Fulston Manor School
120%
Capacity
1,325
Pupils
4.4x
Demand
About Fulston Manor School
Fulston Manor School is a popular choice among local families, despite its recent Ofsted rating. For the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 889 applications for just 202 places, an oversubscription ratio of 4.4 to one. Of those, 221 families listed it as their first preference, and 175 of those were offered a place. This level of demand suggests that many parents see value in what the school offers, even if official inspection grades don't tell the whole story. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary with a sixth form, located in the Swale borough of Kent. It currently has 1,325 pupils on roll, well above its official capacity of 1,104, which helps explain the intense competition for places.
Academically, the school's most recent data presents a mixed picture. In its 2023 Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Requires Improvement overall, a downgrade from its previous Good rating in 2017. However, inspectors rated behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management all as Good, with the sixth form also judged Good. At GCSE, the school's Progress 8 score was -0.7, which is well below average and ranks it 75th out of 106 schools in Kent. Its Attainment 8 score was 39, and the EBacc average point score was 3.04. Just 2% of pupils entered the EBacc, and 33.3% achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. In the sixth form, the average A-level grade was C-, with a value added score of -0.21, placing it in the below average band. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.13.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include rugby, rowing, netball, and hockey, while extracurricular clubs cover everything from coding and Model UN to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The school's SEND provisions are extensive, covering ten categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. Given the high oversubscription ratio, families considering Fulston Manor should be aware that securing a place is competitive, particularly at first preference. The school suits families who prioritise a wide range of activities and a strong sixth form, and who are comfortable with a large, busy school environment. Its recent Ofsted rating may give some parents pause, but the strong demand suggests many local families remain confident in the school's leadership and day-to-day experience.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Brenchley Road, Sittingbourne, Swale, ME10 4EG |
| Headteacher | Susie Burden |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 1,325 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,325 / 1,104 (120% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
14 Nov 2023Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 11 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.70)
2840th of 3,141
Nationally
407th of 461
In South East
6th of 7
In Swale
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
28.8
'22/23
23.8
'23/24
25.9
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
2022/2350%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 204 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)50%
- FE college31%
- Employment6%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained5%
94% 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
2022/2351%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 159 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
2%
Russell Group
4%
Top-third HE
1%
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)51%
- Employment28%
- Not sustained10%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Further education3%
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- Psychology38
- Sociology36
- Law34
- History23
- Art and Design (Photography)22
- Biology22
- Religious Studies15
- English Literature14
- Mathematics13
- Government and Politics12
- Art and Design (3d Studies)11
- Chemistry10
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
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed202
889
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
221 families put this school as their 1st choice (25% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British81.0%
- White (other)5.1%
- Mixed4.6%
- Asian1.0%
- Black0.7%
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.
11
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
7
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 Fulston Manor 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
Brenchley Road, Sittingbourne
Swale, ME10 4EG
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