Individual School Information - N - Kent Independent Education Advice

Individual School Information - N

Updated December 2020March 2021 Allocations added

You will find an initial article on 2021 allocations here, an article on 2021 oversubscription data for grammar schools here, and for non-selective schools here. For Grammar School Preferences, only grammar-qualified children are counted. The PAN is the Published Admission Number and refers to the number of places available in the year group for each school. If additional places were offered, I have recorded this under PAN.

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.

New Line Learning Academy, Maidstone. In spite of the fact that it has struggled to attract pupils since its formation, GCSE results in 2018 were the best ever, placing the school in the top quarter of Kent non-selective schools at both Progress 8 and Attainment 8. Dipped in 2019, but still above 18 other Kent schools on Progress 8. After a series of struggling Ofsted Reports it was found Good in 2017. The school has a better academic performance than partner school Cornwallis, and applications have soared in 2021 at the expense of Cornwallis.

The Academy was formed from the amalgamation of the former Senacre School and Oldborough Manor School, in West Maidstone, as one of the original City Academies in 2007. It is now in new buildings costing some £31 million. Sponsored by the Future Schools Trust, along with Cornwallis Academy. Headteacher claimed on Radio Kent in March 2014 it was built to cater for future rises in number of Maidstone children over the next 30 years! So far this has not happened. You will find an initial article on 2020 allocations here, an article on 2020 oversubscription data for grammar schools here, and for non-selective schools here. and opening in 2020. The Future Schools Trust was served with a Warning Notice in 2017 about low standards in both secondary schools.

NLL and Cornwallis were scheduled to be taken away from Future Schools and given to the Every Child, Every Day Academy Trust in 2019, but this did not happen. Will be hit by the opening of the new Maidstone School of Science and Technology and opening in September 2020. Had the fourth-highest fallout rate in Kent between allocation of places in Year Seven in 2020 and the October Census that year, losing 38% of its potential pupils (Cornwallis was sixth).

INITIAL ALLOCATIONS
	PAN	1st prefs	Vacant places	Local Authority Allocations
2016	210	96	96	12
2017	210	75	61	50
2018	210	85	33	80
2019	180	85	0	79
2020	180	84	0	84
2021	180	111	30	25

2014 - 2020 no appeals for school admission

PERFORMANCE DATA
	Prog 8	Att 8	Grade 5 or above Eng & Maths)	KS5 Progress Score
2016	-0.53	37.4
2017	-0.3 (BA)	35.1	15%	No significant
2018	-0.12(BA)	37.3	20%	Sixth Form
2019	-0.54 (WBA)	33.5	12%	No Sixth Form

GCSE results for 2018 good, in the top quarter of Kent non-selective Schools in Progress 8 and Attainment 8, and the same as Maidstone Grammar in Progress 8.

New Line Learning Ofsted Performance
	Inspection Type	Outcome
Nov 2019	Full	Good
Mar 2019	Monitoring	Effective Action
Oct 2017	Full	Requires Improvement
Jun 2015	Monitoring	Effective Action
Feb 2015	Full	Requires Improvement

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North School, Ashford. Since being rebuilt under a PFI Scheme, the school was initially heavily oversubscribed, but OFSTED December 2013 placed the school in Special Measures. This decision was partly based on government information about GCSE 5A*-C pass rates that was misleadingly low and lack of support from KCC. The school was still oversubscribed for 2014 entry and expanded by 10 places to 225. Taken over by Swale Academies Trust running a financial surplus of £121,277, its popularity dived again for 2015, although both Progress and Attainment picked up for 2016. Was the least popular school in Ashford, but numbers picked up dramatically for September 2019. There is new controversy over KCC ending the School Support Contract with Swale Academy Trust at short notice at the end of the summer term 2019. The school is now running a deficit of £768,357 which will have to be paid back. At the time of writing there is still no long term agreement over the Swale contract, although Swale is heavily integrated to the extent of employing senior leaders who would be withdrawn if the contract was ended.

INITIAL ALLOCATIONS
	PAN	1st preferences	1st prefs not offered	Vacant places	Local Authority Allocations
2016	215	122	0	42	11
2017	215	142	0	32	15
2018	215	159	2	2	20
2019	215	207	0	0	5
2020	256	162	0	0	24
2021	260	164	3	3	18

2014 - 2021 no appeals for school admission

PERFORMANCE DATA
	Prog 8	Att 8	Grade 5 or above Eng & Maths	KS5 Progress Score
2016	-0.34	42.9
2017	-0.36 (BA)	36.7	23%	0.44(WAA)
2018	-0.26(BA)	38.1	24%	-0.37 (BA)
2019	-0.39 (BA)	35.2	27%	-0.79(WBA,42,D,17)

In the bottom third of Kent non-selective schools at P8 and A8 for 2017 GCSEs. KS5 (A Levels plus BTEC) best progress score in the county.

North School Ofsted Performance
	Inspection Type	Outcome
Sep 2017	Full	Good
Jun 2015	Full	Requires Improvement
Feb 2015	Monitoring	Reasonable Progress
Nov 2014	Monitoring	Reasonable Progress
Jun 2014	Monitoring	Reasonable Progress
Mar 2014	Monitoring	Plans Not Fit for Purpose
Dec 2013	Full	Special Measures

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Northfleet School for Girls. OFSTED February 2017 - Good. GCSE performance data strong from 2014, with GCSE results consistently above government floor standard. Was hit in numbers by the success of Meopham School, with its Outstanding Ofsted, but usually picks up some girls from Swanscombe due to unpopularity of Ebbsfleet Academy. Surge in popularity for 2020.

INITIAL ALLOCATIONS
	PAN	1st prefs	1st prefs not offered	Vacant places	LAAS
2016	200	122	0	0	16
2017	210	100	0	66	13
2018	210	141	0	9	20
2019	210	126	0	0	17
2020	210	156	2	0	0
2021	210	113	0	3	22

2016 - 2021 no appeals for school admission

PERFORMANCE DATA
	Prog 8	Att 8	Grade 5 or above Eng & Maths	KS5 Progress Score
2016	0.01	47.2
2017	-0.29 (BA)	41.9	31%	0(A)
2018	-0.06(A)	42.9	32%	-0.10(A)
2019	0.12 (A)	43.2	36%	0.05(A,42,D+,19)

Northfleet Girls Ofsted Performance
	Inspection Type	Outcome
Feb 2017	Short	Good
Sep 2012	Full	Good

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Northfleet Technology College. Completely rebuilt under BSF (Building Schools for the Future, a PFI scheme), so currently barred from becoming an academy. OFSTED January 2017 - Good. Usually picks up some boys from Ebbsfleet area because of the unpopularity of Ebbsfleet Academy. Sharp fall in popularity from 2017 corresponding with declining performance and rise at Meopham. Governors should be asking questions.

INITIAL ALLOCATIONS
	PAN	1st preferences	1st prefs not offered	Vacant places	LAAs
2016	190	142	11	0	0
2017	194	139	0	16	0
2018	164	128	0	0	0
2019	164	110	0	0	9
2020	164	87	0	19	19
2021	164	75	0	0	25

APPEALS FOR SCHOOL PLACES
	Appeals Heard	Upheld
2014	3	3
2015	7	7
2016	2	2

No appeals 2017 to 2021.

PERFORMANCE DATA
	Prog 8	Att 8	Grade 5 or above Eng & Maths	KS5 Progress Score
2016	0.34	49.6
2017	-0.45 (BA)	36.7	11%	-0.77(WBA)
2018	-0.43(BA)	36.4	15%	0.07 (A)
2019	-0.46 (BA)	37.2	23%	5(3,-,0)

GCSE results were usually around the government floor standard, but exceptional for 2016 in both Progress and Attainment. Fourth highest performing NS school at Level C or better in English and maths 2016, at 70%. Slumped badly from 2017.

Northfleet Technology Ofsted Performance
	Inspection Type	Outcome
Jan 2017	Short	Good
Oct 2012	Full	Good

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Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford. Converter academy April 2012. OFSTED. Ashford is expanding rapidly so school will fill in a couple of years without depending on appeals. Headteacher suddenly left for Christmas 2018 without new post 'to focus on her own career development'. She was succeeded by Ben Greene, previously head of Bullers Wood Girls School, Chislehurst.

The official PAN has remained at 149 for some years, and then increased on allocation each March by a large figure, settling now at 210. This allows a high number of successful appeals and still remain within PAN, demonstrating there is a need for places. A KCC Report last summer states that: 'In 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 the Governors of Norton Knatchbull School (Academy) offered 180 places on National Offer Day.' This is untrue but has enabled the school to secure the offer of a £2 million grant from KCC to expand its PAN to 210.

Further Information here.

INITIAL ALLOCATIONS
	PAN	1st prefs	1st prefs not offered	Vacant places
2016	180	164	2	0
2017	180	125	0	23
2018	210	130	0	56
2019	210	157	0	40
2020	210	159	0	23
2021	210	146	0	31

APPEALS FOR SCHOOL PLACES
	Appeals Heard	Upheld
2016	60	29
2017	40	26
2018	66	46
2019	66	37
2020	84	30
2021	55	32

A consistently high proportion of successful appeals historically, as the school aims to fill to capacity. The number of appeals shot up for 2020.

PERFORMANCE DATA
	Progress 8	Attainment 8	Grade 5 or above Eng & Maths)	KS5 Progress Score
2016	0.15	65.2		-0.04(A)
2017	0.21 (AA)	63.7	91%
2018	0.16(A)	62.3	81%	-0.54 (BA)
2019	0.20(AA)	63.7	89%	0.03(A,109,C+,108)