School profile

The Archbishop's School

Secondary · Foundation school · Canterbury, CT2 7AP

Good

Map showing The Archbishop's School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#3,226 of 3,312

Worse than 97% of schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#2,421 of 2,536

Worse than 95% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

The Archbishop's School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 22 Nov 2023

Ofsted rating
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Requires improvement
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeFoundation school
Ages11 to 18
Pupils770
GenderMixed
Religious characterChurch of England
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr David Elliott
Local authorityKent
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 118898.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.32.1, worse than England, worse than Kent4746.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.38.6%, worse than England, worse than Kent65.5%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.19.3%, worse than England, worse than Kent47.5%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.1.4%, worse than England, worse than Kent15.9%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths36.4%, worse than England, worse than Kent61.2%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4140--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.22.36, worse than England, worse than Kent34.8735
Average A-level gradeD+--
Average points, best three A-levels16.41, worse than England, worse than Kent36.1435.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsD---
AAB or better7.7%, worse than England, worse than Kent17.3%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.54, worse than England--
A-level progressBelow average, worse than England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study54--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Dist---

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils770
Girls383
Boys387
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.53.2%
First language not English27.4%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.943
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.18.3%
Sixth form places2024/25243
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.116
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.36
Average class size20.8

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
53.6%
African
9.9%
Other White
8.7%
Other ethnic group
8.1%
Other mixed
4.5%
Indian
3.8%
Other Asian
2.3%
White and Black Caribbean
1.2%
White and Black African
1.2%
White and Asian
1%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher15.9
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.10.6
Teachers (FTE)48.49
Teaching assistants (FTE)18.36
Support staff (FTE)46.8
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2553.6
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2542.5
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/254.6
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/256.5

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.133
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.275
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.64
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.64
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)1

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Overall absence15.2%, worse than England, worse than Kent7.8%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.43%, worse than England, worse than Kent21.9%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.11.5%, worse than England, worse than Kent3.2%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate28.7%
Pupils with one or more suspensions13.5%
Permanent exclusion rate0%
Permanent exclusions0

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.83.6%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.79.1%
School sixth form55.5%
Further education23.6%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.10%
Employment2.7%
Apprenticeship1.8%
Sixth form college0%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.78.7%
Employment40.4%
Higher education19.1%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.19.1%
Apprenticeship10.6%
Further education4.3%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near The Archbishop's School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.3 miPrimarySt Stephen's Junior SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.3 miPrimarySt Stephen's Infant SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.7 miNot applicableSt Edmund's School CanterburyOther independent school
Unrated
0.8 miPrimarySt Johns Church of England Primary SchoolVoluntary controlled school
Good
0.8 miNot applicableKent College International Study CentreOther independent school
Unrated
0.8 miNot applicableKent College (Canterbury)Other independent school
Unrated
1.0 miPrimarySt Peter's Methodist Primary SchoolVoluntary controlled school
Good
1.0 miNot applicableThe King's School CanterburyOther independent school
Unrated
1.0 miPrimaryBlean Primary SchoolCommunity school
Outstanding
1.0 miPrimarySt Thomas' Catholic Primary School, CanterburyVoluntary aided school
Good

Frequently asked questions about The Archbishop's School

What is The Archbishop's School's Ofsted rating?

The Archbishop's School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 22 Nov 2023.

How does The Archbishop's School rank in England?

The Archbishop's School ranks 3,226 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 97% of schools) and 2,421 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (worse than 95% of schools).

What are The Archbishop's School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 19.3% of pupils at The Archbishop's School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 32.1 (England 46.2).

What are The Archbishop's School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at The Archbishop's School was D+, and 7.7% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into The Archbishop's School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, The Archbishop's School made 133 offers from 275 applications (2.1 per offer), and 64 of 64 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Archbishop's School?

The Archbishop's School has 770 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of The Archbishop's School?

The Archbishop's School had 943 school places in 2024/25.

Does The Archbishop's School have a sixth form?

Yes, The Archbishop's School has a sixth form with 243 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Archbishop's School?

At The Archbishop's School, the average class had 20.8 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 15.9 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Archbishop's School?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Archbishop's School missed 15.2% of sessions (England 8%), and 43% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.