The Whitstable School
Whitstable, CT5 1PX · Kent · secondary school
Check the area around this school
74th 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 the 839 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.4/10 among them, against 1.2/10 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 26.7 · 10 | 30% | 0.29 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.52 · 15 | 25% | 0.37 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 37.4 · 10 | 10% | 0.10 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Whitstable School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted following an inspection in 2024. In 2024/25, 29.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.52 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 0.7 out of 10 among them, against 1.5 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,112 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,220. 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 strategies are used to improve Progress 8 scores for students with similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about The Whitstable School
Overview
The Whitstable School is judged as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, reflecting swift improvements following previous underachievement. Leaders have implemented an ‘ambitious and broad curriculum’ and targeted interventions that have raised pupil confidence and attainment. While most pupils behave well and feel safe, inconsistencies in teaching quality and punctuality remain areas requiring attention.
Strengths
- The school offers an ‘ambitious and broad curriculum’ extending to the sixth form, with a high proportion of pupils taking EBacc subjects alongside creative and technical options.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive ‘effective help in lessons’, including ‘bespoke intervention’ for those with reading weaknesses, enabling them to catch up with peers.
- Leaders conduct ‘rigorous and robust monitoring’ to ensure changes positively impact all pupils, while remaining mindful of staff workload and well-being.
- There is a ‘strong culture of safeguarding’ that permeates the school, ensuring pupils feel ‘happy and safe’ and know who to approach with worries.
- Pupils benefit from a ‘very wide offer of clubs and other enrichment activities’, with proactive measures ensuring disadvantaged pupils do not miss out.
Areas to improve
- Too many pupils are late to lessons, causing them to miss learning and disrupt others; the school must continue working to change this culture.
- Teaching is not ‘consistently strong’ in some subjects, as intended approaches are not always applied correctly, limiting pupil achievement.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 37.6 |
| 2024/25 | 39.3 |
| 2025/26 | 37.4 |
| 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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