Cranbrook School

About Cranbrook School

Cranbrook School has a remarkably strong parent endorsement, with 100% of respondents to the most recent Parent View survey saying they would recommend the school. That figure comes from 52 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, and it is backed up by very high satisfaction across individual questions: 73% of parents strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 79% strongly agreed that their child feels safe. Behaviour is also a clear strength — 63% strongly agreed that the school ensures good behaviour, and Ofsted separately rated behaviour and attitudes as Outstanding in its most recent inspection. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 272 applications for 89 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.06. Of those, 140 were first-preference applications, and 87 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand suggests a school that local families are actively choosing, and the survey data indicates that once children are in, parents feel very positive about the experience.

Academically, Cranbrook performs well above the Kent local authority average. At Key Stage 4, the school’s Attainment 8 score is 69.1, and 94% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths — the basics measure. The EBacc average point score is 6.76, and a very high 94.6% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects. At A-level, the school’s progress score is 0.2, which is rated as above average, and the average points per entry is 39.77, equivalent to a B grade. The best three A-levels average out at a B grade too. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.13, so Cranbrook’s sixth-form value added is comfortably ahead of that benchmark. Ofsted rated the quality of education as Good in its 2022 inspection, while personal development was judged Outstanding — a pattern that aligns with the strong parent feedback on wellbeing and wider development.

The school is a state boarding and day secondary for pupils aged 11 to 18, with a Christian religious character. It has capacity for 954 pupils and currently has 918 on roll, so it is nearly full. Facilities include a theatre, chapel, sports hall, astro turf, art studios, a sixth form centre, and a library. The sports programme covers rowing, hockey, netball, tennis, gymnastics, and martial arts, among others, and there is a wide range of clubs including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, debate, and eco club. The school has a sixth form and offers SEND support for specific learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, social and emotional mental health needs, and physical disabilities. Given the strong academic outcomes, high parent satisfaction, and oversubscription, this is a school that suits families who want a structured, high-expectation environment with a broad extracurricular offer and a clear Christian ethos.

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