Hadlow Rural Community School

About Hadlow Rural Community School

Hadlow Rural Community School received a Requires Improvement rating from Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection in 2024, a drop from the Good rating it had held since its previous inspection in 2015. The school’s Progress 8 score of -0.08 is the most telling academic metric here. It means that, on average, pupils achieved slightly less than the national expected progress across their eight best GCSE subjects. However, that score is actually better than the Kent local authority average of -0.13, placing Hadlow 47th out of 106 similar schools in the county. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 37.7 is below the national average, and only 50% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics 9-4 measure), though that figure drops to 28.3% when using the stricter 9-5 threshold.

Digging deeper into the Progress 8 breakdown, the school’s weakest area was the open element (subjects not part of the EBacc), where pupils scored -0.42. In contrast, progress in maths was slightly positive at 0.06, and in EBacc subjects it was 0.1, suggesting that the core academic curriculum is relatively stronger. Only 40% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, and just 13.3% achieved a grade 5 or above in it. The school’s EBacc average points score of 3.44 reflects modest performance in those subjects. Ofsted noted that behaviour and attitudes, as well as personal development, remain Good, while leadership and management and the quality of education both require improvement. The school has no sixth form, so pupils leave at 16.

Hadlow is a small secondary school, with 391 pupils against a capacity of 375, meaning it is technically over capacity. It is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 258 applications for 89 places, a ratio of 2.9 applicants per place, with 72 first-preference offers made. The school serves a relatively disadvantaged intake, with 28.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Facilities include science labs, an astro turf, tennis courts, and playing fields, and the school offers a broad range of sports from rowing to gymnastics. Its SEND provisions are extensive, covering dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. For families seeking a small, community-focused school with strong pastoral care (as reflected in the Good behaviour rating) and a realistic understanding of its academic challenges, Hadlow could be a good fit, particularly for those who value the personal development and extracurricular breadth on offer.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Hadlow Rural Community School

Helpful Guides for Parents