Academy sponsor led · Kent

The Holmesdale School

11–18Ages
606Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
147897URN

Malling Road, Snodland, ME6 5HS · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Apr 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.5per place

1.6 below Kent median (3.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in KentSelective

221 applications for 151 places · 101st of 103 in Kent

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

39.7of 90

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

61st of 100 in Kent

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 1 April 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
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

1.5applications per place, Year 7

1.6 below Kent median (3.1) 0.8 below England median (2.2)

221 applications · 151 places offered · 104 named it first

2026 1.5; Kent median median 3.1
2025 1.4; Kent median median 3.0
2024 1.3; Kent median median 3.2
2023 1.2; Kent median median 3.2
2022 1.0; Kent median median 2.9; as the previous school
2021 1.2; Kent median median 3.6; as the previous school
2020 0.9; Kent median median 3.1; as the previous school
2019 1.1; Kent median median 2.9; as the previous school
2018 1.6; Kent median median 3.1; as the previous school
2017 1.7; Kent median median 3.0; as the previous school
2016 2.2; Kent median median 3.3; as the previous school
2015 2.0; Kent median median 3.2; as the previous school
2014 2.1; Kent median median 3.1; as the previous school

This school
Kent median

Dashed bars: as The Holmesdale School (URN 118796), the previous school.

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	151	221	1.5	104	0.69
Sep 2025	161	224	1.4	100	0.62
Sep 2024	188	242	1.3	93	0.49
Sep 2023	177	204	1.2	79	0.45
Sep 2022 *	173	164	1.0	82	0.47
Sep 2021 *	115	134	1.2	67	0.58
Sep 2020 *	153	140	0.9	71	0.46
Sep 2019 *	128	142	1.1	62	0.48
Sep 2018 *	126	198	1.6	75	0.60
Sep 2017 *	102	171	1.7	67	0.66
Sep 2016 *	132	285	2.2	123	0.93
Sep 2015 *	125	244	2.0	109	0.87
Sep 2014 *	131	278	2.1	117	0.89

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

77 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)39.761st of 100 in Kent

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths22%84th of 100 in Kent

Kent 35% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths58%

Kent 60% England 66%

This school
Kent median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.52

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	77	39.7	22%	58%	–
2024/25	80	41.6	35%	56%	–
2023/24	82	35.7	22%	49%	−0.52
2022/23	99	38.6	29%	49%	−0.06

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 Holmesdale SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.5applications per place 39.7Attainment 8
Aylesford School
3.3 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.2applications per place 37.2Attainment 8
The Malling School
3.7 km · Kent

Good2023

4.1applications per place 39.3Attainment 8
The Thomas Aveling School
6.4 km · Medway

Remains Good2022

3.4applications per place 38.8Attainment 8
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
6.7 km · Medway

Outstanding2023

3.7applications per place 69.9Attainment 8 Selective
Walderslade School
6.7 km · Medway

Special measures Inadequate2023

1.4applications per place 29.2Attainment 8
Greenacre School
6.8 km · Medway

Serious weaknesses Inadequate2023

1.2applications per place 29.4Attainment 8
The Rochester Grammar School
6.9 km · Medway

Good2023

4.1applications per place 67.5Attainment 8 Selective
The Maplesden Noakes School
7.0 km · Kent

Good2024

4.0applications per place 36.0Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 147897 · 886/4027
Trust: Swale Academies Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 959 pupils · 606 on roll
Free school meals: 35.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Opened: 1 September 2022
Replaced: The Holmesdale School (URN 118796)
Address: Malling Road, Snodland, ME6 5HS
Local authority: Kent · Tonbridge and Malling

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