Classpot

Astor Secondary School

Dover, CT17 0ASSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
May 2026
Progress 8
-1.04
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
0.6×
Not oversubscribed
82 1st-choice / 135 places
Ranking
#3,036
of 3,141 nationally

About Astor Secondary School

Astor Secondary School in Dover was rated Requires Improvement overall in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, a rating that has held steady since its previous graded inspection in 2020. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of -1. 04, which places students’ progress well below the national average. This means that, on average, pupils at Astor achieve nearly one whole grade less per subject across eight GCSEs than students with similar starting points nationally. The school ranks 7th out of 8 secondary schools in the Dover local authority area on this measure, and sits in the bottom 50 nationally, at the 97th percentile. In the wider Kent context, where the average Progress 8 score across all state secondaries is -0. 13, Astor’s figure stands out as significantly lower, indicating that academic catch-up is a major focus for the school.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressAstor Avenue, Dover, Dover, CT17 0AS
HeadteacherLee Kane
Local AuthorityKent
Number of Pupils770
Free School Meals (FSM)61.4%
School Capacity770 / 1,230 (63% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

31 Oct 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 14 Dec 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyProfound LearningOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Astor Secondary School

Astor Secondary School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.