King Ethelbert School
91%
Capacity
794
Pupils
3.6x
Demand
About King Ethelbert School
King Ethelbert School is a popular choice among local families, with 542 applications for 151 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.59. Of those, 143 first-preference offers were made from 164 first-preference applications, indicating strong demand. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary in Thanet, Kent, with a sixth form and capacity for 870 pupils, currently housing 794. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024 rated it Good across all areas, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This is consistent with its previous Good rating from 2018, suggesting steady quality. With 32% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse community, and its facilities include a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, and a sixth form centre.
Academically, King Ethelbert’s Progress 8 score of -0.43 is below the national average and ranks it 7th out of 9 schools in Thanet, placing it in the bottom 50% nationally. This is notably lower than the Kent local authority average Progress 8 of -0.13. Attainment 8 sits at 35.2, and 47.1% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, though only 19.6% reached the higher grade 5 threshold. The EBacc entry rate is 21.7%, with just 5.1% achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. In English, Progress 8 was -0.07, close to average, but maths was weaker at -0.65. The school’s sixth form provision was not separately graded in the 2024 inspection, but the school does offer a sixth form centre.
For families considering King Ethelbert, the school offers a wide range of sports including rowing, martial arts, and rugby, plus clubs like Model UN, DofE, and coding. Its SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support, making it a practical choice for children with additional needs. The school is oversubscribed, so applying as a first preference is advisable. Given its below-average Progress 8 but Good Ofsted rating, it may suit families who value a broad extracurricular offer and inclusive SEND support over top-tier academic outcomes, particularly those in the Thanet area looking for a stable secondary with a sixth form.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Canterbury Road, Birchington, Thanet, CT7 9BL |
| Headteacher | Tom Sellen |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 794 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 32.0% |
| School Capacity | 794 / 870 (91% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 Jun 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 7 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.43)
2508th of 3,141
Nationally
364th of 461
In South East
7th of 9
In Thanet
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2344%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 151 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)44%
- FE college34%
- Not sustained10%
- Employment7%
- Apprenticeship5%
90% 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.
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
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed151
542
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
164 families put this school as their 1st choice (30% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:20
Source: kingethelbert.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British87.0%
- Mixed5.3%
- White (other)3.7%
- Asian1.5%
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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
5
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
3
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 King Ethelbert 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
Canterbury Road, Birchington
Thanet, CT7 9BL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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