Hartsdown Academy
Margate, CT9 5RE · Kent · secondary school
Check the area around this school
84th of 99 secondary schools in Kent we can score, 103 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 3.0/10 against 118 of them, against 1.4/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 12 | 35% | 0.42 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 27.2 · 10 | 30% | 0.31 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.39 · 21 | 25% | 0.53 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 35.3 · 6 | 10% | 0.06 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Hartsdown Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 19.7% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 32.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.39 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally starting from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (2.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.0 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in February 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils visit London museums and galleries, attend theatre shows, go on university visits, and take a Spanish trip to Barcelona.
Getting in
The published school roll is 868 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,175. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming for university, given the recent visits? How does the new Ofsted framework affect day-to-day teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Hartsdown Academy
Overview
Hartsdown Academy is a school where leaders have established a positive culture and an ambitious curriculum tailored to pupils’ needs, particularly those with significant barriers to learning. While safeguarding standards are met and inclusion is rated at a strong standard, the report identifies that attendance and achievement in national tests remain below national averages and require further improvement.
Strengths
- Inclusion is rated at a "strong standard," with leaders identifying pupils’ needs "swiftly and precisely" and providing "well-designed adaptations" that foster independence.
- Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
- The curriculum is "broad and ambitious," with a "bespoke" approach including phonics to address foundational gaps in reading, writing, and mathematics.
- Post-16 provision has been stabilised, with students achieving well and showing "improved" participation in further study.
- Staff build "warm and caring relationships" with pupils, creating a "calm and orderly atmosphere" where bullying is "very rare."
Areas to improve
- Leaders must strengthen work to improve attendance, as "persistent absence also remains stubbornly high" and too many pupils miss crucial education.
- Leaders should ensure more pupils reach expected standards in English and mathematics, as "too many pupils do not yet achieve well enough in national tests."
- Leaders should provide increased opportunities for pupils to develop a "detailed knowledge and understanding of key British values, such as democracy."
Safeguarding
The report states that "safeguarding standards are met," noting that leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 33.1 |
| 2024/25 | 32.1 |
| 2025/26 | 35.3 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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