Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #51 in Kent public Top 33% UK

The North School

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

personMrs Clair Ellerby

corporate_fareSWALE ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onAshford, TN24 8AL

language Visit Website phone 1233614600

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2017

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Students

1,267

trending_up

Attainment 8

41.1

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GCSE Rank

#54 in Kent

#2,387 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The North School is a Academy converter secondary school in Ashford, serving ages 11-19. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

The North School 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 SWALE ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 1,270 pupils on roll, of whom 33% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 41.1, placing the school #54 in Kent and #2,387 of 3,216 nationally. 39.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 10.4% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 12 A-level subjects. 39.0% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 17.0% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.47 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 5.2 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

41.1

Grade 5+ E&M

39.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)10.4%

Entering EBacc36.80%

EBacc APS3.67

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.26

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc33.60%

EBacc APS3.48

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.05

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc28%

EBacc APS3.64

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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

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

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

Apprenticeships3%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

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

Apprenticeships4%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

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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

-0.47

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*3.0%

Achieving A*–A17.0%

Achieving A*–B39.0%

VA Banding Below average

A-level subjects offered12

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.01

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate100.00%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

12 November 2024

Inspection Report

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11 January 2022

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2017-09-26

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2015-06-03

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

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

5.5%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.2%(41 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 1,270 pupils. During this period, there were 70 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 5.5%, 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)	1,270	70	5.5%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,270	62	4.9%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,299	46	3.5%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,291	30	2.3%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,283	38	3.0%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,257	22	1.8%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,267	14	1.1%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,263	8	0.6%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,217	22	1.8%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,221	14	1.1%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,229	12	1.0%	4.4%	0

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 55 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 54 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 50 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 23 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 14 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 4 pupils

Physical Disability 3 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.

80.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

81.0%Positive

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

24.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree28%

agree45%

disagree14%

strongly disagree10%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree36%

agree43%

disagree15%

strongly disagree5%

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

strongly agree35%

agree25%

disagree13%

strongly disagree13%

not applicable14%

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

yes34%

no66%

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

strongly agree35%

agree25%

disagree20%

strongly disagree20%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree34%

agree46%

disagree10%

strongly disagree5%

don't know6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree41%

agree40%

disagree13%

strongly disagree7%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree43%

agree34%

disagree18%

strongly disagree4%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree46%

agree45%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree53%

agree43%

disagree3%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree32%

agree41%

disagree12%

strongly disagree11%

don't know5%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes76%

no24%

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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