The Maplesden Noakes School
Maidstone, ME16 0TJ · Kent · secondary school
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79th 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.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.2/10 against 880 of them, against 0.7/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 16.6 · 2 | 30% | 0.06 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.55 · 14 | 25% | 0.34 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 36.0 · 7 | 10% | 0.07 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Maplesden Noakes School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted following an inspection in June 2024. In 2024/25, 28.4% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.55 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.5 out of 10 among them, against 1.5 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in dance and take trips to Borneo and Rome in 2026.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,418 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,500. 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 Progress 8 score and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Attainment 8?
What Ofsted said about The Maplesden Noakes School
Overview
The report describes an inclusive school where pupils feel happy, safe, and part of a supportive ‘Maplesden family’. Leaders demonstrate a strong sense of moral purpose, fostering a calm environment with high expectations for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Strengths
- Pupils are ‘friendly and polite’ and benefit from ‘positive relationships’ with staff who care deeply about their well-being.
- The curriculum is ‘ambitious’ and progressive, with a strengthened key stage 3 foundation and a growing number of pupils taking foreign languages.
- Staff are ‘loyal and committed’, valuing leaders’ careful consideration of their workload and well-being.
- Personal development is strong, supported by a ‘carefully considered programme’ that teaches safety, health, and diversity.
- Safeguarding arrangements are effective, and the school has created an ‘open and positive culture’ around pupil protection.
Areas to improve
- The report states that ‘not all pupils achieve as well as they could’ because ‘activities and work set in lessons do not help some pupils effectively to learn the identified key knowledge and skills’.
- The school should ensure staff have the expertise to help pupils ‘understand and remember more’ to reach ambitious goals, as some work is not ‘matched closely enough to pupils’ needs’.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 36.7 |
| 2024/25 | 39.6 |
| 2025/26 | 36.0 |
| 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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