Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #52 in Kent public Top 33% UK

Towers School and Sixth Form Centre

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

personMr Richard Billings

corporate_fareTOWERS SCHOOL ACADEMY TRUST

location_onAshford, TN24 9AL

language Visit Website phone 1233634171

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

1,460

trending_up

Attainment 8

40.6

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#56 in Kent

#2,454 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Towers School and Sixth Form Centre is a Academy converter secondary school in Ashford, serving ages 11-19. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Towers School and Sixth Form Centre is an academy converter in Ashford, Kent, admitting pupils aged 11-19. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of TOWERS SCHOOL ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 1,559 pupils on roll, of whom 30% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 40.6, placing the school #56 in Kent and #2,454 of 3,216 nationally. 29.30% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 9.1% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 11 A-level subjects. 27.4% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 12.9% at A*–A. A-level value added: 0.04 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. 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 Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 6.4 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

40.6

Grade 5+ E&M

29.30%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)9.1%

Entering EBacc66.20%

EBacc APS3.74

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.29

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc61.80%

EBacc APS3.67

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.15

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc70%

EBacc APS3.66

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.12

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc81%

EBacc APS3.98

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc75%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.5

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc66%

EBacc APS3.13

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

35.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc9%

EBacc APS2.94

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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

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

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

Apprenticeships5%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)78%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

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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

+0.04

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*1.6%

Achieving A*–A12.9%

Achieving A*–B27.4%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate100.0%

A-level subjects offered11

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.11

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate100.00%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate84.20%

2022

Avg Grade

D-

Students

Retention rate76.5%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

15 October 2024

Inspection Report

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22 January 2019

Inspection Report

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07 November 2017

Inspection Report

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13 October 2016

Inspection Report

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24 September 2014

Inspection Report

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26 September 2012

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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18 May 2011

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2024-10-15

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-01-22

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 3 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2017-11-07

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2016-10-13

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2014-09-24

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Development

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

6.7%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.9%(76 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 1,559 pupils. During this period, there were 104 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 6.7%, 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)	1,559	104	6.7%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,573	95	6.0%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,506	86	5.7%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,529	63	4.1%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,556	67	4.3%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,439	64	4.4%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,460	68	4.7%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,461	97	6.6%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,380	81	5.9%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,395	87	6.2%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,414	96	6.8%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,283	113	8.8%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,291	17	1.3%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,287	69	5.4%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,157	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,157	50	4.3%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,172	73	6.2%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,070	42	3.9%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,083	40	3.7%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,113	9	0.8%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,027	0	0.0%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,018	0	0.0%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,036	0	0.0%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,035	0	0.0%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,028	0	0.0%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,042	0	0.0%	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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 72 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 32 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 27 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 21 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 18 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 8 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Hearing 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.

89.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

88.0%Positive

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

27.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree58%

agree34%

disagree5%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree40%

agree41%

disagree15%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree43%

agree22%

disagree8%

strongly disagree5%

don't know1%

not applicable21%

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

yes25%

no75%

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

strongly agree42%

agree26%

disagree16%

strongly disagree13%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree53%

agree36%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree55%

agree33%

disagree5%

strongly disagree3%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree51%

agree34%

disagree11%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree49%

agree44%

disagree2%

strongly disagree3%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree58%

agree36%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree36%

agree38%

disagree9%

strongly disagree5%

don't know12%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes87%

no13%

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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