Brockhill Park Performing Arts College
98%
Capacity
1,358
Pupils
3.1x
Demand
About Brockhill Park Performing Arts College
Brockhill Park Performing Arts College is a mixed state secondary and sixth form in Folkestone and Hythe, Kent, with a current roll of 1,358 pupils against a capacity of 1,384 — so it is essentially full. The school serves a community with a notably high level of disadvantage: 31.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average for secondary schools. Demand for places is strong. For entry in 2025/26, the school received 690 applications for 225 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.07 to one. Of those, 205 were first-preference applications, and 191 first-preference offers were made. That means around 93% of families who put Brockhill first got a place, but with over three applicants for every spot, it is a competitive school to get into, particularly for those who do not list it as their top choice.
Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021 rated it Good across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. However, its exam results tell a more mixed story. At KS4, the school’s Progress 8 score is -1.0, which is well below the national average and significantly below the Kent local authority average of -0.13. Attainment 8 sits at 33.3, and just 41% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 39.6%, but only 9% achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. At A-level, the picture is similar: a value added score of -0.4 places the sixth form in the below average band, with an average grade of D per entry. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 5% for Progress 8, and within Kent it is 84th out of 106 schools of the same type.
On the ground, Brockhill offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, science labs, and a dedicated sixth form centre. There is a strong extracurricular programme with clubs ranging from coding and chess to rowing, martial arts, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The school also lists a wide array of SEND provisions, covering specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, autism, and physical disabilities. For families considering this school, the key takeaway is that it is a popular, oversubscribed community school with a Good Ofsted rating and strong pastoral and enrichment offerings, but its academic outcomes are significantly below the local and national average. It may suit families who prioritise a broad curriculum and inclusive environment over high-stakes exam performance.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Sandling Road, Hythe, Folkestone and Hythe, CT21 4HL |
| Headteacher | Charles Joseph |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 1,358 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 31.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,358 / 1,384 (98% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Oct 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 15 Nov 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.00)
3017th of 3,141
Nationally
443rd of 461
In South East
5th of 6
In Folkestone and Hythe
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less 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
22.4
'22/23
21.2
'23/24
21.0
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
2022/2337%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 252 pupils).
- FE college44%
- School sixth form (stay)37%
- Not sustained9%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Employment4%
90% 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
2022/2339%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 90 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
2%
Russell Group
2%
Top-third HE
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)39%
- Employment36%
- Not sustained14%
- Further education7%
- Apprenticeship2%
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- Sociology22
- Film Studies20
- Media/Film/Tv Studies14
- Biology12
- Mathematics12
- Logic / Philosophy11
- History10
- English Literature9
- Chemistry7
- Physics6
- Art and Design (Photography)5
- Government and Politics5
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
21Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed225
690
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
205 families put this school as their 1st choice (30% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:00
Source: brockhill.kent.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British85.6%
- White (other)6.3%
- Mixed4.3%
- Asian1.5%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% 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.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
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.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Brockhill Park Performing Arts College
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
Sandling Road, Hythe
Folkestone and Hythe, CT21 4HL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Brockhill Park Performing Arts College!
Write a Review