Ofsted: Outstanding

Bower Grove School

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

personMrs Maz Cleave

location_onMaidstone, ME16 8NL

language Visit Website phone 1622726773

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2019

groups

Students

238

trending_up

Attainment 8

8.9

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#127 in Kent

#4,073 of 4,663 nationally

summarize

Bower Grove School is a Foundation special school school in Maidstone, serving ages 4-16. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade.

article

School Summary

Bower Grove School is a foundation special school in Maidstone, Kent, admitting pupils aged 4-16. The school has approximately 239 pupils on roll, of whom 69% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 8.9, placing the school #127 in Kent and #4,073 of 4,663 nationally. 0.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2019. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 6.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.8 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

8.9

Grade 5+ E&M

0.00%

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.79

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.18

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

6.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.56

2023

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

5.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.57

2022

Progress 8 Score

-1.09

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

7.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.65

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-1.78

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.65

2018

Progress 8 Score

-1.3

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

10.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.78

explore

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

75%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)72%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

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

Apprenticeships0%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

79%

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

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)21%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

73%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)73%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)23%

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 61%

Reading7% LA 74%

Writing7% LA 72%

Maths3% LA 70%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 60%England 61%

Reading11% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing0% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths7% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 58%England 60%

Reading7% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing14% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths7% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

113

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

-10.9

Read

LA -0.4

-13.3 to -8.5

-6.1

Write

LA -0.2

-8.4 to -3.8

-10.0

Maths

LA -1.2

-12.2 to -7.7

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 67%England 65%

Reading10% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing3% LA 81% · Eng 78%

Maths3% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

-9.1

Read

LA 0.0

-11.7 to -6.6

-11.2

Write

LA 0.1

-13.5 to -8.8

-11.7

Maths

LA -0.6

-14.0 to -9.5

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 65%

Reading0% LA 76%

Writing7% LA 80%

Maths0% LA 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA 0.0

-11.4

Write

LA 0.4

-13.6 to -9.2

Maths

LA -0.5

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

19 November 2024

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

18 September 2019

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

09 January 2018

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

11 February 2014

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

15 March 2013

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

04 July 2011

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

14 January 2008

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

07 June 2004

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2019-09-18

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2018-01-09

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-02-11

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2011-07-04

None Legacy

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

history Predecessor Link

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

5.4%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.6%(11 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 239 pupils. During this period, there were 13 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 5.4%, 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)	239	13	5.4%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	235	5	2.1%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	240	2	0.8%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	241	8	3.3%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	240	13	5.4%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	241	5	2.1%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	238	2	0.8%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	234	10	4.3%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	233	7	3.0%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	232	7	3.0%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	228	6	2.6%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	233	11	4.7%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	231	3	1.3%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	226	7	3.1%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	225	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	225	5	2.2%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	204	13	6.4%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	228	5	2.2%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	227	3	1.3%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	216	6	2.8%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	224	4	1.8%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	216	5	2.3%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	204	17	8.3%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	211	14	6.6%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	208	8	3.8%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	200	17	8.5%	3.1%

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

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 123 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 89 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 16 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

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.

96.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

97.0%Positive

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

39.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree61%

agree35%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree61%

agree33%

disagree5%

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

strongly agree67%

agree15%

disagree4%

don't know2%

not applicable13%

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

yes100%

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

strongly agree81%

agree17%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree57%

agree39%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree73%

agree26%

strongly disagree1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree75%

agree24%

disagree1%

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

strongly agree69%

agree28%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree49%

agree35%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

don't know10%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree63%

agree30%

disagree1%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes99%

no1%

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

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.

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

Staffing

Teacher Turnover