School profile

The Maplesden Noakes School

Secondary · Academy converter · Maidstone, ME16 0TJ

Good

Map showing The Maplesden Noakes School

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

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#3,070 of 3,312

Worse than 92% of schools in England

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

A-level 2024/25

#2,252 of 2,536

Worse than 88% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

The Maplesden Noakes School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 1 May 2024

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

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,418
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Tom Newcombe
TrustTHE MAPLESDEN NOAKES SCHOOL
Local authorityKent
Opened01 Feb 2012
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 137833.

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.36, worse than England, worse than Kent4746.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.44.4%, worse than England, worse than Kent65.5%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.16.6%, worse than England, worse than Kent47.5%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.0.8%, worse than England, worse than Kent15.9%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths36.9%, worse than England, worse than Kent61.2%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4241--

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 10.25.52, worse than England, worse than Kent34.8735
Average A-level gradeC---
Average points, best three A-levels25.04, worse than England, worse than Kent36.1435.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsC---
AAB or better0%, worse than England, worse than Kent17.3%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.33, worse than England--
A-level progressBelow average, worse than England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study148--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Merit--

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 pupils1,418
Girls726
Boys692
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.23.7%
First language not English16.4%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,500
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.5.5%
Sixth form places2024/25300
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.198
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.23
Average class size22.2

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
73.3%
Other White
8.4%
Other mixed
3.2%
Other ethnic group
2.7%
African
1.6%
Other Asian
1.3%
White and Black African
1.2%
White and Asian
1%
Bangladeshi
0.9%
Other Black
0.9%

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 teacher16
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.11.3
Teachers (FTE)88.5
Teaching assistants (FTE)20.82
Support staff (FTE)54
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2587.5
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2578.6
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/255.5
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/253.4

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.236
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.954
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.219
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.183
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)12

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 absence8.8%, worse than England, worse than Kent7.8%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.24.6%, worse than England, worse than Kent21.9%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.3.5%, similar to England, similar to 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 rate9.6%
Pupils with one or more suspensions5.6%
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.91.7%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.86.9%
Further education46.1%
School sixth form40.3%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.5.3%
Employment2.9%
Apprenticeship1.9%
Sixth form college0.5%

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.88.4%
Employment47.6%
Higher education31.3%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.10.2%
Apprenticeship6.8%
Further education2.7%

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 Maplesden Noakes School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.1 miSecondaryMaidstone Grammar School for GirlsFoundation school
Outstanding
0.2 miPrimaryBrunswick House Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.6 miNot applicableMEPA ACADEMYOther independent school
Good
0.7 miPrimaryPalace Wood Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.7 miPrimaryNorth Borough Junior SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.8 miPrimarySt Paul's Infant SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.8 miSecondarySt Simon Stock Catholic SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.8 miPrimarySt Francis' Catholic Primary School, MaidstoneAcademy converter
Good
0.8 miPrimaryAllington Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding
0.8 miPrimaryMaidstone, St Michael's Church of England Junior SchoolVoluntary controlled school
Good

Frequently asked questions about The Maplesden Noakes School

What is The Maplesden Noakes School's Ofsted rating?

The Maplesden Noakes School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 1 May 2024.

How does The Maplesden Noakes School rank in England?

The Maplesden Noakes School ranks 3,070 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 92% of schools) and 2,252 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (worse than 88% of schools).

What are The Maplesden Noakes School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 16.6% of pupils at The Maplesden Noakes School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 36 (England 46.2).

What are The Maplesden Noakes School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at The Maplesden Noakes School was C-, and 0% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into The Maplesden Noakes School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, The Maplesden Noakes School made 236 offers from 954 applications (4 per offer), and 183 of 219 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Maplesden Noakes School?

The Maplesden Noakes School has 1,418 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of The Maplesden Noakes School?

The Maplesden Noakes School had 1,500 school places in 2024/25.

Does The Maplesden Noakes School have a sixth form?

Yes, The Maplesden Noakes School has a sixth form with 300 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Maplesden Noakes School?

At The Maplesden Noakes School, the average class had 22.2 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 16 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Maplesden Noakes School?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Maplesden Noakes School missed 8.8% of sessions (England 8%), and 24.6% 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.