Highworth Grammar School
126%
Capacity
1,543
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About Highworth Grammar School
If you’re a parent weighing up Highworth Grammar School, the parent view data offers a strong starting point. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, a remarkable 95% of the 393 respondents said they would recommend the school. That’s backed up by some very high levels of agreement on specific questions: 93% of parents strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy, and 97% felt their child is safe. On behaviour, 97% agreed the school ensures pupils are well-behaved, and 98% said it has high expectations for their child. The school is also heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 422 applications for 189 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.23, with 182 of those offers going to first-preference applicants. That level of demand suggests a school that local families are actively choosing.
Academically, Highworth is a high-performing girls’ grammar school. Its Progress 8 score of 0.65 is rated ‘Well above average’ and sits well above the Kent local authority average of -0.13. The Attainment 8 score is 68.8, and 89.4% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is very high at 95.9%, with 66.4% achieving a strong pass in the full EBacc. At A-level, the average points per entry is 38.51, equivalent to a B grade, and the best three A-levels average a B. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025 judged it Outstanding across all areas, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. It’s worth noting that the sixth form value-added score of -0.23 is rated ‘Below average’, so while outcomes are strong, the progress students make from their starting points in sixth form is less exceptional than at GCSE.
Highworth is a girls-only secondary with a co-educational sixth form, located in Ashford, Kent. It has a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, science labs, and a sixth form centre. The school offers a broad set of clubs and sports, from Model UN and DofE to martial arts and cross country. Its SEND provisions cover a wide spectrum, including support for dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech, language and communication needs. With 7.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is less disadvantaged than many state schools. The school is oversubscribed and selective, so it will suit families with academically able daughters who thrive in a single-sex environment. The strong parent satisfaction and high expectations make it a compelling choice for those who can secure a place.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Maidstone Road, Ashford, Ashford, TN24 8UD |
| Headteacher | Duncan Beer |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 1,543 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 7.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,543 / 1,227 (126% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
14 Jan 2025Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 11 Feb 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.65)
329th of 3,141
Nationally
58th of 461
In South East
1st of 6
In Ashford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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
43.7
'22/23
40.4
'23/24
38.5
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
2022/2390%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 197 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)90%
- FE college4%
- Employment2%
- Not sustained2%
- Apprenticeship1%
98% 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
2022/2360%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 219 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
38%
Russell Group
40%
Top-third HE
6%
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)60%
- Employment28%
- Not sustained8%
- Further education1%
- Apprenticeship1%
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- Biology88
- Mathematics80
- Psychology72
- Chemistry70
- English Literature49
- History36
- Geography31
- Economics30
- Physics26
- Business Studies:Single25
- Sociology25
- Religious Studies16
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.
Ofsted Parent View
393 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed189
422
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
253 families put this school as their 1st choice (60% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:35
Source: highworth.kent.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British57.2%
- Asian18.1%
- Mixed9.5%
- White (other)5.6%
- Black1.2%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
7
Total schools
7
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 Highworth Grammar 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
Maidstone Road, Ashford
Ashford, TN24 8UD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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