Ofsted: Good emoji_events #18 in Medway public Top 45% UK

Waterfront UTC

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

personMrs Fiona McLean

corporate_fareTHE HOWARD ACADEMY TRUST

location_onChatham, ME4 4FQ

language Visit Website phone 1634505800

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

267

trending_up

Attainment 8

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#16 in Medway

#3,176 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Waterfront UTC is a University technical college secondary school in Chatham, serving ages 14-19. Rated Good by Ofsted.

article

School Summary

Waterfront UTC is an university technical college in Chatham, Medway, admitting pupils aged 14-19. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of THE HOWARD ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 362 pupils on roll, of whom 37% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 30, placing the school #16 in Medway and #3,176 of 3,216 nationally. 20.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 3.6% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 4 A-level subjects. A-level value added: -0.42 — 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 pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 7.9 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

20.00%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)3.6%

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS2.14

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.9

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

31.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS2.3

2023

Progress 8 Score

-1.33

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

28.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS2.11

2022

Progress 8 Score

-1.05

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS2.44

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

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

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)74%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

85%

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

Apprenticeships6%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)15%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment18%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)76%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment11%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)74%

Apprenticeships13%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

workspace_premium

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

-0.42

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

E+

VA Banding Average

A-level subjects offered4

2024

2023

2022

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

10 January 2023

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2023-01-10

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2018-03-06

S5 Inspection EIF

Inadequate

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Inadequate

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

4.4%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.6%(13 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 362 pupils. During this period, there were 16 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 4.4%, 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	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	362	16	4.4%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	371	42	11.3%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	327	61	18.7%	7.4%	3
2023/24 (Spring term)	340	71	20.9%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	343	59	17.2%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	266	28	10.5%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	267	46	17.2%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	268	26	9.7%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	241	20	8.3%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	249	51	20.5%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	255	43	16.9%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	208	51	24.5%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	210	12	5.7%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	213	30	14.1%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	198	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	198	23	11.6%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	202	40	19.8%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	169	0	0.0%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	170	0	0.0%	3.8%	0

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 48 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 20 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 18 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 7 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 6 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 5 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 5 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Physical Disability 2 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.

91.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

86.0%Positive

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

23.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree57%

agree23%

disagree9%

strongly disagree7%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree45%

agree32%

disagree11%

strongly disagree11%

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

strongly agree52%

disagree11%

strongly disagree7%

don't know2%

not applicable27%

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

yes59%

no41%

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

strongly agree65%

agree19%

disagree4%

strongly disagree12%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree64%

agree20%

disagree7%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree52%

agree36%

disagree9%

strongly disagree2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree59%

agree20%

disagree11%

strongly disagree9%

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

strongly agree66%

agree27%

strongly disagree7%

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

strongly agree48%

agree36%

disagree9%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree61%

agree25%

disagree7%

strongly disagree7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes80%

no20%

Top Secondary Schools in Medway

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School

Outstanding

location_on Rochester, ME1 3EL

emoji_events #1 in LA

The Rochester Grammar School

Good

location_on Rochester, ME1 3BY

emoji_events #2 in LA

Fort Pitt Grammar School

Outstanding

location_on Chatham, ME4 6TJ

emoji_events #3 in LA

Rainham Mark Grammar School

Good

location_on Gillingham, ME8 7AJ

emoji_events #4 in LA

Holcombe Grammar School

Good

location_on Chatham, ME4 6JB

emoji_events #5 in LA

Chatham Grammar

Good

location_on Chatham, ME5 7EH

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Medway 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

Distance to School

School Capacity

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 Medway

Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School

The Rochester Grammar School

Fort Pitt Grammar School

Rainham Mark Grammar School

Holcombe Grammar School

Chatham Grammar