Kingstone High School
94%
Capacity
595
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About Kingstone High School
Kingstone High School is a mixed 11-16 state secondary in Herefordshire, currently home to 595 pupils against a capacity of 636, meaning it has some room to grow but is already a popular choice. The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 211 applications for 112 places and 93 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.88. That level of demand is notable given the school’s intake profile: 26.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is significantly above the national average for secondary schools and suggests the school serves a community with higher-than-average disadvantage. The headteacher is Matthew Morris, and the school has no religious character. It does not have a sixth form, so pupils leave at 16.
Academically, Kingstone’s Progress 8 score of -0.67 is well below average nationally and also below the Herefordshire local authority average of -0.22. The school ranks 13th out of 15 secondary schools in the county, placing it in the bottom half locally and in the bottom 10% nationally. Attainment 8 sits at 42.4, and 44% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics 5 measure). The EBacc average point score is 3.76, with 39.2% of pupils entering the EBacc suite of subjects. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2015, the school was rated Good overall, with Good for leadership and management. A subsequent ungraded inspection in February 2024 confirmed the school remains Good, though with some concerns noted. This is a significant improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2013, when it was rated Requires Improvement.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a library, ICT suite, gymnasium, sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, music rooms, art studios, and even a chapel. Sports on offer include swimming, basketball, cricket, rugby, and rowing, while clubs include orchestra, choir, eco club, book club, and debate. SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate and profound learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families considering Kingstone, the key takeaway is that it is a genuinely comprehensive school serving a disadvantaged intake, oversubscribed despite below-average outcomes, and with a Good Ofsted rating that reflects steady improvement. It will suit parents who value a local, inclusive secondary with strong pastoral and SEND support, rather than those prioritising top-tier academic results.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Kingstone, Hereford, Herefordshire, County of, HR2 9HJ |
| Headteacher | Matthew Morris |
| Local Authority | Herefordshire, County of |
| Number of Pupils | 595 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 26.7% |
| School Capacity | 595 / 636 (94% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
28 Feb 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (28 Feb 2024): School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next
Source: Ofsted, 8 Jun 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.67)
2817th of 3,141
Nationally
332nd of 371
In West Midlands
13th of 15
In Herefordshire, County of
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2345%
of GCSE leavers move to sixth form college (cohort: 86 pupils).
- Sixth form college45%
- FE college31%
- Employment10%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship6%
93% 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
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed112
211
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
93 families put this school as their 1st choice (44% 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 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 British85.0%
- White (other)9.4%
- Mixed3.7%
- Asian0.7%
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.
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.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
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.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Kingstone High 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
Kingstone, Hereford
Herefordshire, County of, HR2 9HJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Reviews on Other Platforms
External reviews are provided by third-party platforms and are not verified by Classpot.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Kingstone High School!
Write a Review