Knole Academy
91%
Capacity
1,410
Pupils
4.0x
Demand
About Knole Academy
Knole Academy is a large secondary school in Sevenoaks, Kent, currently educating 1,410 pupils against a total capacity of 1,550, meaning it is not yet full but still draws significant demand. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 919 applications for 227 places, an oversubscription ratio of 4.05, with 241 of those applications coming as first preferences. That level of competition suggests a strong local reputation, even though the school sits in a selective authority where grammar schools dominate the top of the Progress 8 rankings. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 21.2%, which is notably higher than the national average for secondary schools and indicates a more diverse socioeconomic intake than many of its neighbours. This is a genuinely comprehensive state school in a selective area, and its admissions data shows it is a popular choice for families who either do not sit the 11-plus or prefer a non-selective environment.
Academically, Knole Academy’s most recent published Progress 8 score is -0.49, which places it in the ‘below average’ band nationally and ranks it 66th out of 106 secondary schools in Kent. Its Attainment 8 score is 42.7, and the proportion of pupils achieving a grade 5 or above in English and maths is 43.3%, compared with 63.3% at grade 4 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.88, with 55.4% of pupils entering the EBacc suite of qualifications but only 8.8% achieving a grade 5 or higher in all components. The school’s Progress 8 is below the Kent local authority average of -0.13, and it ranks bottom among the three schools in the Sevenoaks district. In the sixth form, the value added score is -0.59, which falls within the ‘average’ band, though the cohort size is very small at just five pupils, so these figures should be treated with caution.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, and sixth form centre, and fields teams in rowing, hockey, and cross country alongside more traditional sports. Its SEND provision is extensive, covering specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and physical disabilities, among others. With an oversubscription ratio of over four applicants per place, families should be prepared to apply early and list it as a first preference to maximise their chances. Knole Academy suits parents who want a large, mixed, non-selective secondary with a genuine sixth form and strong SEND support, particularly those who value a diverse pupil body and a wide extracurricular offer over the highest academic rankings.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Knole Academy, Sevenoaks, Sevenoaks, TN13 3LE |
| Headteacher | David Collins |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 1,410 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 21.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,410 / 1,550 (91% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
23 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (23 Nov 2022): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 31 Oct 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.49)
2588th of 3,141
Nationally
373rd of 461
In South East
3rd of 3
In Sevenoaks
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Value Added Score
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
2022/2351%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 238 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)51%
- FE college32%
- Employment6%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship3%
94% 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
2022/2346%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 70 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
2%
Russell Group
2%
Top-third HE
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)46%
- Employment31%
- Not sustained14%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Further education1%
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- Art and Design (Graphics)8
- Art and Design (Photography)8
- Art and Design (Textiles)6
- Art and Design (Fine Art)5
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.
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
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed227
919
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
241 families put this school as their 1st choice (26% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British80.9%
- Mixed6.4%
- White (other)5.5%
- Asian2.4%
- Black0.5%
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.
6
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
5
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 Knole Academy
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
Knole Academy, Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks, TN13 3LE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
