Ursuline College
Westgate-on-Sea, CT8 8LX · Kent · secondary school
Check the area around this school
52nd 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 — 4.4/10 against 575 of them, against 2.9/10 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 | 35.6 · 26 | 30% | 0.78 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.19 · 36 | 25% | 0.89 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.0 · 20 | 10% | 0.20 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Ursuline College overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. In 2024/25, 20.4% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 36.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.19 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started 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, 1.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh Award and receive music tuition. Trips include visits to Parliament, Thorpe Park, and international excursions to Paris, Berlin, and Rome. A breakfast club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 949 pupils against a stated capacity of 763. 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 manage class sizes when operating significantly above its designated capacity? What specific support is provided for pupils who are below the national median in attainment? How are the international excursions funded and selected for participation?
What Ofsted said about Ursuline College
Overview
Pupils at Ursuline College are described as “happy and proud” to attend, benefiting from respectful relationships and a supportive Catholic ethos. Leaders have constructed an “ambitious and interesting curriculum” that prepares students well for their next steps, including high-quality careers guidance. The school maintains a strong culture of safeguarding and effective behaviour management, though attendance for some groups remains a priority.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate resilience and leadership, often through activities like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and resolve peer conflicts quickly.
- Teachers plan lessons that allow pupils to “apply old learning to new contexts,” with regular assessments to address gaps and misconceptions.
- The sixth form offers a wide range of vocational and A-level subjects, with students using knowledge to analyse real-life case studies.
- Staff feel supported by leaders who are “mindful of their well-being and workload,” and governors ask pertinent questions to drive improvement.
- Pupils learn about healthy relationships through a “well-sequenced” PSHE programme and demonstrate the school’s motto of ‘serviam’ via community work.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must increase curriculum time for key stage 4 physical education so pupils can fully develop knowledge and skills in healthy lifestyles.
- Strategies to reduce persistent absence need review and implementation, as some groups, including sixth-form students, miss too much school.
- A coherent approach to supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is required, as resources are not always adapted appropriately.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a strong culture where staff are well trained to identify concerns swiftly and work closely with outside agencies.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 39.4 |
| 2024/25 | 36.1 |
| 2025/26 | 40.0 |
| 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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