School profile

Waterfront UTC

Secondary · University technical college · Chatham, ME4 4FQ

Good

Map showing Waterfront UTC

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

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#3,242 of 3,312

Worse than 97% of schools in England

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

A-level 2024/25

#2,522 of 2,536

Worse than 99% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

Waterfront UTC Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 10 Jan 2023

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
TypeUniversity technical college
Ages14 to 19
Pupils381
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMrs Fiona McLean
TrustTHE HOWARD ACADEMY TRUST
Local authorityMedway
Opened01 Apr 2019
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 146648.

GCSE results

2025/26

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

MeasureThis schoolMedwayEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.31.5, worse than England, worse than Medway45.446.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.45.1%, worse than England, worse than Medway62%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.16.5%, worse than England, worse than Medway42.2%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.0%, worse than England, worse than Medway12.6%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths33%, worse than England, worse than Medway58.4%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 491--

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 schoolMedwayEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.13.85, worse than England, worse than Medway32.6835
Average A-level gradeE+--
Average grade, best three A-levelsz--
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.42, similar to England--
A-level progressAverage, similar to England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study38--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.c--

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 pupils381
Girls91
Boys290
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.32.3%
First language not English8.7%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.600
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.36.5%
Sixth form places2024/25120
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.95
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.11
Average class size21.1

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
73.8%
African
7.1%
Other White
6.3%
White and Black Caribbean
2.4%
Other mixed
1.8%
Indian
1.8%
Caribbean
1%
Other ethnic group
1%
White and Asian
0.8%
Other Black
0.8%

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 teacher14.5
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.8.4
Teachers (FTE)26.32
Teaching assistants (FTE)19.28
Support staff (FTE)19.28
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2521.2
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2519.2
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/250
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/252

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

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolMedwayEngland
Overall absence9.6%, worse than England, worse than Medway7.3%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.29.5%, worse than England, worse than Medway20.1%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.5.2%, worse than England, worse than Medway3.1%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 rate20.2%
Pupils with one or more suspensions8.8%
Permanent exclusion rate0.3%
Permanent exclusions1

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.84.9%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.69.9%
School sixth form47.9%
Further education21.9%
Apprenticeship9.6%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.8.2%
Employment5.5%
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.68.3%
Employment48.8%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.26.8%
Apprenticeship17.1%
Higher education2.4%
Further education0%

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 Waterfront UTC
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.3 miPrimaryBurnt Oak Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.6 miPrimaryOasis Academy Skinner StreetAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.7 miPrimarySaxon Way Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.7 miPrimarySt Mary's Catholic Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good
0.8 miPrimarySt Mary's Island Church of England (Aided) Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good
1.1 miPrimaryBrompton-Westbrook Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.1 miPrimaryBarnsole Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.1 miSecondaryBrompton AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good
1.1 miPrimaryNapier Community Primary and Nursery AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good
1.4 miPrimaryByron Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Good

Frequently asked questions about Waterfront UTC

What is Waterfront UTC's Ofsted rating?

Waterfront UTC is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 10 Jan 2023.

How does Waterfront UTC rank in England?

Waterfront UTC ranks 3,242 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 97% of schools) and 2,522 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (worse than 99% of schools).

What are Waterfront UTC's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 16.5% of pupils at Waterfront UTC got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 31.5 (England 46.2).

What are Waterfront UTC's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Waterfront UTC was E+.

How many pupils attend Waterfront UTC?

Waterfront UTC has 381 pupils aged 14 to 19.

What is the capacity of Waterfront UTC?

Waterfront UTC had 600 school places in 2024/25.

Does Waterfront UTC have a sixth form?

Yes, Waterfront UTC has a sixth form with 120 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at Waterfront UTC?

At Waterfront UTC, the average class had 21.1 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 14.5 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Waterfront UTC?

In 2025/26, pupils at Waterfront UTC missed 9.6% of sessions (England 8%), and 29.5% 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.