This schoolOther secondary schools in KentSelective
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 13 November 2024Ungraded inspection: Standards maintained
- 26 September 2017Graded inspection: Good · as The North School, URN 118832
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 entry696 applications · 206 places offered · 197 named it first
- 2026 3.4; Kent median median 3.1
- 2025 3.4; Kent median median 3.0
- 2024 3.5; Kent median median 3.2
- 2023 3.1; Kent median median 3.2
- 2022 2.5; Kent median median 2.9
- 2021 2.5; Kent median median 3.6; as the previous school
- 2020 2.0; Kent median median 3.1; as the previous school
- 2019 2.3; Kent median median 2.9; as the previous school
- 2018 2.3; Kent median median 3.1; as the previous school
- 2017 2.2; Kent median median 3.0; as the previous school
- 2016 2.8; Kent median median 3.3; as the previous school
- 2015 3.1; Kent median median 3.2; as the previous school
- 2014 2.9; Kent median median 3.1; as the previous school
- This school
- Kent median
Dashed bars: as The North School (URN 118832), 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 | 206 | 696 | 3.4 | 197 | 0.96 |
| Sep 2025 | 193 | 660 | 3.4 | 199 | 1.03 |
| Sep 2024 | 206 | 722 | 3.5 | 197 | 0.96 |
| Sep 2023 | 233 | 726 | 3.1 | 243 | 1.04 |
| Sep 2022 | 225 | 555 | 2.5 | 226 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2021 * | 249 | 626 | 2.5 | 156 | 0.63 |
| Sep 2020 * | 246 | 479 | 2.0 | 153 | 0.62 |
| Sep 2019 * | 237 | 541 | 2.3 | 207 | 0.87 |
| Sep 2018 * | 210 | 485 | 2.3 | 159 | 0.76 |
| Sep 2017 * | 180 | 391 | 2.2 | 142 | 0.79 |
| Sep 2016 * | 168 | 471 | 2.8 | 122 | 0.73 |
| Sep 2015 * | 162 | 501 | 3.1 | 122 | 0.75 |
| Sep 2014 * | 219 | 635 | 2.9 | 188 | 0.86 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 220 | 39.4 | 32% | 52% | – |
| 2024/25 | 228 | 41.1 | 40% | 61% | – |
| 2023/24 | 211 | 39.6 | 34% | 55% | −0.26 |
| 2022/23 | 201 | 42.7 | 38% | 61% | +0.05 |
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
- The North SchoolThis schoolThis schoolStandards maintained20243.4applications per place 39.4Attainment 8
- 0.4 km · KentGood20232.2applications per place 64.2Attainment 8 Selective
- 1.9 km · KentGraded · no overall grade20252.1applications per place 69.2Attainment 8 Selective
- 2.8 km · KentGood20241.9applications per place 36.4Attainment 8
- 3.4 km · KentGraded · no overall grade20243.5applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
- 5.0 km · Kent20263.9applications per place
- 5.9 km · KentRemains Good20244.5applications per place 45.3Attainment 8
- 14.4 km · Kent20263.0applications per place 36.1Attainment 8
- 15.4 km · KentGood20231.9applications 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
- 148712 · 886/4246
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,265 pupils · 1,237 on roll
- Free school meals
- 34.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
- SEN provision
- Resourced provision
- Opened
- 1 January 2022
- Replaced
- The North School (URN 118832)
- Address
- Essella Road, Ashford, TN24 8AL
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources