Ofsted: Good trending_up High Demand emoji_events #55 in Kent public Top 33% UK

The Malling School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr John Vennart

corporate_fareThe Malling Holmesdale Federation

location_onWest Malling, ME19 6DH

language Visit Website phone 1732840995

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

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Students

1,010

trending_up

Attainment 8

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GCSE Rank

#55 in Kent

#2,404 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The Malling School is a Foundation school secondary school in West Malling, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Highly competitive: 1.9× more applications than places — plan well ahead.

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School Summary

The Malling School is a foundation school in West Malling, Kent, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of The Malling Holmesdale Federation. The school has approximately 1,046 pupils on roll, of whom 31% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 41, placing the school #55 in Kent and #2,404 of 3,216 nationally. 26.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 10.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.9× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.7 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

26.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)10.9%

Entering EBacc48.80%

EBacc APS3.61

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.21

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc52.80%

EBacc APS3.63

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.29

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc17%

EBacc APS3.46

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.03

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc17%

EBacc APS3.71

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc15%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.64

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc13%

EBacc APS3.14

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.81

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

32.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc6%

EBacc APS2.67

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

2024

2023

2022

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

28 March 2023

Inspection Report

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18 June 2019

Inspection Report

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06 May 2015

Inspection Report

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13 June 2012

Inspection Report

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29 April 2009

Inspection Report

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31 January 2008

Inspection Report

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03 May 2006

Inspection Report

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27 September 1999

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-03-28

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2019-06-18

S5 Inspection Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2015-05-06

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

2.2%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.4%(15 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,046 pupils. During this period, there were 23 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.2%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,046	23	2.2%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,053	33	3.1%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,040	22	2.1%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,054	17	1.6%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,061	36	3.4%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,004	19	1.9%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,010	15	1.5%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,009	16	1.6%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,005	15	1.5%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,013	8	0.8%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,024	11	1.1%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,006	11	1.1%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,016	6	0.6%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,023	4	0.4%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	943	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	943	3	0.3%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	953	1	0.1%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	874	2	0.2%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	896	16	1.8%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	901	26	2.9%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	818	19	2.3%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	815	17	2.1%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	815	36	4.4%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	726	21	2.9%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	723	29	4.0%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	725	12	1.7%	3.1%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 85 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 79 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 39 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 22 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 17 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 11 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

92.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

96.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

21.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree60%

agree33%

disagree5%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree53%

agree34%

disagree11%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree57%

agree17%

disagree5%

strongly disagree3%

don't know1%

not applicable17%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes45%

no55%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree75%

agree16%

disagree9%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree69%

agree26%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree69%

agree26%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree67%

agree26%

disagree5%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree74%

agree25%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree79%

agree21%

disagree1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree69%

agree25%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes94%

no6%

Top Secondary Schools in Kent

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Dartford Grammar School for Girls

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Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Kent

Dartford Grammar School

The Judd School

Tonbridge Grammar School

Dartford Grammar School for Girls

Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School

Invicta Grammar School