Ofsted: Good schoolGrammar School trending_up Popular emoji_events #30 in Kent public Top 4% UK

Highsted Grammar School

verifiedData: DfE & Ofsted 2024/25

personMs Anne Kelly

corporate_fareHIGHSTED ACADEMY TRUST

location_onSittingbourne, ME10 4PT

language Visit Website phone 1795424223

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

889

trending_up

Attainment 8

61.1

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#30 in Kent

#230 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Highsted Grammar School is a Academy converter secondary school in Sittingbourne, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.2×) — apply through your local authority on time.

article

School Summary

Highsted Grammar School is an academy converter in Sittingbourne, Kent, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of HIGHSTED ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 832 pupils on roll, of whom 13% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 61.1, placing the school #30 in Kent and #230 of 3,216 nationally. 82.40% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 33.8% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 22 A-level subjects. 54.5% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 19.3% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.19 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

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 Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.2× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.6 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: Department for Education 2024/25, Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

61.1

Grade 5+ E&M

82.40%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)33.8%

Entering EBacc97.20%

EBacc APS5.88

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.04

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

60.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc98.60%

EBacc APS5.78

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.25

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

57.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc97%

EBacc APS5.39

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.12

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

64.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc99%

EBacc APS6.23

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc99%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.16

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

62.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc98%

EBacc APS5.92

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.5

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

66.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc97%

EBacc APS6.51

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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

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)97%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)98%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)97%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)97%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)98%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

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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

A-Level Value Added

-0.19

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*4.7%

Achieving A*–A19.3%

Achieving A*–B54.5%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate97.4%

A-level subjects offered22

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.15

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate94.00%

2023

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate97.00%

2022

Avg Grade

B+

Students

Retention rate96.2%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

17 January 2023

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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09 March 2011

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-01-17

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2009-02-11

Section 5 RTI Historic EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2005-11-10

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

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

1.4%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.4%(12 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 832 pupils. During this period, there were 12 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.4%, 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)	832	12	1.4%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	842	15	1.8%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	840	10	1.2%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	837	17	2.0%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	842	19	2.3%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	885	20	2.3%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	889	14	1.6%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	896	15	1.7%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	889	14	1.6%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	895	4	0.4%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	899	18	2.0%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	851	4	0.5%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	860	0	0.0%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	867	5	0.6%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	853	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	853	2	0.2%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	855	11	1.3%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	826	9	1.1%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	826	9	1.1%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	830	2	0.2%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	827	4	0.5%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	827	8	1.0%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	829	3	0.4%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	835	7	0.8%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	837	10	1.2%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	840	3	0.4%	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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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 13 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 10 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 7 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 3 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 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.

60.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

80.0%Positive

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

11.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree15%

agree49%

disagree23%

strongly disagree7%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree10%

agree32%

disagree33%

strongly disagree21%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree11%

agree22%

disagree25%

strongly disagree20%

don't know3%

not applicable19%

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

yes20%

no80%

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

strongly agree12%

agree16%

disagree38%

strongly disagree33%

dont know1%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree57%

agree33%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree28%

agree53%

disagree12%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree13%

agree50%

disagree20%

strongly disagree15%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree19%

agree57%

disagree17%

strongly disagree4%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree23%

agree61%

disagree7%

strongly disagree3%

don't know5%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree13%

agree35%

disagree26%

strongly disagree17%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes51%

no49%

Top Secondary Schools in Kent

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Dartford Grammar School

Outstanding

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The Judd School

Outstanding

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Tonbridge Grammar School

Outstanding

location_on Tonbridge, TN9 2JR

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Dartford Grammar School for Girls

Outstanding

location_on Dartford, DA1 2NT

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Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School

Outstanding

location_on Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9UJ

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Invicta Grammar School

Outstanding

location_on Maidstone, ME14 5DS

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View all schools in Kent arrow_forward

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

Selective Admission (Grammar)

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