Stone Lodge School

About Stone Lodge School

Stone Lodge School in Dartford received an Inadequate rating from Ofsted following its graded inspection in January 2025, a significant drop from the Good rating it had held in its previous inspection in 2018. The inspection report rated both behaviour and attitudes and leadership and management as Inadequate, while quality of education was also marked Inadequate. Personal development was judged as Requires improvement. This is a school that has clearly experienced serious challenges, and the data bears that out. On the most informative exam metric available, the school’s Progress 8 score sits well below the Kent local authority average of -0.13, placing it among the lower-performing secondary schools in the area. For context, the top-performing grammar schools in Dartford, such as Dartford Grammar School, The Judd School, and Dartford Grammar School for Girls, all achieve strongly positive Progress 8 scores above 0.8, highlighting the wide attainment gap within the same borough.

Despite the headline rating, there are some positive signals from parents. Of the 29 respondents to the Parent View survey, 79% said they would recommend the school. On specific questions, 83% agreed or strongly agreed that their child does well at the school, and 83% felt the school supports their child’s wider personal development. However, only 59% agreed that the school has high expectations for their child, and just 24% felt that bullying is dealt with quickly and effectively. The school has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 46.8%, well above the national average, and its capacity of 173 pupils is significantly smaller than its current roll of 1,052, meaning the school is heavily oversubscribed. Stone Lodge is a non-selective, mixed secondary with no sixth form and no religious character, serving an 11-19 age range.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a theatre, astro turf, science labs, and a sports hall, with clubs covering drama, Model UN, art, choir, and science. Sports on offer include rowing, rugby, basketball, and martial arts. SEND provision is listed for moderate learning difficulty, and 100% of Parent View respondents who answered the SEND question agreed the school gives SEND children the support they need. For families considering Stone Lodge, the key takeaway is that this is a school in a difficult period, with Ofsted raising serious concerns about behaviour, leadership, and the quality of education. It may suit families who value the school’s inclusive intake and wide range of activities, but who are prepared to engage closely with the school during a period of required improvement. The nearest Outstanding-rated alternative is Dartford Grammar School, 2.9 km away, though that is selective.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Stone Lodge School

Helpful Guides for Parents