St Augustine Academy
98%
Capacity
736
Pupils
2.5x
Demand
About St Augustine Academy
St Augustine Academy in Maidstone is a Church of England secondary school for 11 to 16 year olds that is currently running very close to its capacity of 750 pupils, with 736 on roll. The school serves a community with a notably high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals, at 32.9 per cent. That figure is significantly above the national average for secondary schools, which typically sits around 23 to 24 per cent, and suggests the school draws from an area with above-average levels of disadvantage. Despite this, demand for places is strong. For entry in the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 392 applications for 155 places, making it oversubscribed by a factor of 2.53. Of those applicants, 93 put St Augustine as their first preference, and all 93 received an offer. The school is led by headteacher Steffan Ball.
Academically, St Augustine Academy is currently rated Requires Improvement by Ofsted, following its most recent graded inspection in July 2023. The school had previously been rated Good in 2018. In the 2023 inspection, inspectors judged behaviour and attitudes, and personal development, as Good, but quality of education and leadership and management both require improvement. Exam results for the 2023/24 cohort show a Progress 8 score of -0.8, which is well below average nationally and ranks the school 81st out of 106 schools in Kent. The local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.13, so pupils here make significantly less academic progress than their peers across the county. Attainment 8 sits at 36.2, and only 27.1 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 3.08, with just 4.3 per cent of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, playing fields, science labs, an ICT suite, a library, and a chapel. There is no sixth form, so pupils will need to move on after Year 11. The SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language needs, visual and multi-sensory impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school runs a variety of clubs including art, orchestra, choir, coding, and a newspaper club, and offers sports such as netball, rugby, swimming, gymnastics, cricket, and basketball. For families considering St Augustine, the data suggests it is a school that is popular locally despite its academic challenges, and it may particularly suit families who value its inclusive SEND support and its Church of England character.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Oakwood Road, Maidstone, Maidstone, ME16 8AE |
| Headteacher | Steffan Ball |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 736 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 32.9% |
| School Capacity | 736 / 750 (98% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Jul 2023Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Source: Ofsted, 25 Sept 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.80)
2925th of 3,141
Nationally
425th of 461
In South East
10th of 10
In Maidstone
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
2022/2328%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 142 pupils).
- FE college51%
- School sixth form (stay)28%
- Not sustained9%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Employment4%
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
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed155
392
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
93 families put this school as their 1st choice (24% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: saa.woodard.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British66.3%
- White (other)7.1%
- Mixed5.9%
- Asian5.5%
- Black0.3%
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.
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.
13
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
8
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 St Augustine 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
Oakwood Road, Maidstone
Maidstone, ME16 8AE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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