Barton Court Grammar School
96%
Capacity
1,005
Pupils
8.1x
Demand
About Barton Court Grammar School
Parents at Barton Court Grammar School are overwhelmingly positive, with 86% of respondents to the Ofsted Parent View survey saying they would recommend the school. The survey, which ran from September 2024 to September 2025 and gathered 182 responses, shows particularly strong satisfaction around expectations and safety. 72% of parents strongly agreed that the school has high expectations for their child, and 63% strongly agreed their child feels safe. The school is also heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 761 applications for just 94 places, an oversubscription ratio of 8.1 to 1. Of those, 114 were first-preference applications, and 90 first-preference offers were made. This level of demand suggests a school that local families are actively choosing, and the parent feedback backs that up with high levels of agreement on happiness, behaviour, and how well children are doing.
Academically, Barton Court is a strong performer. Its Progress 8 score of 0.38 is rated 'Above average' nationally and places it second out of nine schools in Canterbury. That score is well above the Kent local authority average of -0.13, meaning pupils here make significantly more progress than their peers across the county. At GCSE, 83.7% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, and the school's EBacc average point score of 6.29 reflects strong results across a broad academic curriculum. At A-level, the school's value-added score of 0.27 is also rated 'Above average', with pupils averaging a B- grade across their best three A-levels. The sixth form is a formal part of the school, and 125 pupils were included in the most recent performance data. Ofsted's most recent graded inspection in 2020 rated the school Good overall, with Outstanding marks for personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. An ungraded inspection in November 2024 confirmed that standards are being maintained.
The school is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary in Canterbury with a capacity of 1,050 and currently 1,005 pupils on roll. It has a sixth form centre and a range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, sports hall, and gymnasium. Sports on offer include swimming, basketball, gymnastics, cricket, and athletics, while clubs range from orchestra and choir to Model UN and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The school's SEND provisions cover a broad spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. 24% of parents who responded to the survey said their child has SEND, and 77% of those either agreed or strongly agreed that the school gives them the support they need. With an oversubscription ratio of 8.1 to 1, this is a school where securing a place is competitive, and it will particularly suit families looking for strong academic outcomes, a structured environment, and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Longport, Canterbury, Canterbury, CT1 1PH |
| Headteacher | Jonathan Hopkins |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 1,005 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 10.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,005 / 1,050 (96% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 Nov 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (20 Nov 2024): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 8 Mar 2020. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.38)
682nd of 3,141
Nationally
109th of 461
In South East
2nd of 9
In Canterbury
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
43.1
'22/23
35.0
'23/24
37.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2391%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 150 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)91%
- FE college6%
- Employment2%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Not sustained1%
99% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2364%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 115 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
19%
Russell Group
20%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)64%
- Employment22%
- Further education5%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Not sustained3%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Biology37
- Mathematics37
- Psychology28
- English Literature27
- Chemistry23
- Physics23
- Sociology23
- Film Studies20
- Computer Studies / Computing14
- Logic / Philosophy14
- Geography13
- Government and Politics12
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
182 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed94
761
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
114 families put this school as their 1st choice (15% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British69.4%
- White (other)9.1%
- Mixed7.4%
- Asian7.0%
- Black0.4%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
7
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
4
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Barton Court Grammar School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Longport, Canterbury
Canterbury, CT1 1PH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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