Schoolfile
Search

Academy sponsor led · Kent

Folkestone Academy

  • 11–19Ages
  • 936Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 145420URN

Academy Lane, Folkestone, CT19 5FP · School website

This school is due to be replaced by Folkestone Primary.

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
2.6per place
0.5 below Kent median (3.1)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in KentSelective

379 applications for 144 places · 69th of 103 in Kent
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
38.0of 90
73rd of 100 in Kent
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 19 May 2026Published 1 July 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementNeeds attention
Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected 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

  1. 19 May 2026
    Report card · 1 Strong standard, 5 Expected standard, 1 Needs attention
  2. 20 April 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
2.6applications per place, Year 7
0.5 below Kent median (3.1) 0.4 above England median (2.2)

379 applications · 144 places offered · 98 named it first

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

  1. 2026 2.6; Kent median median 3.1
  2. 2025 2.2; Kent median median 3.0
  3. 2024 1.9; Kent median median 3.2
  4. 2023 1.9; Kent median median 3.2
  5. 2022 1.3; Kent median median 2.9
  6. 2021 1.6; Kent median median 3.6
  7. 2020 2.0; Kent median median 3.1
  8. 2019 2.3; Kent median median 2.9
  9. 2018 1.8; Kent median median 3.1
  10. 2017 1.8; Kent median median 3.0; as the previous school
  11. 2016 2.0; Kent median median 3.3; as the previous school
  12. 2015 2.3; Kent median median 3.2; as the previous school
  13. 2014 2.2; Kent median median 3.1; as the previous school
More applications per place than the Kent median in 0 of 9 years.
  • This school
  • Kent median

Dashed bars: as Folkestone Academy (URN 135195), the previous school.

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261443792.6980.68
Sep 20251803972.21300.72
Sep 20241983761.91060.54
Sep 20232063821.91180.57
Sep 20222082691.3920.44
Sep 20212103301.6990.47
Sep 20201813612.01240.69
Sep 20191854252.31550.84
Sep 20182674911.82160.81
Sep 2017 *3035411.82430.80
Sep 2016 *2995922.02220.74
Sep 2015 *2706172.32430.90
Sep 2014 *2685812.22300.86

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

174 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)38.073rd of 100 in Kent
Grade 5 or above in English and maths26%76th of 100 in Kent
Grade 4 or above in English and maths52%
  • This school
  • Kent median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−1.11
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)17438.026%52%–
2024/2516633.715%36%–
2023/2418431.014%32%−1.11
2022/2318330.213%31%−1.05

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

  • 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
145420 · 886/4020
Trust
Turner Schools
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,720 pupils · 936 on roll
Free school meals
54.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision
Resourced provision
Opened
1 December 2017
Replaced
Folkestone Academy (URN 135195)
Address
Academy Lane, Folkestone, CT19 5FP
Local authority
Kent · Folkestone and Hythe

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