

3.4applications per place 33.7Attainment 8
Dover Christ Church Academy
2.7 km · Kent

2026

2.7applications per place 35.8Attainment 8
Duke of York's Royal Military School
3.2 km · Kent

Good2023

2.1applications per place 58.9Attainment 8
Folkestone Academy
9.3 km · Kent

2026

2.6applications per place 38.0Attainment 8
The Harvey Grammar School
10.3 km · Kent

Remains Outstanding2022

2.4applications per place 65.2Attainment 8 Selective
Turner Free School
10.6 km · Kent

Good2022

3.5applications per place 39.4Attainment 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: 138167 · 886/4113
Trust: Samphire Star Education Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,230 pupils · 732 on roll
Free school meals: 63.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 2 June 2012
Replaced: Astor College (A Specialist College for the Arts) (URN 118807)
Address: Astor Avenue, Dover, CT17 0AS
Local authority: Kent · Dover

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