Highworth Grammar School
Ashford, TN24 8UD · Kent · Grammar school
Check the area around this school
7th 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 407 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 7.9/10 among them, against 9.4/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 92.7 · 97 | 46% | 4.46 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.65 · 89 | 38% | 3.44 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 69.2 · 97 | 15% | 1.49 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Highworth Grammar School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 95.3% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 70.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 in 2023/24 was +0.65, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 8.1 out of 10 among them, against 9.4 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Soul Space, Model United Nations, and the Year 8 Dance Club. Sports options include Rounders, Archery, and Rugby. Arts and music activities feature Highnotes, The Blurb - Creative Writing, and KS3 Drama Club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,553 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,520. 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
What support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How are places allocated for the next entry year?
What Ofsted said about Highworth Grammar School
Overview
Highworth Grammar School is described as an “exceptional school” where a “culture of academic excellence, underpinned by nurturing care, enables pupils to thrive.” The inspection found that pupils are “immensely proud” of their achievements and consistently meet the “high expectations” set by staff. The report highlights an “ambitious curriculum” and “impeccable” behaviour, noting that the school successfully prepares students for life through rigorous academic and personal development.
Strengths
- The curriculum is “meticulously designed” to build complexity, with teachers using “probing questions” to check understanding and address gaps swiftly.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and disadvantaged pupils receive “effective help” and “forensically monitored” support, enabling them to achieve very well.
- Personal development is enhanced by a “thought-provoking seminar programme,” international pupil exchanges, and societies that help pupils understand global issues and culture.
- Behaviour is “impeccable,” with pupils demonstrating responsibility and attending lessons on time, leading to “significant improvements in whole-school attendance.”
- Leadership is “tenacious” in seeking improvement, with trustees providing “rigorous but supportive challenge” to ensure high standards.
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
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 | 68.8 |
| 2024/25 | 70.8 |
| 2025/26 | 69.2 |
| 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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