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Individual School Information
(updated 28 Feb 2010)
This is a new page and entries will be updated as time permits. The page contains entries on every oversubscribed state secondary school in Kent and Medway and some others. Academies are on a separate page. If you want information on a particular school or comment on any entry below, let me know and if relevant, I will include it on this page. There is considerable information about some schools on other relevant pages.
Thanks to those who have already sent in corrections or additions.
If you are considering a school the OFSTED Report and School Performance Table are useful sources of information. With regard to the latter, the value added pages are often a more significant guide than the absolute performance. This is because the performance tables reflect the academic ability of the pupils as well as the quality of the teaching, and some school will focus on entering pupils for particular courses or else concentrating on performance in the tables at the extent of the quality of education. The latter is particularly evident at Key Stage 2 in Primary Schools. Do not just look at the first page of the tables, there is much valuable information on subsequent pages.
Where there is no mention of the school, it will usually have spare places. Where an Appeal Panel is not mentioned for an oversubscribed or grammar school, it will have used a Kent or Medway Council Appeal Panel.
Academies: Go to Link page.
Angley School. The last of Kent's 'Thameside High Schools'. Technically comprehensive for years 7 & 8 with transfer of the ablest pupils to Cranbrook School at 13+. However,, many bright boys from the area seek alternatives at age 11, so the number who transfer is fewer than might be expected, and have to compete for places with prospective boarders from private schools across the country.
The Archbishop's School: This is a very good school, but has a totally bizarre admission scheme that breaks the rules in both the old and the new Government Codes of Practice for School Admissions. It is impossible to determine any order of priority for the 85% of children admitted on religious grounds. Each year some very odd decisions are taken, children from parishes where there is no current vicar, appearing to be particularly hard done by. The other 15% of children are admitted on academic grounds, taking a verbal reasoning and a non verbal reasoning test, the scores being added together to determine the top performers. Year on year I have had successful appeals, the most famous year being 2005, when there were 24 successful appeals, and the school was brought to account by the Appeal Panel for its secretive way of allocating places.
Archers Court, Dover. Planned to change to an Academy in September 2010. See Academies.
Astor College for the Arts Dover. 10% of places awarded on ability in the visual arts. The school is part of the Dover Federation of the Arts, in conjunction with Shatterlocks Infant School, Barton Junior School and White Cliffs Primary College of the Arts.
Astor of Hever School in Maidstone was given Notice to Improve by OFSTED in June 2009, with an unsatisfactory grading. This further increases the pressure on parents in the Maidstone area, many of whom consider there are at least four unsatisfactory secondary schools in the area. A new headteacher was appointed for September and the school is now being considered for Academy status in September 2010.
Aylesford School 68 first preferences turned away in 2009. Just 3 out of 55 appeals were successful in 2009. In previous years the school has been able to comfortably admit all applicants but has now been completely rebuilt under a PFI scheme, there is new leadership and two neighbouring schools have declined in popularity. As a result, children from the rural areas to the north who have traditionally gone to this their nearest and only reasonably accessible school have lost out, and now face long journeys to other schools.
Barton Court Grammar School Canterbury. Mixed. Usually just about fills in March. The new headteacher is to be Kirsten Cardus, currently Head of School at the Invicta Grammar School in Maidstone (part of the Invicta and Valley Park Federation)
Bennett Memorial School Tunbridge Wells. Heavily oversubscribed with pupils from families with good Christian affiliation. 92 first preferences turned away in 2009.
Borden Grammar School Sittingbourne. Appeals organised by Independent Appeal Panel Administrator
Bradbourne School Sevenoaks. Successful school, but still to become an Academy in 2010.
Brockhill Park School Hythe. Is now oversubscribed with first preferences.
Canterbury High School. Heavily oversubscribed. Is in Federation with Canterbury Primary School, and several sporting centres providing excellent facilities. Children at Canterbury Primary (Previously Beauherne Primary) have priority for admission afted Childrne in CAre and 15% of places going to childrne with musical ability.
Chatham Grammar School for Boys There were just three successful appeals initially in 2009, at least one other was allowed late. After the main allocations were made in March, Medway Council completely reversed its policy of not allowing late entrants following a campaign in the media by me. Late Kent aplicants were allowed to take the Medway test (also using the same English test as had been taken in October!). However, bizarrely, Medway residents were NOT allowed to apply late unless they had recently moved into the area.
Chatham Grammar School for Girls. Currently advertising for new headteacher after Mr Gundry is retiring. Usually has a few places after allocations in March. Organises own appeals.
Chatham House and Clarendon House Grammar Schools: the two Thanet grammar schools have become a Federation in the light of falling rolls in Thanet. David Smart has been appointed Executive Head Teacher and leads the Federation with a Head of School for each of the schools. The combined sixth form of some 500 students provides scope for new teaching options and specialities. In due course, funding from the Building Schools for the Future programme should enable new buildings on the Chatham House site to provide a modern, purpose built campus for the co-location of the two schools. Chatham House is, uniquely for East Kent, a super selective school from September 2010, with priority going to the highest scoring boys. Likely to be oversubscribed.
Chaucer Technology College Canterbury. Was oversubscribed with complex oversubscription rules. Now usually makes offers to all applicants.
Charles Dickens School Broadstairs. Heavily oversubscribed. 82 first choices turned away in 2009.
Cranbrook School. Entry at 13+. Grammar School with many boarders, often from private schools. A maximum of 92 places available for day students. Admission through its own tests. Priority is given to high scorers within a priority area, although the process as described is not precise. There have been a number of successful complaints to the Ombudsman over admissions.
Dartford Grammar School made major changes in its oversubscription criteria for entry in 2009, removing any priority for boys in North West Kent outside Dartford, and replacing it by high scorers wherever they live. Details here. Children across villages spreading from Fawkham across to Eynsford, together with Swanley and parts of Bexley together with boys who had sisters at Dartford Girls Grammar have now lost any claim on places unless they also join the high scorers possibly as many as half, or 75 boys. Pass mark for those outside Dartford may be as high as 405 for 2010 entry, if not higher as the school proves a draw for boys across South East London, as there are few other grammar school opportunities for boys as far away as Lewisham and Greenwich. Last year I wrote: It is impossible to estimate how low the minimum score will drop to, but I anticipate this will rise well above 400 within two years, possibly emulating the 411 of The Judd School in Tonbridge.
Most of the displaced children will be searching for alternative grammar school places at Gravesend Grammar or Wilmington Grammar, both of which were oversubscribed this year, increasing the pressure on these. Meanwhile there will be very able boys from Gravesham and Bexley now giving priority to Dartford Grammar, so there will be a polarising of ability in West Kent, with Dartford Grammar developing a two band intake; very high scorers from across a wide area, together with boys of all pass standards from within Dartford.
Dartford Grammar School for Girls - The Schools Adjudicator ruled in October 2009 on the oversubscription criteria for Dartford Grammar School for Girls for 2010 entry, after a long debate, and it is good news for Kent families. Priorities are: (1) Looked After Children (2) Girls residing within 1 mile of the school measured in a straight line. (3) Girls residing in the Borough of Dartford or one of the following named parishes: Ash-cum Ridley, Bean, Darenth, Eynesford,Farningham, Fawkham, Hartley, Horton Kirby and South Darenth, Longfield and New Barn, Southfleet, Stone, Sutton Hone and Hawley, Swanley, Swanscombe and Greenhithe, Wilmington. (4)All other eligible girls seeking a school place. Within each of the above oversubscription criteria pupils will be ranked in the following order: (a)Siblings, (b) Those achieving the highest aggregate score in the Kent Test. (3) In the case of tied scores, preference is given to the applicant living nearest to the school. This is what the school and KCC wanted and sends a clear message that in line with other recent judgements, the adjudicator is now prepared to support county boundaries.
Dover Grammar School for Boys & Dover Grammar School for Girls: These two schools have negotiated a unique agreement in Kent. Access through both is either through the Kent Test or a separate Dover Test and children can take both tests. The Dover test comprises VR, NVER, maths and English and pass is by an aggregate score. There is relevant information in Appendix Five of Proposed Arrangements. The Dover Test is not recognised by KCC as valid for entrance to any other grammar school and a pass has not generally been considered a valid case by Independent Appeal Panels for other grammar schools. Sally Lees, headteacher of Dover Grammar Boys has been appointed Head of Homewood School Tenterden.
Folkestone School for Girls operates its own Indpendent Appeal Panel. Appeals are heard over an extended period, results often being given some time later (2009 entry). Shares an Executive Headteacher with the Marsh Academy at New Romney.
Fort Pitt Grammar School in Medway secured Foundation status in 2009. It ahd an Outstanding Grading by OFSTED in 2009. It has also reduced its intake by 30 girls to 120 and is now considerably oversubscribed for entry in 2010. It is too soon to comment on how this will affect the appeal process, although the school has set up its own Independent Panel for entry in 2010.
Fulston Manor School Sittingbourne. Outstanding OFSTED Report. Heavily oversubscribed. Uses an Independent Appeal Panel Administrator
Gravesend Grammar School made a surprise decision in June 2009, offering places to all 26 boys on its waiting list two weeks after they had been turned down on appeal. The legality of this is doubtful, but there were two successful appeals and the school argued that as they could not cater for classes of 31 boys, an additional form would have to be created. This looks a commonsense solution to a pressing issue in the area very popular with the families concerned, but can only be a one off answer, and other schools planning to admit these boys up until that date were no doubt unhappy with the decision. Being rebuilt under BSF. Uses its own Independent Appeals Panel.
Gravesend Grammar School for Girls 2008 - heavily oversubscribed. 2009 spare places. 2010?
Greenacre School Chatham. Usually oversubscribed, some appeals successful each year.
Harvey Grammar School Usually has vacant spaces
Hayesbrook School Oversubscribed
Herne Bay High School Being rebuilt under BSF.Used to be heavily oversubscribed. Number of first choices has fallen recently.
Highsted Grammar School Sittingbourne. Sometimes has spare places. Independent Appeals Panel Administrator. Outstanding School according to OFSTED.
Highworth Grammar School for Girls Heavily oversubscribed. Local girls will get in.
Hillview School for Girls Heavily oversubscribed
Homewood School Tenterden. 102 first choices turned away in 2009. Admits 20% of its children by ability, no matter where they live. The new headteacher will be Sally Lees, currently Head of Dover Grammar Boys. An interesting appointment, given Homewood's implacable opposition to grammar schools over the past decade or more, but perhaps indicative of its academic aspirations.
Hugh Christie Technology College in Tonbridge. Oversubscribed. Some parents have expressed concerns over the new oversubscription rules. The school has introduced ability banding in an attempt at getting a good spread of ability. This is allowable under the rules and if applied fairly is a sensible approach to oversubscription.
Hundred of Hoo School in Medway has been placed in Special Measures, the headteacher has left the school, and a new Executive Head, Dr Gary Holden, Head of Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, has been appointed, along with an Interim Executive Board of Governors. I appeared on BBC South East commenting on what sadly is an unsurprising decision, as parents have been expressing concerns about the school for some years, with poor standards of achievement, poor teaching and poor leadership being singled out for criticism in the OFSTED report. It does beg the question, why was action not taken earlier by Medway Council?
Invicta Grammar School Has taken on Foundation status this year. I am not yet aware of the appeal arrangements being proposed, nor how the changes will or have affected admission and appeal numbers.
Judd School The most selective school in Kent selecting purely on the aggregate score in the Kent tests. For entry in 2009 the cut off point was 411 marks (maximum 420). I anticipate that for 2010 entry it will move upwards. Nearly 100 first choices who passed the 11+ were turned away. Appeals are organised by the Skinners Foundation, who have endured successful Ombudsman complaints most years. A successful complaint secures a fresh appeal only, most of which will still be unsuccessful.
Maidstone Grammar School has introduced complex new oversubscription arrangements that give priority to boys scoring a total of over 390 in the Kent tests, living in named parishes. Details here. These include a band of villages, together with Maidstone stretching from Smarden to Stansted, and from Bredhurst to Staplehurst, together with Tenterden and West Peckham, but excluding East Peckham. It is unlikely that all children in the second category will be offered places, and I see little point in applying if you don’t live in a named parish. Some 50 11+ qualified boys were turned away last year and there were few successful appeals.
As parents know Kent test scores before applications are made, it is clearly important that those scoring less than 390 should include Oakwood Park Grammar on their list. Again, I anticipate that within two years there will be considerable polarising, with the ablest boys across this wide area heading for Maidstone Grammar and the others (including all boys from East Peckham), applying for Oakwood.
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls Oversubscribed
Maplesdon Noakes School Maidstone. Heavily oversubscribed
Mascalls School Paddock Wood. Heavily oversubscribed, although I have had considerable success at appeal.
North School Ashford. Since being rebuilt under a PFI Scheme, the school has been heavily oversubscribed.
Northfleet School for Girls Was oversubscribed even before its capacity was reduced by 30 girls last year under the rebuild for BSF
Norton Knatchbull School Ashford. This grammar school usually fills but is not regularly oversubscribed. The new Headteacher will be Ms. Susanne Staab, currently Deputy Head of Folkestone School for Girls, keeping the number of female heads of Kent boys' schools at three, ahead of the number of male heads of girls' schools. The school featured in the national press in January over a story that had no news value!
Oakwood Park Grammar School Maidstone. Admission patterns in Maidstone have changed since Maidstone Grammar School altered its oversubscription criteria. Normally just about fills.
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Faversham. Heavily oversubscribed. Appeals organised by Independent Appeal Administrator
Rainham Mark Grammar School Rainham, Medway. Selects on high aggregate scores, but in recent years has taken all who have passed the Medway tests. Appeals organised by Independent Appeal Administrator.
Rainham School for Girls. Usually oversubscribed.
Robert Napier School Gillingham. Heavily oversubscribed.
Rochester Grammar School. Selects on high aggregate scores. In past years has had a number of successful appeals but for 2010 entry, has raised planned admission number to 165, so pass mark is likely to be lower. Appeals organised by Independent Appeal Administrator.
St Anselm's RC School Canterbury. 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
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.
St George's CofE School Broadstairs. Usually oversubscribed
St George's CofE School Gravesend. Usually oversubscribed. Intake being reduced by 30 in preparation for rebuilding under BSF. The school was placed in Special Measures in December 2009 "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. Although examination results are satisfactory, criticisms focus on teaching, learning and discipline. Headteacher Ann Southgate was appointed a year ago after her predecessor resigned during the summer holiday with immediate effect. Her 'tireless' efforts to raise standards are commended but "There has been too little time for initiatives to have an impact on inadequate teaching, low achievement and unsatisfactory behaviour"
St John's RC School Gravesend. Was in Special Measures a couple of years ago but 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.
St John Fisher RC Comprehensive School Chatham. Ms Denise Shepherd, currently head of Rochester Grammar School, has recently also been appointed Executive Headteacher of the school. I currently have no further information on the reason behind this decision.
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 leaving to become head of new CofE Academy in Ashford.
Sandwich Technology College heavily oversubscribed.
Simon Langton Girls Grammar School Canterbury. Has been oversubscribed for the past two years.
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.
Sir Roger Manwood's School Sandwich. Kent's only boarding grammar school from the age of 11 for just six new boarders each yer, out of an intake of 120. Usually oversubscribed, but has large classes after succssful appeals.
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School (the Math, the Maths School): The Math, found outstanding in its recent OFSTED Report, has been regularly oversubscribed for the past five years. In that time, all boys who have passed and been initially turned down because of oversubscription, have eventually been offered places where parents have persisted. Medway Council has vigorously opposed appeals on grounds of oversubscription, to the extent that I have taken them to the Ombudsman complaining about maladminstration on three occasions, have been awarded fresh appeals for parents, and have then secured places at the school. This process has on occasion been very protracted. For 2008 entry, the Planned Admission number was raised from 155 boys to 168, some parents were succcessful on appeal, others were turned down and I complained to the Local Governemnt Ombudsman on behalf of these, successfully winning places for all who had persisted. Those being turned down have mainly been from the further parts of the Hoo Peninsula, the Rainham area of Medway or beyond, and occasionally from areas such as Stockbury & Meopham in Kent. For 2009 entry with the new headteacher vigorously opposing appellants, there were just three successful appeals.
Sittingbourne Community College Has increased in popularity in recent years and is now oversubscribed.
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?
Swadelands School in Harrietsham has been given "notice to improve" by OFSTED, adding to the pressure on demand for places in other schools in South Maidstone.
Thamesview School Gravesend. Oversubscribed and increasing in popularity. Being completely rebuilt under BSF, but Planned Admission Number down from 210 to 150 over the past few years.
Thomas Aveling School Rochester. Heavily oversubscribed. Appeals organised by Independent Appeal Administrator.
Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls. Selects on high scores in two categories. 105 girls in Kent selective areas. 35 'outers'. Scores in categories vary, but are always over 400 in the initial selection. For 2009 entry, the Inners cut off was 407, Outers 412 but these had both fallen by the time of the appeals as some girls were withdrawn.
Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School. Only takes girls from the West Kent selective area, mainly those closest to the school, but but 14 places being reserved for high scorers. Heavily oversubscribed.
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys. Heavily oversubscribed. There were 32 successful appeals in 2009, reflecting the pressure on places at the school, but putting massive pressure on the resources of TWGSB who vigorously opposed any additional boys being offered places.
Ursuline College Westgate-on Sea. This Catholic School was until recently a private school, unitil it joined the state sector. Heaavily oversubcribed giving priority to Catholics then other Christians.
Valley Park School was massively oversubscribed in 2009 partly as a result of Cornwallis Academy changing its oversubscription criteria cutting out children from the Roseacre and Madginford areas, but also becasue of the unpopularity of Swadelands School. The combination of the two reduced its catchment distance for the year to 1.08 miles. There were 64 appeals in the end, of which 38 were successful after the school agreed to admit an additional form of entry. Four families took complaints to the Ombudsman, who recommended fresh appeals, although KCC contested this. In the end the appeals were reheard and all four appellants were offered places. This was an unusual Ombudsman case as the fault was in the decision making process, not the hearings themselves and so the faults were not initially apparent. I see no prospect of the pressure on places easing for 2010 entry and it is doubtful if the school will again be able to take in an additional form of entry.
Walderslade Girls School Chatham. Usually oversubscribed, but with successful appeals.
Weald of Kent Grammar School Tonbridge. Heavily oversubscribed. There were 75 appeals, of which 27 were successful, nearly all being girls who had already passed the Kent tests. There were a number of successful complaints to the Local Government Ombudsman.
Westlands School Sittingbourne. Outstanding OFSTED. Heavily oversubscribed. Appeals organised by Independent Appeal Administrator
Wilmington Enterprise College. See Academies page. The school was placed in Special Measures last year, although warnings have been posted for some years. The OFSTED Report states: Significant inadequacies in leadership and management, coupled with considerable weaknesses in teaching, learning and assessment, and students' weak language skills in particular, are limiting the school's overall capacity to improve quickly.It also speaks of significant support from the local authority over the past five years but goes on: "However, this support has not been rigorous and challenging enough to enable the school to make sufficient improvement since the last inspection". Kent spends large sums on support for schools, this report raises serious quesions in its effectiveness. Had just 11% of pupils achiving 5 GCSEs including maths and English in 2009, the lowest in Kent.
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys. Massively oversubscribed because of large influx from across the county boundary. In 2009 there were 45 offers in March to out county boys from a total of 120. The number of appeals was a record for the county at 108, of whom just 8 were successful all of whom had passed the Kent tests. Although it was not primarily the school's fault, there were a number of successful complaints to the Local Government Ombudsman.
The Grammar School for Girls, Wilmington. Sometimes has a few places after allocation in March.
Wrotham School. popular rural school always heavily oversubscribed, but takes some additional children after appeals each year.
St John Fisher School in Chatham has attracted controversy by asking several students to leave the school at the end of Year 12 following a decision by the school after the start of term to close several courses. The students were then unable to transfer to other courses as these were now full. It is illegal to ask students to leave mid course unless they are expelled on behavioural grounds. Remember that you have the right of appeal to an Independent Panel if a student is refused admission to the Sixth Form of a school. There is no such right for a College.