Updated February 2021

You will find an initial article on 2020 allocations here, an article on 2020 oversubscription data for grammar schools here, and for non-selective schoolshere. For Grammar School Preferences, only grammar qualified 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 2019 Appeals Outcomes 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 explanation. In the Individual performance table, under KS5 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. 

Walmer Science College NOW CLOSED The school amalgamated with Castle Community College, which saw the effective closure of Walmer Science College, brought about by poor leadership. Further information and comment here. There were no further intakes from September 2014 onwards. Now part of Goodwin Academy

Weald of Kent Grammar School Tonbridge. Academy. Became an academy in February 2011. Last full Inspection was in 2007, when the school was found Outstanding. After considerable controversy, an annexe set in Sevenoaks to increase provision of girls' grammar school places in West Kent opened in 2017 which is now thriving, catering for 120 girls, out of a total of 295 in 2019. Places are awarded by preference to different geographical areas. For details of how places are allocated to each site, consult the school website, Admission Rules, final section on document, where parents will be able to make a site preference.  There is no right to choose a site. 

For 2016 entry, the school expanded again in preparation for the Annexe opening in 2017, to 230 places.For 2017, with the grammar school annexe open, the Planned Admission Number rose to 265 (90 on the Sevenoaks site). Numbers of applications appear to increase inexorably.  

 The 16 successful appellants in 2018 were all placed at the Sevenoaks site, which may have influenced decisions. Others found of grammar school ability by the Panel were placed on the waiting list. 

For 2020, there were no appellants that were already grammar qualified. All appeals were Paper-Based. 

 The school features in my article on GCSE performance 2018 with top Progress 8 performance in the county. Also features in Progress 8 and Attainment 8 tables for 2019. 

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Westlands School Sittingbourne. Lead school for the extensive Swale Academies Trust. OFSTED  Feb 2019 - Good. Became an Academy in 2010. The Trust is aggressively expansive. There is massive pressure for places at the Sittingbourne non-selective schools with residents of the Isle of Sheppey seeking places on the mainland, but historically no appeals as applications were massaged away, some encouraged to Swale Community Academy, also part of the Swale Academies Trust . This changed for 2017, but 51 out of 52 successes in 2019 was probably due to political imperative to prove the school had to take successful appeals. Controversial issue on leaders' remuneration in 2017. Fall of 12% in roll, Year 10-11 from 2017 to 19, suspicion of off-rolling?  

2019 intake swollen by successful appeals (see above and below), to be second largest intake in Kent. 

In the past, the school has had a way of massaging away those on its waiting list, that according to regular Freedom of Information Requests does not involve hearing appeals. For 2018, 24 requests for appeal filed. All were offered places in advance. The school was very unhappy with the appeal process for 2019 managed by KCC, which let all but one appellant through. It therefore switched to Clerks Associates for 2020 with a very different outcome. All appeals were heard by video conferencing.  

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2014 - 2019 - no appeals for school admission 

2020 were heard through Video Conferencing by Clerks Associates. 

Wilmington Academy. Became an Academy September 2010, converting from the failed Wilmington Enterprise College which was placed in Special Measures in 2009. Part of the thriving Leigh Academies Trust. OFSTED May 2017- Good again. For 2015 admission, this was the fifth most oversubscribed non-selective school in Kent on allocation in March, turning away 94 disappointed first choices, not only because of its own success, but the failure of nearby Oasis Hextable Academy, now closed. My memory goes back a few years to when I supported families in appeals to Hextable as they attempted to flee Wilmington. How times change! Very difficult to win an appeal, so numbers have fallen. 

Popularity still strong but below the heady days of 2015. 

Furthest Distance offered on allocation in miles                                        

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Wilmington Grammar School for Boys. Became an academy in August Part of the Endeavour Academy Trust with Wilmington Grammar Girls (see below) Heavily oversubscribed because of large number of applications from across the county boundary, but in 2015 changed oversubscription criteria to favour local boys along with 10% high scorers, and siblings include those of Wilmington Girls which has also changed its character to match. The sibling priority for OOC boys has now nearly worked through, hence the continued fall in OOC numbers with most of these coming from Bexley (14 in 2020), included as local because they live less than 1.5 miles from the school.  Sharp increase in grammar qualified applicants again in 2019. PAN increase by 30 boys to 180 for 2020.  

 2018 allocation data shows its increasing popularity, with many children previously placing it second choice to one of the Dartford Grammars. The high number of  first choices rejected will be mainly London children, although for 2018, Kent children living outside the defined priority area also lost out. More popular again for 2019. For 2020, a lot of first preferences lost out, because other boys living closer had not been offered their first choice, but lived closer. 

Unusual in that PAN almost always coincides with October Census figures, so that small number of successful appeals covers some loss of boys dropping out, with other losses being brought up to PAN from Waiting List. 

Furthest Distance offered on allocation in miles                                        

 The school sticks rigidly to its five form entry so appeal success is very difficult. It appears as if after appeals, school replaces spaces arising only back to original PAN.

2020, All six successes came from the 78 appellants who were already grammar school qualified. All appeals were paper-based.

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Wilmington Grammar School for Girls. Became an academy August 2011. Academy part of Endeavour Trust with Wilmington Grammar School for Boys (above). Heavily oversubscribed because of large number of applications from across the county boundary,but in 2015 changed oversubscription criteria to favour local girls along with 10% high scorers, and siblings include those of Wilmington Boys which is changing its character, although still large number of ooc girls, mainly siblings, and parts of Bexley (41)  regarded as local. OFSTED Nov 2015: Outstanding, up from Good.  PAN increased to 180 for 2020 entry. 

 Like Wilmington Boys, it looks as if it only replaces spaces arising after appeals back to PAN

Furthest Distance offered on allocation in miles 

 In 2020, 38 of the appellants were previously grammar assessed. All appeals were paper-based.

Wrotham School. Became April 2013. Popular rural school always oversubscribed. Manages over nearby failing Aylesford School but this can't convert because of the PFI bind. In Jun 2018, the school had a short Ofsted Inspection which recommended a Full follow-up to consider offering Outstanding. Sadly for the school, the follow up in May 2019 did not agree and it was Good again. 

Loses children after allocation because of large number of successful appeals in Maidstone grammar schools.

Surge in applications for 2019 reflects problems at nearby Holmesdale School. 

 Large number of successful appeals at Maidstone grammars, create spaces, hence limited need for appeals. 

* See introduction to school above. 

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Wye School, Ashford. This new Free School for an intake of just 90 children opened in September 2013, and rapidly became very popular, although troubles in 2017/18 saw a sharp downturn which appears to have been reversed. The school now has permanent accommodation, including new buildings and has pupils through the whole age range to A Level. The proposal to focus on the academic curriculum of the English Baccalaureate indicated the philosophy of the proposers, although their website paints a highly ambitious programme, apparently catering for all interests and aptitudes (nothing wrong with that) which may be difficult to achieve in such a small school, although intake temporarily increased to 128 in 2019.'Woven into the broad and balanced curriculum is the school’s theme of sustainability within the rural and built environment'. Part of the thinking behind the proposal may be for children to avoid the large and socially diverse non-selective schools in Ashford and Kennington, with GCSE performance very strong. Problems at the top saw the headteacher depart suddenly summer 2017, a temporary replacement appointed and now a new permanent head has been in place for two years, presumably the reason for the recent upswing in popularity.    

In 2020, all appeals were paper-based. 

Strong GCSE performance in its first year, as featured in my 2018 article. 

updated February 2021

There is a Report on 2020 Appeals Outcomes 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 explanation. In the Individual performance table, under KS5 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. 

Thamesview School, Gravesend.  No Sixth Form. As a PFI school, unable to academise. Usually oversubscribed, like most Gravesham secondary schools, although may have vacancies after grammar school appeals.  GCSE performance had been consistently sound up to 2019, when it took a nosedive, along with its popularity with families who clearly spotted a trend.  

2014 - 2017 no appeals for school admission

 2019, 2020 No Appeals

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Tonbridge Grammar School (for girls). Became a Converter Academy in January 2011. Is committed to the International Baccalaureate throughout the school, still an unusual choice for a state school, so you should satisfy yourself this is right for the girl. Regularly wins accolades for being one of the top schools in the country, with its very high Bacc results. Loses a high proportion of girls after GCSE, with just 64% staying on, although it picks up 42 students from other schools to replace them. 

With the Weald of Kent Grammar opening its annexe in Sevenoaks for 2018, the number of local girls' grammar places continues to rise. Selects on high scores in two categories, currently 135 girls in local area,35 'outers' and 10 top scoring Pupil Premium (details here).  The school became an academy in 2012,  with three consecutive Outstanding Ofsteds, most recently in 2019.  

*In 2018, five of the governor places were offered to girls living in Greenwich and another four in Redbridge. 

2018 first score in area, second score governor place
1st round 369/394
2nd round 365/405
waiting list 363/392

2019
1st round 371/393
2nd round 368/400
waiting list 367/388

Low staying on rate into Sixth Form at just 87% in 2016 (over half of Kent grammar schools have a net increase admitting students from other, often non-selective schools), up to 91% in 2017. The actual figure will be lower than this as there will be girls joining the Sixth Form form from other schools, replacing some who had left. 

 Just 135 of the 171 students in Year 11 qualified under the Progress 8 rules to have their exam outcomes counted in the statistics. This is a very low proportion for a grammar school, and may indicate a school policy relating to the curriculum. 

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Towers School, Ashford. Now an Academy. Was hit badly in terms of intake with the opening of the Wye Free School. However first preferences have recovered over the past few years partly due to population growth. Although no vacancies on allocation, Ashford grammars take a large number on appeal so there will be empty spaces.  Exploring combining with Brockhill Park in Hythe to form the South East Kent Academy Trust.

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Trinity School, Sevenoaks. A Free School set up in September 2013, moved into new premises in September 2016 on the same site as the new Weald of Kent Grammar annexe, which was opened in September 2017. There was an initial small intake of 120 pupils. Heavily oversubscribed with first choices, so expanded to 180. For further information go to here.  The school offers up to half its places to 'Christian families, defined as families where at least one parent / carer and the student consistently attend a Christian Church at least twice per month for a period of at least two years', most of the rest after the common exceptions awarded on distance grounds, the catchment area each year being tight around the school.  The school's first headteacher, Matthew Tate, having set the school on a good start, left in August 2016, to go on to Hartsdown Academy where he struggles. Competes with Knole Academy, the established school in Sevenoaks, which has increased rapidly in popularity following the departure of its previous head, so applications have fallen sharply (although still just in the 2020 list of most oversubscribed schools), but appeals are up.

2014 - 2017 no vacant places

2020 Appeals by Video Conferencing. 12 other appellants were offered places before appeals, as places became vacant following grammar school appeals. 

2018 saw first GCSE cohort. No students reached Sixth form age in 2019. 

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Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School.  One of the minority of Kent secondaries, not an academy, but classified as Foundation, giving it some independence from KCC and responsible for staffing. Priority for places given to grammar qualified girls in named West Kent parishes,  but not all have got in in the past.  Girls attracting Pupil Premium living in the parishes will have priority (see below) as do 14 girls awarded Governors Places for high performance in the Kent Test who would not otherwise qualify on distance grounds, but are also in the named parishes. Academically high performing school with results at GCSE and A-Level comparable with local super-selective schools. High expectations of students but fifth equal highest staying on rate into the all-girls Sixth Form at 82% in 2020, picking up six girls from Tonbridge Grammar, suggests no problem with pressure.  

 Runs its own Independent Appeals Panel, which tends to award fewer than 10 places on appeal. In years when the school is well oversubscribed, and this can include some second choices, a very strong case is needed for girls who are initially non-selective. No appeals success for girls not qualified through Kent Test in 2018 or 2017.  But for 2019 entry, all appeals were from previously non-selective girls

For 2020, 3 of the 4 children previously found selective were offered places,  In addition to the one initially non-selective girl offer a place, four more were placed on the waiting list. The likelihood is that some of these four will have been offered places, as there is considerable movement in West Kent grammar schools, with some pupils moving to private schools. All appeals were by video conferencing.

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Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys. Usually oversubscribed with first choices initially, but there is a fall off in the number of boys actually taking up places. Priority given to boys in named West Kent parishes.  The school increased its intake in recent years, but has cut back to its PAN of 210 for 2020 admissions (although this may be effectively reversed after appeals). No vacant places on allocation in March, although there is considerable 'churn' in boys' grammar school places in West Kent, due to boys taking up places in private schools and the super-selectives. Pressure eased as Judd and Skinners super selectives have expanded, and changed their own admission rules to give priority to West Kent boys. Is opening an Annexe in Sevenoaks for 90 boys in 2021, on the same site as the Weald of Kent Annexe. This will considerably ease the journeys for new entrants, with many current students currently travelling form Sevenoaks and beyond. 

Lost 30% of Year 11 before entry to Sixth Form in 2019. Year 12 was 90% of Year 11 roll, from a small year group, with numbers increasing sharply subsequently. 

 For 2019, there was a cut off distance of 13.38 miles in the named parishes, rising to 14.9 in 2020. This is at the very furthest extent of the named parishes, to the north of Badgers Mount. However it still excludes boys living much closer in Kent outside these parishes, for example at Matfield, less than five miles away.  

Unusually, the school is still fully county maintained, and so under the control of KCC, so appeals success rates can reflect county's response to pressure on places in West Kent. The number of appeals is high, with both oversubscription and non-selective cases heard. 

2020 Unusually just two of the 11 previously grammar assessed boys had their appeals upheld. All appeals were 'Paper-Based'.

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 2018 initial allocations were outside the Kent admissions co-ordination scheme as usual for a new school.

 For 2020, all appeals were' Paper-Based'.

New schools are not inspected by Ofsted for at least three years.

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 Ursuline College, Westgate-on-Sea. Became an academy in January 2015. This Catholic School has a background as a girls' private school but is now a mixed state school. Strongly catholic, with conservative discipline.    Part of the Kent Catholic Schools Partnership.  Expanded twice in response to massive pressure on places in Thanet schools, but withdrew 30 places in 2020 in spite of continued pressure, perhaps because of fall in first preferences.   Top-heavy in leadership with Executive Principal, Academy Principal and five Vice Principals. 

The lowest average A Level Progress Grade in the county in 2020. 

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Valley Park School, Maidstone.  Is an Academy along with its Federated partner, Invicta Grammar School in the expansive Valley Invicta Academies Trust.  By far the most popular school in Maidstone, having been consistently one of the three most oversubscribed non-selective schools in Kent (first again in 2020) The school has an unusual main admission criteria giving priority to children for whom it is the nearest school, rather than allocating on distance from the school. Plenty of concerns from parents who lost out as a result, but rules followed, so read them carefully! There is a local house price premium because of popularity.The school has strong Academic Performance at both GCSE and A Level.

Valley Invicta Trust opened a new Six Form entry non-selective school in September 2020 on the same site and adjacent to Invicta Grammar School called the School of Science and Technology Maidstone. This is a reflection of Maidstone's current rapid growth, with the Trust schools present popularity suggesting both schools are likely to be very popular, at the expense of others. 

Furthest Distance offered on allocation in miles                                        

 * No Notice Inspection following two complaints which were discounted.

Updated January 2021

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. For Grammar School Preferences, only grammar qualified 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 2020 Appeals Outcomes 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 explanation. In the Individual performance table, under KS5 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. 

St Anselm's Catholic School, Canterbury. OFSTED March 2017- Good again.  Became an academy in May 2014. Part of the Kent Catholic Schools Partnership.  Increasingly oversubscribed year on year, partly at the expense of Archbishops which has lost popularity, but there is an overall shortage of places in Canterbury since the closure of Chaucer. The replacement Barton Manor School has been delayed again until 2022. Oversubscription criteria place emphasis on Catholic background but most practising Christians have qualified in previous years.  

The oversubscription data for 2017 to 2019 made St Anselm's one of the most popular non-selective schools in Kent, but the number of disappointed first choices fell to some reason in 2020, 2itrh no admission appeals necessary. 

Uses a KCC Independent Appeal Panel, and as in recent years, some grammar schools have admitted high numbers on appeal, most of those persevering to appeal had been awarded places or through the waiting list.  However, the last three years have seen a wide variation in numbers.    

Consistently strong academic performance.  

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St Augustine Academy, Maidstone. OFSTED February 2018 - Good again. The Academy has a Christian ethos and is part of the Woodard Academies Trust. There is no Sixth Form. The academy has had plenty of vacancies in previous years,  but is now regularly full. Word of its progress is clearly getting around. There were just 89 pupils taking GCSE in 2018. However, whilst popularity was maintained for 2019 entry, GCSE performance slumped again, possibly a factor in the high number of fixed term exclusions, at 237, sixth highest in the county, as the school attempted to improve matters (eighth highest in 2019-20). 

2014 - 2017 no appeals for school admission 

For 2020, all appeals heard were 'Paper-Based'. 18 Appeals were scheduled, but only five were heard. 

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St Edmund's Catholic School, Dover. Back in 2013, I wrote an article commenting on failed Ofsted and subsequent events. Full record to 2019 below.  Became a sponsored academy in 2016,  part of the Kent Catholic Schools Partnership. Like each of the Dover non-selectives suffers because of the high proportion of ablest students creamed off to grammar school through the Dover Test. Good attainment score for 2016 but disappointing performance subsequently. Ofsted Stuck School in 2019. Has abandoned Sixth Form, after struggling for numbers. 

 2014 - 2019 all first preferences offered. Popularity improving as a result of OFSTED and performance compared to others. 

2014 - 2016 no appeals for school admission

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St George's CofE Foundation School, Broadstairs. Has become an all through school, recruiting at primary school level now through to Year 5. This development will be popular with parents as it offers priority for entry to secondary school. OFSTED Jun 2019 - Good school for the third time, in spite of disappointing GCSE results through to 2019. In spite of this, popularity has been very high, becoming the most oversubscribed school in the county on allocation in March 2015, slipped to third place by 2020! Appeal success very difficult. 

For 2020, all appeals heard were 'Paper-Based'.

 Small Sixth Form, average 70 over past few years,  10 with at least one A Level in 2019, none with three. 

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Saint George's CofE School, Gravesend. Became an academy, Nov 2011. Became an all-through school for 2019 entry, also admitting children into Year R and Year 1. OFSTED May 2013 found the school to be Good, with outstanding leadership which clearly drove rapid improvements following a disastrous period. Lead school of the Aletheia Anglican Academies Trust.  Heavily oversubscribed. Good GCSE, strong A-Level. 

Has been one of the most popular schools in Kent for some years.  Difficult to win an appeal. All through nature will prove highly successful as pupils will have priority for secondary section when they reach age 11. 

For 2020, all appeals heard were 'Paper-Based'. 

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St Gregory's Catholic School, Tunbridge Wells.  Now an Academy and part of the Kent Catholic Schools Partnership. Oversubscribed.  Priority to Catholics and then other Christians.  OFSTED October 2013 - Outstanding, up from Good.  Not surprisingly after this, popularity soared as school expanded.  In recent years, it appears that most who persisted were probably awarded places one way or another, as there is considerable churning in West Kent. Strong GCSE performance.  

 An extra class added for 2018 and 2019 entry but still oversubscribed. 

 Because of high turnover in West Kent, many appellants are offered places before a hearing each year 

For 2020, all appeals heard were 'Paper-Based'. For 2020 St Gregory's has changed to have its appeal Panel run by KCC. 

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St John's Catholic Comprehensive School, Gravesend. Voluntary Aided. Completely new buildings in 2010 through BSF.  OFSTED May 18 - Short Inspection Good, close to recommending Outstanding. Sound GCSE performance. Popularity soared 2019 entry. One of my favourite schools, through its passion and national reputation  for Military History and Remembrance, interests of my own. 

2014 - 2018 no appeals heard for school admission, although appeals registered; slippage will be due mainly to successful appeals to grammar schools. 

Own Appeal Panel. 2002 Mixture Telephone, Video Conferencing

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St Simon Stock Catholic School, Maidstone. Became an academy January 2014. OFSTED Good November 2016. Successful and regularly heavily oversubscribed school giving priority to Catholic and then other Christian families.  High performer at GCSE: second best non-selective Kent school for Progress, 2018 and 2019. Fourth highest Attainment 2019. Initial numbers fall with high number of successful appeals to grammar school in Maidstone, but just one successful appeal in the last five years.  Part of the Kent Catholic Schools Partnership. From 2017 admission, the school removed priority for religious connections other than Catholicism. 

 For 2016, there were originally 5 appeals submitted, but four withdrew. A similar pattern will have occurred up to 2018, school having changed to a KCC Appeal Panel. 

For 2020, all appeals heard were 'Paper-Based'.

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 Stone Lodge School, Dartford,

Go to here.  

You will find an initial article on 2020 allocations here, an article on 2020 oversubscription and vacancy data for grammar schools here, and for non-selective schools here.  For Grammar School Preferences, only grammar qualified 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 2020 Appeals Outcomes here. GCSE and A-Level results for 2020 are not being published because of the nature of the assessments. For Attainment 8 and Progress 8 and further information on the performance of all Kent schools with 2019 GCSE scores go to here for explanation. In the Individual performance table, under KS5 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. 

 Oakwood Park Grammar School.  Became an Academy in 2011. OFSTED February 2019 - Good.  Filled on allocation for the first time in some years for 2020, the number of successful appeals falling sharply as a result. It loses some boys to Maidstone Grammar after the appeal process but census data shows it has finished up around its PAN figure of 160 in each of the past four years.  2018 GCSE sound, and Ofsted 2019 found 16-19 programme Outstanding. For 2020, there was a 74% staying on rate into the Sixth Form, Oakwood picked up another 59 students from other schools, one of the largest numbers across the county, including 20 girls from Maidstone Girls and 11 from Invicta Grammar Schools. 

 GCSE performance at 5 A*-Cs dipped in 2016 and 2017.  

At A Level in 2019, a very low proportion of A Level candidates for a grammar school took three A Levels - 93 out of 155.

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Oasis Academy Hextable.  Now closed.

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Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey.  Chequered life for as long as I can remember. That is, back to 1983 when I was headhunted to run the then 13-19 school, but did not apply in the end after I had explored it! Became an Academy in 2009, sponsored by Dulwich College who failed to make it a success. In September 2009 after years of controversy over the change of age and ways to convert, it changed from 13-18 to become a two site 11-18 school with 18 forms of entry, the largest school in the country at that time.  After yet another Principal was removed, the highly respected David Day was appointed just before OFSTED in 2011  which failed it with Notice to Improve although finding it now had capacity to improve. In February 2013, new buildings were opened on both sites. OFSTED a month later found it considerably improved, although classifying it as Requires Improvement. This was not enough and Dulwich College gave up the task it had proved inadequate for and the academy was handed over to the Oasis Group. Mr Day was of course removed in spite of the improvements he was making. OFSTED returned in March 2015, and again found it Requires Improvement, the main criticisms being the achievement of students and the quality of teaching. I have updated the story several times in news items, including here, with back links, revealing a worrying level of criticism including high off-rolling of students pre-GCSE.  Although the headteacher had clearly failed as performance declined, he was promoted on the back of it to become Executive Principal of Leigh Academy Trust's Crown Woods Academy. Looks as if he was moved on from there after less than two years. Well done Oasis!  New head appointed Easter 2017 previously Deputy Head, introduced highly controversial new disciplinary process as school become one of Kent's three Tough Love Academies. introduced March 2017 by new Headteacher. May 2017: Major concerns developing overlarge number of Year 11 pupils leaving to attend Swale Pupil Referral Unit, and high proportion of others leaving for Elective Home Education. This head lasted just a year before being moved on. Next headteacher was again previously Deputy Head, after schools looked hard and failed to find an external candidate for the second time.  No change of Tough Love Policy, indeed probably an intensification. 

School has been bedevilled by running two equivalent schools on the two sites (excellent for moving difficult or vulnerable children from site to site). 2018 saw a radical new plan announced to run one site as an academic school, the other as vocational. This was rapidly scrapped as the school realised that because of falling rolls it could contain all its main school pupils on one site, with Sixth Form and disciplinary cases on the other. 

2017-18: Highest number and second highest proportion of Home Education and second highest number and proportion of Fixed Term Exclusions in Kent. 2018-19 highest number and proportion of Fixed Term Exclusions in Kent, at 1025, over 500 more than the second placed school in Kent.  Fell sharply for 2019-20 (did my article have an effect?) to 425, still the highest number, but fourth highest percentage. 

For September 2020, the school acted to strengthen its leadership team, bringing in an Executive Principal to oversee the work of Principal Tina Lee, rather then remove her as has been past practice.  The link leads to an extensive analysis of the current situation, although by January 2021, the senior leadership team had swollen to the largest I have ever seen for a single school. As well as the Executive Principal and the Principal, the next in the hierarchy are the two Associate Principals (one of whom is on his fourth job in six years and now doubles as an Education Consultant). Then come the Vice Principal and a further eight Assistant Principals, in a section on the website called 'Meet the Staff', although no others are mentioned. All this from a teaching staff of under 60 full time.

2014 -2020 all first preferences offered and no appeals for school admission.

The school always has vacancies and for 2017 to 2019 was in the highest four vacancy rates in the county. The October 2020 census reported there were 251 pupils in Year Seven, with 139 vacancies as pupils found alternative schools in Sittingbourne, or took Elective Home Education. 

One of lowest performing schools in Kent for 2016 GCSE. Slumped 2018 second lowest in both Progress 8 and Attainment 8. 2019 some improvement in GCSE relative to other Kent schools.  

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Orchards Academy, Swanley.  Became an academy in 2010. Coincidentally the second school I was headhunted for back around 1983 when it was known as Swanley Technology College, but refused! At that time it had some 1500 students but has been shrinking ever since under mixed leadership, recently losing out to the more popular Knole Academy in Sevenoaks. Starting to improve in recent years, it has received a real fillip with the closure of the Oasis Academy Hextable (above). A member of the Kemnal Academies Trust. First choices well up for 2019 but down again for 2020 as Knole recovers. 

2014 - 2019 no appeals for school admission.

One of highest performing non-selective schools in Kent for Progress 8, in 2016. Not regarded as a fashionable school perhaps because of history, but clearly on the up since 2015, aided by the closure of Oasis Academy Hextable.  

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Pent Valley Technology College, Folkestone. Now closed.

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Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Faversham. Became an academy in 2012. One of four mixed grammar schools in Kent. OFSTED March 2015 - Outstanding.  The first grammar school in the country to expand its PAN in 2012, from 120 to 140. This leaves around 15 places for successful appeals each year.

 Regularly oversubscribed, numbers soared for 2017 and 2018, possibly as Simon Langton Girls in Canterbury less popular following controversy.