(updated 18 May 2012)

St Anselm's RC School Canterbury. OFSTED October 2011- Satisfactory. Excerpts from Main findings: Information about the school - St Anselm’s Catholic School is a large secondary school, with specialist status in science. The proportion of students with special educational needs and/or disabilities and/or a statement of special educational needs is broadly average. Main findings - St Anselm’s Catholic School is a satisfactory school with a cohesive community and a strong ethos of good student behaviour. In the past year, steered by the highly respected new headteacher, the school has secured significant improvements, particularly in relation to students’ well-being and behaviour and communication with their parents and carers. In addition, the school has prioritised building the leadership capacity of middle managers and enhancing the quality of the school’s self-evaluation. These initiatives, together with a more rigorous focus on students’ achievement, have led to improved GCSE results and indicate that the school now has a good capacity to improve. The GCSE examination results, including mathematics and English, have improved steadily over the last two years from well below national averages. Students in 2011 made broadly satisfactory progress and attained results which have not yet been validated but are in line with national averages. Recent changes in the Key Stage 4 curriculum allow students with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and those who are more able, to follow more appropriate courses. Despite some highly positive changes, the school is aware that there are gaps in the sixth form curriculum. Transition for Year 7 students to the school is facilitated through the strong links that the school has with its Catholic primary schools. The recent introduction of the house and tutoring system, with its focus on older students working with younger ones, has been especially popular with students, staff, parents and carers and has resulted in significantly improved attitudes to learning. Students are courteous and respectful towards each other, and towards adults.Good practice in assessment in a few subjects is emerging, with students given sound feedback on how to improve. However, inspectors observed inconsistency in teachers’ detailed checking of students’ learning and the marking of their work across most subjects. In addition, the review of students’ target grades is insufficiently responsive, so that in some cases, teachers and teaching assistants are unsure how to improve their students’ progress beyond the expected levels, in particular, for those of higher ability. 

Usually slightly oversubscribed. Oversubscription criteria place emphasis on Catholic background but most practising Christians will qualify. Catholic Schools usually have their own Independent Appeal Panels. 6 first choices oversubscribed on 2nd March 2010. A few vacancies for 2011 entry.13 first choices oversubscribed for 2012. 

St Augustine Academy. Shortly after Astor of Hever School was found unsatisfactory by OFSTED in 2009 for the second time, it was planned to become an old style academy, which opened in September 2011. The Academy has a Christian ethos.  It is currently waiting a decision on whether its proposed new buildings will go ahead. An OFSTED inspection of July 2010, found great improvement and the school is now classified as "good". The Report summarises: The school is smaller than most other secondary schools. It is a non-selective school in a selective area. Most students are from White British backgrounds. Increasing numbers come from a range of other heritages, the largest group being Nepalese. A few students are at early stages of learning English as an additional language. The proportion of students with special educational needs and/or disabilities at nearly 40% is much higher than the national average. Most of these pupils have behavioural, emotional and social, and moderate learning difficulties. A higher proportion of students than average are eligible for free school meals. The school has more girls than boys. Since 2004 it has had specialist sports college status and works in collaboration with other secondary schools in the locality. In April 2009 the school was given a notice to improve. Significant improvement was required in relation to students' progress and attainment. The school is due to become an academy from January 2011. In accordance with section 13 (5) of the Education Act 2005, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector is of the opinion that the school no longer requires a notice to improve. The Astor of Hever is providing a good standard of education. Since it was last inspected it has improved significantly. The school provides high quality support, guidance and care for its students, especially for those most vulnerable. The leadership's ambition and drive for improvement have ensured a rapid pace of change. Regular and rigorous monitoring of teaching and learning has led to the majority being good, and sometimes better. This means that students' progress is now securely good. Actions taken to improve areas for development have led to marked improvement in many areas. The school is successfully tackling a legacy of underachievement, especially boys' low literacy skills, and students' attainment is rising and is close to national averages. Nonetheless, despite the improved rates of progress over time, students are not confident enough in using their improving literacy and numeracy skills more widely in different subjects. Attendance is above average and much improved, and the number of persistent absentees has reduced. Plenty of vacancies for September 2011 & 2012.

St Edmunds RC School, Dover. Oversubscribed. Unusual oversubscription criteria giving priority to Eastern Christian families after Catholics. Catholic Schools usually have their own Independent Appeal Panels. Vacancies in 2010. 14 1st choices oversubscribed March 1st 2011, but vacancies in 2012.

St George's CofE School Broadstairs. OFSTED May 2011. Good School. Some excerpts: Information about the School - The school is larger than the average for similar types of school. It has been
designated as a business and enterprise college. The proportion of students with special educational needs and/or disabilities is above that usually found. Most students are of White British heritage and few speak English as an additional language. The proportion of students known to be eligible for free school meals is just above average. The school has met the government’s floor targets for academic
performance in the last academic year but did not in either of the previous two years. Some key Judgements- This is a good school that has made rapid improvement in the last two years. Students enjoy their education and, as a result, they become responsible young people with a thirst for knowledge. The school prepares them well for the next stage of their education through a relevant curriculum. Achievement is good. Standards both in classwork and in examinations are improving markedly, with the latter now matching national averages. The majority of students make good progress, including those in the sixth form. The proportion of good and better teaching is rising sharply. Inspectors observed many lessons where students were enthusiastic about their learning because teachers planned interesting activities for them. Excellent relationships exist between students and staff. Adults, students and parents and carers all agree that behaviour in the school has improved significantly over the last two years. There are only very rare instances of misbehaviour, which are dealt with effectively. The excellent work of the Principal and her team has ensured academic standards have risen and that middle managers are highly effective. Usually oversubscribed. 2 first choices oversubscribed on 2nd March 2010. Rebuilt under BSF in 2010. Popularity increased for September 2011 entry (as with all new build BSF schools). 11 first choices oversubscribed in 2012. 

St George's CofE School Gravesend. Previously oversubscribed, but 60 spaces in March for September 2011. Intake being reduced by 30 in preparation for rebuilding under BSF which did not happen. The school was placed in Special Measures in December 2009, but a fresh Inspection in March 2011 took the school out of Special Measures (see below). The previous Inspection failed the school  "because it is failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement in the school". The Report is at OFSTED. Headteacher Ann Southgate was appointed after her predecessor resigned during the summer holiday with immediate effect. Her 'tireless' efforts to raise standards were commended but "There has been too little time for initiatives to have an impact on inadequate teaching, low achievement and unsatisfactory behaviour". Not surprisingly, vacancies in 2010. Two subsequent Monitoring visits by OFSTED have found good progress. Well undersubscribed for September 2011 & 2012 (Special Measures and one of the Gravesham Schools that lost out on the BSF programme will have taken their toll). 

OFSTED in March 2011 took the school out of Special Measures and found it satisfactory: Excerpt from Report: Information about the School: Saint Georges is a non-selective secondary school in an area with selective education and currently has more boys than girls. Nearly a third of students have special educational needs and/or disabilities, which is above the national average. Around three quarters of students are from a White British heritage. The remainder are from minority ethnic groups, which is more than found in most schools, as is the percentage who speak English an additional language. The school has a growing number of students from Eastern Europe, many at the very early stages of learning English. The school has had specialist status for humanities since July 2005, specialising in English, history and religious education, and it is an extended school working in partnership with the local community. The school was inspected in December 2009 and placed in special measures. Inspectors visited the school to monitor progress in May 2010 and November 2010. Main Findings - The school no longer requires special measures. Good progress has been made since the previous inspection. Saint Georges is providing its students with a satisfactory, and rapidly improving, education. The school is led well and governance is effective. Students attainment has risen recently and is now broadly average. Robust tracking systems are in place. These are well used to ensure that any underachieving students receive effective intervention work. This and improved teaching have resulted in satisfactory and accelerating progress for students. Teaching and the use of assessment to support learning are satisfactory and improving quickly. The best teaching is of a very high standard and being used to support practice in the school and across the local authority. However, teaching remains inconsistent across and within subjects, with weak and occasionally inadequate teaching in a small proportion of lessons. Students behaviour has improved significantly and is now good. Good quality care, guidance and support combine well with many opportunities, including specialist school humanities days, to enhance students spiritual and cultural understanding. The curriculum is satisfactory and meets requirements. Vocational pathways have been developed but there are currently fewer that are of interest to girls, although the school has plans to remedy this. The overall effectiveness of the sixth form is satisfactory and improving.

St John's Catholic Comprehensive School Gravesend. OFSTED November 2010 - Satisfactory. Was in Special Measures a couple of years ago but has improved and has consistently sound GCSE results. Popularity dropped and has not been oversubscribed, but is now picking up. Completely new buildings in 2010 through BSF built to lower Planned Admission limit of 180. Own Independent Appeal Panel. New BSF has influenced popularity and was 20 oversubscribed with first choices on 1st March 2011 for September, but vacancies for 2012. 

St Simon Stock RC School Maidstone. OFSTED Good Jan 2010. Successful and regularly heavily oversubscribed school giving priority to Catholic and then other Christian families. Own Independent Appeal Panel has made some surprising decisions in the past. Headteacher left to become head of new CofE Academy in Ashford for September 2010. OFTSED Feb 2010 - Good School. 11 first choices oversubscribed on 2nd March 2010. Just 4 appeals, all successful. Popularity fallen but still oversubscribed for 2011 and 2012 on March 1st allocations (before grammar school appeals).

Sandwich Technology School heavily oversubscribed. 57 first choices oversubscribed on 2nd March 2010. Become an Academy 1st November 2010. Popularity down for September 2011, but still 15 first choices over subscribed, the same for 2012. 

Simon Langton Girls Grammar School Canterbury. Has been oversubscribed for the past two years.15 qualified first choices oversubscribed on 2nd March 2010. Initial cut off distance was 7.35 miles. Popularity soared for 2011 entry, 39 qualified first choices turned down on 1st March 2011. Just 2 for 2012. 

Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys Canterbury. Intake of 120 but will take in up to 8 boys on appeal. Has been oversubscribed over the past few years. Has own Independent Appeal Panel, uniquely in Kent of five members last year.34 qualified first choices oversubscribed on 2nd March 2010. 8 appeals successful. Popularity slightly down for 2011 entry. 17 qualifed st choices turend down for 2012. 

Sir Roger Manwood's School Sandwich. Kent's only boarding grammar school from the age of 11 for just six new boarders each year, out of an intake of 120. Usually oversubscribed, but has large classes after successful appeals. 33 qualified first choices oversubscribed on 2nd March 2010. 6 successful appeals, but several more after successful complaints to the Ombudsman (including mine). Now an Academy. Popularity down for September 2011. but still 15 first choices oversubscribed. OFSTED 2012 - Outstanding. Excerpts from Report: Information about the school - This is an average-sized, selective secondary school with boarding provision for 56 boys and girls. The school is a specialist language college and has a further specialism in mathematics and computing. It was granted academy status in March 2011. Key findings  This outstanding school secures excellent outcomes for the overwhelming majority of its students. The sixth form is outstanding. The achievement of all students, including disabled students and those with special educational needs, is outstanding.Teaching is outstanding overall. High-quality teaching and guidance ensure that students at all levels make rapid progress towards their challenging, individual targets. Behaviour in lessons and around the school is exemplary and the school is a calm and orderly place. Students say that they feel safe and are not subjected to bullying or other forms of harassment. The school is led and managed extremely well. Leaders and managers are not complacent and communicate an ambitious vision for the school and its students. The curriculum is outstanding and an extensive range of high-quality enrichment helps to promote students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development strongly.  Boarding provision is good and all the national minimum standards for boarding are met. 22 qualified 1st choices not offered places March 2012. 

Sittingbourne Community College. OFSTED Nov 2010 recorded Satisfactory. It described the school as: Sittingbourne Community College is a non-selective high school whose numbers have continued to increase in recent years. The college was designated a creative and performing arts college in 2006 and has a fully integrated special unit for deaf students onsite. Most students are of White British heritage and there are few students whose first language is not English. The proportion of students with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including those with statements of special educational needs, is well above national averages. The college runs the Swale Skills Centre which offers apprenticeship training and engineering courses for students aged 14 to 19. Has increased in popularity in recent years and is now oversubscribed".  3 first choices oversubscribed on 2nd March 2010, and also for 2011. Is now applying to beocme an academy in partnership with its local rival Westlands School. Will it become a subsidiary? The most recent Newsletter sets out the vision for the new Academy, seeing respected Headteache Alan Barham, given a new post as Executive Head, and six new Assistant Heads appointed. Fro 2012 there were vacancies, but when Westlands School made additional offers outside the rules in March 2012, those holding SCC places were left out! Subsequently they were included. 

Skinners School, Tonbridge. Super selective, pass mark in 2009 was 405. Own Appeal Panel organised through Skinners Company. Yet again in 2009, complaints to the Ombudsman  have secured fresh appeals - is this the fourth consecutive year this has happened?115 qualified first choices oversubscribed on 2nd March 2010. Initial pass score was 410 for 2010 with some 409s included. Initial pass score for 2011 entry down to 408/407. Popularity fallen for 2011 entry, but still 79 qualified first choices turned away. Final cut off fell to 405 (but not all got in with this score). I am told that no one who appealed was admitted with less than 405. Back to most popular grammar school in Kent for 2012, 138 first choices turned away,   

Skinners Kent Academy. This new Academy opened in September 2009, replaced the perpetually failing Tunbridge Wells High School. It is sponsored by The Skinners School, West Kent College and KCC. It is working hard to overcome the poor reputation of its predecessor, and the Report of an OFSTED Monitoring Visit, January 2011, should be encouraging for many of the families whose children will be allocated there in March, without having applied for the school. Just 297 students on roll at present is an indicator of the problems of the past, however, the Report is very positive in terms of leadership, raised standards and much improved teaching. The question is whether these improvements can be maintained as the academy grows in numbers.

It came into being very rapidly after the proposal was initially put forward, a replacement for TWHS apparently being a relief to everyone. It is planned to move into new buildings at a cost of £24 million in 2012. Complete rebuild has been approved. Numbers remain a major issue for 2011 entry, with only 37% of its places being filled before 67 children were allocated places by KCC. Vacancies will increase further after appeals to other schools. OFSTED Mar 2012 - Good (remarkable for a low performing school). Some excerpts: Information about the schoolThis mixed 11–16 academy opened in September 2009 and replaced Tunbridge Wells High School. It serves an area where most other schools are selective. The academy is smaller than average. The large majority of students are from White British backgrounds with approximately 22% from minority ethnic groups. There is a higher than average percentage of girls. The number of students known to be eligible for free school meals is above average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs is also above average.The academy has dual specialist status in science and engineering. There are plans to offer sixth form provision from September 2012. A building programme is underway. Scheduled to be completed by Spring 2013, it will provide a completely new school. The Skinners’ Company and The Skinners’ School are lead sponsors of the academy with Kent County Council and K College contributing as co-sponsors. The academy works in close partnership with The Skinners’ School, a selective school in Tunbridge Wells. The academy meets government’s current floor standards, the minimum expectations set for attainment and progress.Key findings This is a good school that is improving rapidly. Aspects of its work are outstanding. Governors and leaders are highly ambitious for the success of every student. They have instilled high expectations and a ‘no excuses’ approach to school improvement. Excellent relationships between staff and students are built on mutual trust and underpin the supportive learning environment. Students, parents, carers and staff are overwhelmingly positive about the academy and its work. Senior leaders rightly identify the further improvement of teaching and students’ achievement as priorities in securing outstanding overall effectiveness. Achievement is good. There has been a relentless and successful focus on raising attainment. Students now make at least good progress and many make outstanding progress. Generally, students’ literacy skills are underdeveloped when they join the academy. A very strong trend of improvement in the percentage of students gaining five GCSE results at grades A* to C, including English and mathematics has been secured. However, the gap with the national average has not yet been closed. Teaching is mainly good with an increasing proportion that is outstanding. High- quality professional development underpins the growing strengths of individual teachers but there are some inconsistencies, particularly in the use of assessment. The high levels of tolerance and respect that students show each other and staff are an exemplary feature of the academy. Students value learning and are tremendously proud of their school and its achievements. The tenacious pursuit of excellence is the touchstone of leadership at every level.  The penetrating focus on improving teaching is uncompromising. Staff are clear about their accountability and, like the students, are proud to be part of a team that will only settle for excellence. A reduction in capacity to 150 for 2012, and 28 Locla Autohority allocations has resulted in no vacancies for September 2012 in March. However appeals to other more popular schools is likely to change this. 

Spires Academy, Sturry near Canterbury. The new Spires Academy replacing the failing Montgomery School in Sturry opened in September 2009. Its admission number is 120, smaller than most recommendations for secondary school sizes. There is further information here. The school is sponsored by Crown Imperial and Holiday Extras, two Kent businesses. It has Specialist status in Business & Enterprise, and Visual, Creative & Performing Arts. The new Academy certainly replaces a failing school, but it only had 300 pupils in 2009. Filled for the first time ever, on 2nd March 2010 - but appeals to other schools will inevitably create some vacancies. OFSTED Inspection May 2010 - Satisfactory: Excerpt from Report: Information about the school: Spires Academy opened in September 2007 on the site of a predecessor school. An acting Academy Leader, working to the Executive Principal, was appointed last summer and recently accepted the substantive Academy Leader post. There has been a significant amount of staff turnover this year, but a full complement of staff has been appointed for September 2010. The academy has specialist status in business and enterprise, and in the performing and creative arts. It is still housed in the predecessor school buildings but there are plans to build new accommodation. Spires has strong links with Marlowe Academy, whose leader is the Executive Principal of Spires Academy. Spires Academy is a small secondary school, but student numbers are increasing. A high proportion of students has special educational needs and/or disabilities. The proportion of students known to be eligible for free school meals is high. Main findings: Spires Academy offers a satisfactory and rapidly improving education. Since the monitoring visit, less than a year ago, a great deal of work has been done leading to significant improvements in: the progress made by students, students' confidence and engagement with the academy, students' attendance, the quality of teaching. The Academy Leader leads with vision, dynamism and passion. She is well supported by the Executive Principal and the trustees. Staff share the academy vision and are confident in their own roles. Leaders are very clear about the strengths of the academy and the work to be done. Most students now feel proud of their school, and this is reflected in their smart uniforms and much improved presentation of their work. In most lessons, they are focussed on their learning with evident enjoyment. Students at Spires are currently making good progress from low starting points. Their attainment is now broadly in line with national averages. The curriculum meets students' needs well, developing literacy and offering a good range of option choices for them from the age of 14. The support and guidance units offer very high quality support to students who need specialist support and help. Staff are creative in seeking to remove barriers to learning and to develop programmes which are tailored to individual needs, enabling students to make consistently good progress. Since the monitoring visit, the quality of teaching in lessons taught by established staff has come on in leaps and bounds. There are now outstanding and good lessons taught consistently in many subjects. New buildings programme has been approved at £14 million, due to open September 2012.  Still a third of its spaces going spare for September 2011 and for 2012 (before appeals to other schools), .

Swadelands School in Harrietsham was been given "notice to improve" by OFSTED in December 2008, adding to the pressure on demand for places in other schools in South Maidstone. A further OFSTED Inspection in March 2010 found the school providing "a quality of education at least satisfactory in every respect" and the notice to improve was removed. Still plenty of vacancies for September 2011 and 2012.

Swanley College of Technology: See Orchard Academy