Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #74 in Kent public Top 40% UK

Turner Free School

verifiedData: DfE & Ofsted 2024/25

personMs Jennifer van Deelen

corporate_fareTURNER SCHOOLS

location_onFolkestone, CT19 4PB

language Visit Website phone 1303842400

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2022

groups

Students

826

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Attainment 8

37.6

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GCSE Rank

#73 in Kent

#2,817 of 3,216 nationally

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Turner Free School is a Free schools secondary school in Folkestone, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Turner Free School is a free schools in Folkestone, Kent, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of TURNER SCHOOLS. The school has approximately 1,020 pupils on roll, of whom 45% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 37.6, placing the school #73 in Kent and #2,817 of 3,216 nationally. 24.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 5.6% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 11 A-level subjects. 21.7% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 4.8% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.33 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2022. 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 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.0:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.3 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

37.6

Grade 5+ E&M

24.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)5.6%

Entering EBacc33.50%

EBacc APS3.25

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.55

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

35.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc30.40%

EBacc APS3.03

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.59

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc36%

EBacc APS3.21

2022

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2018

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

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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

90%

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

Apprenticeships3%

Employment7%

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

A-Level Value Added

-0.33

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

D+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*–A4.8%

Achieving A*–B21.7%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate100.0%

A-level subjects offered11

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

06 December 2022

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

1 Evaluations

2022-12-06

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

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

2.6%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.7%(17 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 1,020 pupils. During this period, there were 27 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.6%, 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)	1,020	27	2.6%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,035	21	2.0%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	956	27	2.8%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	951	21	2.2%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	963	47	4.9%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	822	79	9.6%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	826	62	7.5%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	832	46	5.5%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	656	40	6.1%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	654	42	6.4%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	656	41	6.2%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	478	39	8.2%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	478	9	1.9%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	476	12	2.5%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	299	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	299	6	2.0%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	295	14	4.7%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	117	4	3.4%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	118	9	7.6%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	120	7	5.8%	3.8%

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 63 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 45 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 42 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 36 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 24 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 8 pupils

Visual Impairment 5 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 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.

77.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

83.0%Positive

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

32.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree34%

agree39%

disagree14%

strongly disagree9%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree25%

agree45%

disagree15%

strongly disagree11%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree35%

agree19%

disagree18%

strongly disagree13%

don't know2%

not applicable14%

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

yes44%

no56%

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

strongly agree38%

agree29%

disagree14%

strongly disagree16%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree47%

agree39%

disagree4%

strongly disagree2%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree44%

agree40%

disagree6%

strongly disagree4%

don't know6%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree41%

agree36%

disagree13%

strongly disagree8%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree47%

agree45%

disagree5%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree42%

agree38%

disagree7%

strongly disagree5%

don't know8%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree35%

agree34%

disagree12%

strongly disagree9%

don't know10%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes78%

no22%

Top Secondary Schools in Kent

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Outstanding

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Outstanding

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Dartford Grammar School for Girls

Outstanding

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Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School

Outstanding

location_on Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9UJ

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Invicta Grammar School

Outstanding

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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