Hartsdown Academy

About Hartsdown Academy

Hartsdown Academy’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.39 places it well below the Kent local authority average of -0.13 for secondary schools, a gap of 0.26 points that signals significantly less academic progress than pupils across the county typically make. This ranks the school 61st out of 106 similar schools in Kent, putting it in the bottom half of the authority. Within the Thanet district specifically, it sits 5th out of 9 schools, so while it is not the lowest performer locally, it is clearly on the weaker side of the middle. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 33.1 is also modest, and just 36.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics 9-4 measure), compared with 17.1% at the higher 9-5 threshold. These figures suggest that for a family prioritising strong academic outcomes, Hartsdown would need careful consideration against other local options.

The school’s Ofsted journey offers a more encouraging picture. In its most recent graded inspection in December 2021, Hartsdown was rated Good overall, with Good marks across every category including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. This is a clear improvement from its previous inspection in March 2018, when it was rated Requires Improvement. The Progress 8 banding is described as “Below average”, and the breakdown shows negative scores across all subject areas: English (-0.36), maths (-0.44), the EBacc subjects (-0.37), and open subjects (-0.46). The EBacc entry rate is low at 12.2%, and only 4.9% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 5 or above. For a school with a sixth form, these results suggest that academic catch-up is a significant focus, and the sixth-form provision itself is rated Good.

Hartsdown is a mixed, non-faith secondary with 837 pupils against a capacity of 1,175, so there is some spare capacity. It is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 262 applications for 167 places and 84 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.57. The school serves a high-needs community, with 62.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Its SEND provisions are extensive, covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. Facilities include a swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, playing fields, tennis courts, art studios, science labs, and a chapel. Clubs range from drama and choir to coding, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. This school is likely to suit families who value strong pastoral and SEND support over headline academic scores, and who appreciate the range of extracurricular opportunities and the improved Ofsted rating.

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