Updated May 2022
A Report on 2021 Appeals Outcomes here and exclusions here. For Attainment 8 and Progress 8 and further information on the performance of all Kent schools with 2019 GCSE scores go to here for an explanation. 2020 GCSE and A-Level outcomes were not published, nor will they be for 2021
In the Individual performance table, under the A-Level Progress heading for 2019, you will find a figure like this: -0.37(BA,104, D+, 60). This tells you that the school has a Progress performance level at A-Level, of -0,37, which is Below Average, 104 students took at least one A-Level with an average grade of D+, with 60 students taking three A Levels. A gap between the number of students taking one and those taking three A-Levels can be indicative of the number of vocational courses being offered.
In general, the number of first choices for N/S schools fell for 2020 entry, because the delay in the Kent Test due to Covid, saw KCC offering six choices for one year only, instead of the usual four. This allowed parents room to include a grammar school, often in first place, without knowing the Kent Test outcome.
Maidstone Grammar School.MGS Is a Foundation school so one of a small minority of secondary schools still under the aegis of Kent County Council. OFSTED January 2019: Good, down from Outstanding, a shock for this prestige school, but reflected performance. Was significantly oversubscribed until 2017, when a major new building investment allowed the school to open a permanent additional form of entry, thus creating a surplus of selective boys’ places across Maidstone. It has now recovered its reputation, hence the surge in first choices for 2020. The 14 vacancies 2021 is unprecedented, although the proportion of boys found selective in the District fell by 15%, and the school has returned to its regular oversubscription for 2022 entry. .
Its oversubscription criteria include residence in a named parish, with priority from 2019 entry to high scoring boys being clarified to read an aggregate Kent Test score of 360; then other local boys who are grammar qualified. As parents know Kent test scores before applications are made, it is clearly important that those scoring less than 360 should include Oakwood Park Grammar on their list, as some families living apparently close to the school can lose out.
Performance at GCSE was shocking with Progress 8 at -0.12 in 2018, the same as the struggling non-selective school, New Line Learning Academy, also in Maidstone. Some improvement for 2019. As with all four Maidstone grammar schools, there was an average staying on rate into the Sixth Form for Kent grammars, of 72%, but picked up 26 students from the two girls grammars in 2020. For 2021 MGS had an increase of 21 students from Year 11 to 12.
INITIAL ALLOCATIONS |
||||
PAN |
1st
prefs
|
1st prefs
not offered
|
Vacancies | |
2017 | 205 | 193 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | 205 | 208 | 11 | 0 |
2019
|
205
|
214 | 29 | 0 |
2020 | 205 | 245 | 60 | 0 |
2021 | 205 | 191 | 0 | 14 |
2022 | 205 | 234 | 43 | 0 |
APPEALS FOR SCHOOL PLACES | ||
Appeals Heard | Upheld | |
2016 | 53 | 15 |
2017 | 21 | 11 |
2018 | 30 | 10 |
2019 | 68 | 18 |
2020 | 64 | 18 |
2021 | 47 | 18 |
PERFORMANCE DATA | ||||
Prog 8 | Att 8 |
GCSE Grade 5
Eng & Maths
|
KS5 Progress
& Performance
|
|
2016 | 0.16 | 65.7 | ||
2017 | 0.16 | 64 | n/a | -0.46(BA) |
2018 | -0.12(A) | 62.2 | 88% | 0.00(A) |
2019 | 0.17 (A) | 65.4 | 91 | 0.12 (AA,168,B-,166) |
Progress 8 scores were not flattering in 2017, coming in the bottom third of grammar schools in the list, although higher (15/32 in the Attainment 8 Table). However, for 2018 they declined further, in both tables (to 29/32 in Progress 8, 26/32 for Attainment 8)), which must be very worrying for such a prestige school. At A Level Progress, second lowest grammar school performer in 2017, but improved in 2018 and 2019. There has been no published data since then to compare.
MGS Ofsted Performance | ||
Inspection
Type
|
Outcome
|
|
Jan 2019 | Full | Good |
Sep 2013 | Full | Outstanding |
Feb 2008 | Full | Outstanding |
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls. Is a Foundation school so another of the small minority of secondary schools still under the aegis of Kent County Council. Regularly undersubscribed, struggling to compete with Invicta Grammar, although the two had see-sawed in popularity in previous years. Its Outstanding OFSTED dates back as far as 2009, way beyond the normal span. It may be because of its good academic performance, although it has a reputation for putting girls under pressure, with a high fallout rate at the end of Year 11. An article I wrote in 2017 highlighted its illegal and private selection system to try and recruit the highest performers to the Sixth Form, which was condemned by the Ombudsman, after the school was caught out lying about it.
Popularity plummeted in 2916 in competition with Invicta Grammar and has not recovered Very high rate of successful admission appeals up to and including 2020, probably to cover up for this. One of the lowest staying on rates for Kent grammar schools into the Sixth Form at 65% in 2020, although still picked up 26 students from other grammars to compensate. Lost 16% of its Year 11 numbers in 2021, but Invicta lost 31%. Some went to MGS but otherwise, to where did they vanish? Also lost a very high 13 girls from year 12, or 8% of the total in 2021, second highest percentage in Kent. Is this a sign of the illegal practice of off-rolling. Something needs to change!
INITIAL ALLOCATIONS | |||
PAN |
1st
preferences
|
Vacancies | |
2017 | 180 | 116 | 42 |
2018 | 180 | 134 | 31 |
2019 | 180 | 109 | 58 |
2020 | 180 | 111 | 55 |
2021 | 180 | 114 | 27 |
2022 | 180 | 112 | 45 |
APPEALS FOR SCHOOL PLACES | ||
Appeals Heard | Upheld | |
2016 | 75 | 55 |
2017 | 76 | 53 |
2018 | 91 |
45 |
2019 | 114 | 75 |
2020 | 89 | 61 |
2021 | 82 | 39 |
PERFORMANCE DATA | ||||
Prog 8 | Att 8 |
GCSE Grade 5
Eng & Maths
|
KS5 Progress
& Performance
|
|
2016 | 0.39 | 67.4 | ||
2017 | 0.58 | 64 | n/a | -0.07(A) |
2018 | 0.59(WAA) | 68.7 | 93% | -0.09(BA) |
2019 | 0.84 (WAA) | 69.7 | 96% | -0.05, A,160,B-,148 |
There has been no published data since 2009 to compare.
MGGS Ofsted Performance | ||
Inspection
Type
|
Outcome
|
|
May 2009 | Full | Outstanding |
Jan 2006 | Full | Good |
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Malling School, Foundation School. OFSTED 2019 Good for the third time. The school was rebuilt under the controversial PFI initiative around 2010 and because of the outstanding loan taken out has been unable to academise since if it had wanted to, as explained here. Has had a chequered history in the past and eight years ago the school was linked with Holmesdale School which provided Malling with support. Since then, the roles are reversed and the Federation was dissolved as Malling has flourished and Holmesdale plunged into Special Measures and beyond. It was one of the most oversubscribed schools in Maidstone and district, until 2020, even stronger for 2022. Has the largest and most sought after SEN Unit in the County, the Tydeman Centre which is in great demand, taking in children with Speech and Language difficulties and ASD. Whilst this has a negative effect on academic performance reports it appears good for the school as a whole. Academic performance was still not strong in 2019, the last year performance was measured, as weaker cohorts worked through to Year 11, but I anticipate this has now vanished and parents are voting with their feet as the school's reputation continues to grow.
INITIAL ALLOCATIONS | ||||
PAN |
1st
prefs
|
1st
prefs
not offered
|
Vacancies | |
2017 | 180 | 159 |
15
|
0 |
2018 | 180 | 214 | 57 | 0 |
2019 | 180 |
167 | 43 | 0 |
2020 | 159 | 169 | 31 | 0 |
2021 | 159 | 120 | 1 | 0 |
2022 | 159 | 215 | 63 | 0 |
The school’s strong progress can be tracked by its increasing popularity year on year. The school had an official PAN of 159 for some years, increasing its intake to 180, which was the PAN for 2019, but then reduced this again somehow for 2020, back to 159 as popularity dipped a little temporarily.
Appeals for School Places | ||
Appeals | Upheld | |
2018 | 9 | 9 |
2019 | 11 | 0 |
2020 | 13 | 7 |
2021 | 5 | All Appeals upheld |
For 2020 & 2021, all appeals heard were 'Paper-Based'. KCC Appeal Panel
PERFORMANCE DATA | ||||
Prog 8 | Att 8 |
GCSE Grade 5
Eng & Maths
|
KS5 Progress
& Performance
|
|
2016 | -0.03 | 44.8 | ||
2017 | -0.3 | 36 | n/a | No Entries |
2018 | -0.81(WBA) | 32.2 | 17% | |
2019 | -0.64(WBA) | 36.7 | 23% |
Still working through the lower ability intake when the school was very unpopular. However, it needed to see improvement for 2020. However, there has been no published data since then to compare.
Malling Ofsted Performance | ||
Inspection
Type
|
Outcome
|
|
Jun 2019 | Full | Requires Improvement |
May 2015 | Full | Good |
Jun 2012 | Full | Good |
Apr 2009 | Full | Good |
Maplesden Noakes School Maidstone. Became an Academy in 2012. Increasingly heavily oversubscribed as popularity of schools in Maidstone polarises and population is rapidly increasing. Normally sound academic performance. Proposal to expand from 180 to 240 for 2021 went through. The success rate at appeal is consistently low.
INITIAL ALLOCATIONS | |||
PAN |
1st
preferences
|
1st prefs
not offered
|
|
2017 | 180 | 187 | 77 |
2018 | 180 | 227 | 80 |
2019 | 180 | 222 | 67 |
2020 | 210 | 253 | 88 |
2021 | 240 | 173 | 12 |
2022 | 240 | 235 | 37 |
APPEALS FOR SCHOOL PLACES | ||
Appeals Heard | Upheld | |
2016 | 0 | 0 |
2017 | 34 | 13 |
2018 | 37 | 4 |
2019 | 45 | 6 |
2020 | 42 | 0 |
2021 | 10 | 4 |
PERFORMANCE DATA | ||||
Prog 8 | Att 8 |
GCSE Grade 5
Eng & Maths)
|
KS5 Progress
& Performance
|
|
2016 | 0.08 | 49.6 | ||
2017 | -0.12 | 43.1 | n/a | 0.07(A) |
2018 | -0.07(A) | 40.6 | 21% | -0.36(BA) |
2019 | -0.08(A) | 40.8 | 20% | -0.37,BA,104,D+,60 |
Maplesden Ofsted Performance | ||
Inspection
Type
|
Outcome
|
|
Nov 2018 | Short | Good |
Sep 2013 | Full | Good |
Jun 2010 | Full | Good |
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Marlowe Academy, Ramsgate. Now closed.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Marsh Academy, New Romney, previously Southlands School, where I nearly became headteacher in the 1980's after a scandal involving the previous head led to his departure! Serves the very rural Romney Marsh. It was one of the early old style old style Academies, opened in 2007, and completely rebuilt in 2011 with Sixth Form on separate site. It struggled for some years under sponsors Tonbridge School, who clearly did not understand the issues of a very rural state school, the assumption being that rich independent schools catering for highly able and wealthy pupils have skills which transfer to the management of state schools. They were supported by Microsoft and KCC. Tonbridge School has now stepped back after discovering, as have other private schools at other academies, that it is somewhat of a challenge and the school is now run by The Skinners Company which also runs the highly successful Skinners Kent Academy. Still has sponsor governors from Tonbridge, Microsoft and KCC. Went through a period a few years ago of being managed by senior staff at Folkestone School for Girls. Loses a lot of able Marsh children to the Folkestone grammar schools, which select an additional high proportion of pupils through the Shepway Test. Popularity has picked up sharply since the closure of Pent Valley School in Folkestone causing pressure all round the Shepway District, especially at Brockhill Park in Hythe, previously a popular destination for Marsh children.
INITIAL ALLOCATIONS | ||||
PAN |
1st
prefs
|
1st prefs
not
offered
|
Vacancies | |
2017 | 180 | 178 | 20 | 0 |
2018 | 180 | 171 | 12 | 0 |
2019 | 180 | 151 | 0 | 3 |
2020 | 180 | 154 | 7 | 0 |
2021 | 190 | 161 | 1 | 0 |
2022 | 180 | 194 | 29 | 0 |
Dip in first choices for 2019 may be due to opening of new Turner Free School in Folkestone, but there is a sharp increase in 2022, which may well be because the school is on the up..
No appeals heard 2014-21
PERFORMANCE DATA | ||||
Prog 8 | Att 8 |
GCSE Grade 5
Eng & Maths
|
KS5 Progress
& Performance
|
|
2016 | 0.04 | 44.1 | ||
2017 | -0.15 | 38 | n/a | -0.47(BA) |
2018 | -0.65(WBA) | 33.2 | 11% | |
2019 | -0.5(BA) | 35.4 | 14% | 0.19(A, 23,C-,15) |
Has had a very small sixth form for several years, but Year 12 has expanded to 91 students for 2019 (46 in 2018), and 105 in 2020. Some students will take vocational courses only.
Marsh Ofsted Performance | ||
Inspection
Type
|
Outcome
|
|
Feb 2017 | Short | Good |
Apr 2013 | Full | Good |
Sep 2011 | Monitoring | Satisfactory Progress |
Jun 2010 | Full | Satisfactory |
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mascalls School Paddock Wood. Became an academy in 2011. Popular school with a rural hinterland, loses some able pupils to Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Grammars, but still has a comprehensive intake. Regularly oversubscribed, but considerable churning particularly as it offers places to TW n/s pupils initially unable to get into schools local to them, so all applications pursued have been successful in recent years with no appeals needed. Significant rise in first choices 2019. PAN increased for September 2021 to further absorb children previously taken in by High Weald Academy after the closure of the school was announced. Many of these would previously have also been LAAs as Tunbridge Wells was full. The increase in PAN to 300 for 2022, along with the increase in 1st choices, shows a sense of reality for many of these families, but still not back to its popularity up to 2019. The record number of LAAS suggests there is much work to be done.
INITIAL ALLOCATIONS | |||||
PAN |
1st
preferences
|
1st prefs
not offered
|
LAAS | Vacancies | |
2017 | 240 | 206 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | 240 | 217 | 27 | 0 | 0 |
2019 | 240 | 242 | 29 | 0 | 0 |
2020 | 240 | 182 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2021 | 270 | 145 | 0 | 49 | 0 |
2022 | 300 | 195 | 0 | 62 | 0 |
No appeals heard 2014- 21
PERFORMANCE DATA | ||||
Prog 8 | Att 8 |
GCSE Grade 5
Eng & Maths)
|
KS5 Progress
& Performance
|
|
2016 | 0.0 | 45.6 | ||
2017 | 0.07 | 48.7 | n/a | 0.06(A) |
2018 | 0.01(A) | 42.5 | 30% | -0.30(BA) |
2019 | 0.04(A) | 45.4 | 36% | 0.07(A,98,C, 59) |
Consistent strong academic performance for a non-selective school.
Mascalls Ofsted Performance | ||
Inspection
Type
|
Outcome
|
|
Nov 2016 | Short | Good |
May 2012 | Full | Good |
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
INITIAL ALLOCATIONS | ||||
PAN |
1st
prefs
|
1st prefs not offered
|
Mayfield
Test
Offers
|
|
2017 | 170 | 170 | 22 | 17 |
2018 | 180 | 183 | 11 | 21 |
2019 | 180 | 167 | 39 | 35 |
2020 | 180 | 173 | 8 | 13 |
2021 | 210 | 171 | 0 | 20 |
2022 | 210 | 172 | 3 | 19 |
The school attracts a considerable number of lower preference choices, including many from from London and Essex, which are mainly rejected on distance grounds.
APPEALS FOR SCHOOL PLACES | |||
Appeals Heard | Upheld |
Previously
Grammar Assessed
|
|
2016 | 40 | 26 | |
2017
|
37
|
13
|
|
2018 | 42 | 13 | 1/14 |
2019 | 44 | 16 | 5/17 |
2020 | 62 | 38 | 19/26 |
2021 | 36 | 20 | 2/6 |
PERFORMANCE DATA | ||||
Prog 8 | Att 8 |
GCSE Grade 5
Eng & Maths
|
KS5 Progress
& Performance
|
|
2016 | 0.07 | 65.1 | ||
2017 | 0.23 | 62.8 | n/a | -0.26(BA) |
2018 | 0.33(AA) | 65.8 | 85% | -0.41(BA) |
2019 | 0.41(AA) | 65.8 | 88% | -0.56(WBA,143,C-,118) |
Mayfield Ofsted Performance | ||
Inspection
Type
|
Outcome
|
|
Jun 2013 | Full | Outstanding |
Jan 2011 | Interim | Good |
Feb 2008 | Full | Good |
INITIAL ALLOCATIONS | |||
|
PAN
|
1st
prefs
|
1st prefs
not offered
|
2017 | 170 | 146 | 19 |
2018 | 140 | 154 | 55 |
2019 | 140 | 226 | 75 |
2020 | 170 | 233 | 76 |
2021 | 200 | 273 | 97 |
2022 | 200 | 218 | 36 |
Furthest Distance offered on allocation in miles
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
|
Meopham School |
3.185 |
3.982 |
4.999 |
No appeals heard 2014-18
APPEALS FOR SCHOOL PLACES | ||
Appeals | Upheld | |
2019 | 29 | 8 |
2020 | 33 | 1 |
2021 | 44 | 1 |
For 2020 & 2021, Appeals were heard by Clerks Associates and were video conference. In 2021, one appellant was offered a place before appeals were heard.
PERFORMANCE DATA | ||||
Progress 8 | Attainment 8 |
GCSE Grade 5
Eng & Maths
|
KS5
Progress
|
|
2016 | 0.48 | 43.4 | ||
2017 | 0.57 | 44.7 | n/a | -0.25(A) |
2018 | 0.46(AA) | 48.1 | 57% | -0.24(A,17,D,1) |
For coverage of excellent GCSE results, 2018, see here. Meopham was second highest Kent non-selective school for Progress 8 'Well Above Average' and seventh highest for Attainment 8 in 2017. For 2018, third highest Progress 8 and again seventh for Attainment 8.
Meopham Ofsted Performance | ||
Inspection
Type
|
Outcome
|
|
Jan 2019 | Full | Outstanding |
Jan 2018 | Short |
Good recommend
consider Outstanding
|
Nov 2014 | Full | Good |
Jan 2012 | Full | Special Measures |