Folkestone Academy
53%
Capacity
915
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About Folkestone Academy
Folkestone Academy sits within Kent local authority, but its immediate landscape is the Folkestone and Hythe district, where it ranks 6th out of 6 secondary schools on Progress 8. That puts it at the bottom of its local table, well behind the top-performing peers in the wider county — Dartford Grammar School, The Judd School, and Dartford Grammar School for Girls, all of which post strong positive Progress 8 scores. The nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is The Harvey Grammar School, just one kilometre away. Folkestone Academy itself holds a Good rating from its most recent graded inspection in 2022, with leadership and management judged Outstanding. The school is a large, mixed, non-denominational secondary with a sixth form, serving 915 pupils against a capacity of 1,720. Over half of its students (51.2%) are eligible for free school meals, a figure well above the national average, reflecting the high levels of disadvantage in the local catchment.
Academically, the school faces significant challenges. Its Progress 8 score of -1.11 is classified as well below average, and it ranks in the bottom 50 nationally. This is a steep drop from the Kent local authority average of -0.13. The Attainment 8 score sits at 31, and just 32.1% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. EBacc entry is low at 11.4%, and only 4.3% of students achieved the EBacc at grade 5 or above. In the sixth form, 35 students took A-levels, with a points-per-entry score of 22.24 (equivalent to a D+ grade) and a value-added score of -0.28, which is banded as Average. The school’s Ofsted breakdown shows consistency: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision are all rated Good, while leadership and management stands out as Outstanding.
Folkestone Academy is heavily oversubscribed: for 180 places in 2025/26, it received 397 applications, with 130 first-preference offers. That ratio of 2.21 applicants per place suggests strong local demand despite the academic results. Facilities are extensive, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, tennis courts, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The school offers a broad range of sports and clubs, from martial arts and rugby to Debate, Model UN, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. This is a school that suits families prioritising inclusion, pastoral support, and a wide extracurricular offer over headline exam performance, particularly those in the Folkestone area who value a local, non-selective option with a strong sixth form.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Academy Lane, Folkestone, Folkestone and Hythe, CT19 5FP |
| Headteacher | Matthew Tate |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 915 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 51.2% |
| School Capacity | 915 / 1,720 (53% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 Apr 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 16 Jun 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.11)
3054th of 3,141
Nationally
452nd of 461
In South East
6th 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
'21/22
28.7
'22/23
23.0
'23/24
22.2
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
2022/2332%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 265 pupils).
- FE college45%
- School sixth form (stay)32%
- Employment9%
- Not sustained9%
- Apprenticeship2%
89% 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
2022/2347%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 45 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
4%
Russell Group
5%
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)47%
- Employment22%
- Not sustained16%
- Apprenticeship11%
- Further education2%
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- Sociology16
- Psychology11
- History10
- Biology8
- Mathematics7
- Art and Design (Fine Art)6
- Film Studies6
- Geography6
- Art and Design (Graphics)4
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
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed180
397
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
130 families put this school as their 1st choice (33% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British68.5%
- White (other)8.9%
- Mixed5.1%
- Asian4.7%
- Black0.3%
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.
9
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
6
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Folkestone Academy
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
Academy Lane, Folkestone
Folkestone and Hythe, CT19 5FP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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