School profile

The Whitstable School

Secondary · Academy converter · Whitstable, CT5 1PX

Good

Map showing The Whitstable School

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

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#2,959 of 3,312

Worse than 89% of schools in England

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

A-level 2024/25

#1,273 of 2,536

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

The Whitstable School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 12 Mar 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
Pupils1,112
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Alex Holmes
TrustSWALE ACADEMIES TRUST
Local authorityKent
Opened01 Sept 2018
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 144354.

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.37.4, worse than England, worse than Kent4746.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.54.5%, worse than England, worse than Kent65.5%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.26.7%, worse than England, worse than Kent47.5%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.3.5%, worse than England, worse than Kent15.9%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths47.5%, worse than England, worse than Kent61.2%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4202--

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 10.33.75, similar to England, similar to Kent34.8735
Average A-level gradeC+--
Average grade, best three A-levelsz--
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.0, similar to England--
A-level progressAverage, similar to England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study43--
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 pupils1,112
Girls559
Boys553
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.26.9%
First language not English1.9%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,232
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.9.7%
Sixth form places2024/25182
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.165
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.34
Average class size23.9

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
90.8%
White and Black Caribbean
1.9%
Other White
1.8%
White and Asian
1.3%
Other mixed
1.1%
African
0.8%
White and Black African
0.5%
Bangladeshi
0.4%
Gypsy/Roma
0.3%
Caribbean
0.3%

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 teacher17
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.11.8
Teachers (FTE)65.5
Teaching assistants (FTE)12.27
Support staff (FTE)47.63
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2571.9
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2562.3
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/255.8
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/253.8

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.197
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.513
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.170
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.170
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)2

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 absence10.5%, worse than England, worse than Kent7.8%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.28.7%, worse than England, worse than Kent21.9%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.5.9%, 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 rate18.5%
Pupils with one or more suspensions9.2%
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.92.5%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.84.6%
School sixth form46.3%
Further education37.3%
Employment5.5%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.5%
Apprenticeship2.5%
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.76.2%
Higher education35.7%
Employment23.8%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.19%
Apprenticeship14.3%
Further education2.4%

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 Whitstable School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.7 miPrimaryWhitstable Junior SchoolFoundation school
Good
0.7 miPrimarySt Alphege Church of England Infant SchoolVoluntary controlled school
Good
0.7 miPrimarySt Mary's Catholic Primary School, WhitstableAcademy converter
Good
0.7 miPrimaryWhitstable and Seasalter Endowed Church of England Junior SchoolVoluntary aided school
Outstanding
0.7 miPrimaryWestmeads Community Infant SchoolCommunity school
Outstanding
1.0 miPrimaryJoy Lane Primary Foundation SchoolFoundation school
Good
1.1 miPrimarySwalecliffe Community Primary SchoolFoundation school
Good

Frequently asked questions about The Whitstable School

What is The Whitstable School's Ofsted rating?

The Whitstable School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 12 Mar 2024.

How does The Whitstable School rank in England?

The Whitstable School ranks 2,959 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 89% of schools) and 1,273 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (similar to most schools).

What are The Whitstable School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 26.7% of pupils at The Whitstable School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 37.4 (England 46.2).

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

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at The Whitstable School was C+.

How hard is it to get into The Whitstable School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, The Whitstable School made 197 offers from 513 applications (2.6 per offer), and 170 of 170 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Whitstable School?

The Whitstable School has 1,112 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of The Whitstable School?

The Whitstable School had 1,232 school places in 2024/25.

Does The Whitstable School have a sixth form?

Yes, The Whitstable School has a sixth form with 182 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Whitstable School?

At The Whitstable School, the average class had 23.9 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 17 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Whitstable School?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Whitstable School missed 10.5% of sessions (England 8%), and 28.7% 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.