Thamesview School

About Thamesview School

Thamesview School in Gravesham is a mixed state secondary that clearly attracts strong local interest. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 358 applications for 201 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.78, meaning nearly two families applied for every spot. Of those, 135 first-preference applicants were offered places, suggesting that while the school is popular, it is not the most fiercely competitive in the area. The school is led by headteacher George Rorke and serves 955 pupils, which is slightly above its official capacity of 910. A notable 46.1 per cent of students are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average, indicating a community with significant socioeconomic diversity. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, the school was rated Good overall, with all five inspected categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision — each receiving a Good rating. This marks a consistent performance, as the previous inspection in 2018 also rated the school Good overall.

Academically, Thamesview’s results are below the local average. Its Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was -0.72, placing it in the ‘well below average’ banding nationally. This is significantly lower than the Kent local authority average Progress 8 score of -0.13. The school ranks 77th out of 106 secondary schools in Kent on this measure, and last among the eight schools in Gravesham. The Attainment 8 score was 33.6, and just 42.5 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, with only 21.2 per cent reaching grade 5 or above. EBacc entry was low at 19.6 per cent, and the EBacc average point score was 2.92. At sixth form, the picture is similarly challenging: with only 17 pupils in the cohort, the value-added score was -0.88, and the average points per entry were 13.08, equating to an E+ grade. The sixth form progress banding is also rated ‘well below average’.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including science labs, art studios, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision covers rugby, netball, football, cricket, martial arts, athletics, and rounders, while extracurricular clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, drama, choir, orchestra, chess, gardening, and a newspaper club. Thamesview has a broad SEND offer, with resourced provision for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health difficulties, and physical disabilities, among others. For families considering this school, it is worth noting that the nearest Outstanding-rated school is Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend, 3.1 km away. Thamesview is likely to suit families who value a genuinely comprehensive intake and a wide range of enrichment activities, but who are realistic about academic outcomes that sit below both the local and national averages.

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