The Charles Dickens School
101%
Capacity
1,113
Pupils
3.9x
Demand
About The Charles Dickens School
The Charles Dickens School sits within the Kent local authority, a large county with 106 secondary schools where it ranks 32nd overall by Progress 8. In its immediate Thanet area, it places 3rd out of 9 schools, placing it firmly in the top third locally. The top-performing schools across Kent are selective grammars like Dartford Grammar School, The Judd School, and Dartford Grammar School for Girls, each with Progress 8 scores well above 0.8, but The Charles Dickens School is a non-selective comprehensive with a very different intake. Over 40% of its pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average, and the school’s Progress 8 score of +0.22 is significantly above the Kent average of -0.13. That means pupils here make stronger progress than peers in similar schools across the county, a notable achievement given the level of disadvantage.
The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2023 awarded a Good rating across all five categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This was a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2019, when it was rated Requires Improvement. At GCSE, 58.8% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 score of 43.9 is solid for a non-selective school. The EBacc entry rate is low at 12.8%, and only 4.7% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 4 or above, reflecting the school’s focus on a broader curriculum. Progress in English is slightly positive at +0.12, while maths progress is negative at -0.29, a gap the school will be working to close. The sixth form is officially part of the school, though no separate exam data is available for A-levels.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 868 applications for 225 places, with 285 first-preference applications and 185 offers made to first-preference families. That’s an oversubscription ratio of 3.86, so it’s a popular choice locally. Facilities include a swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, music rooms, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The school offers a wide range of sports from rowing to martial arts, and clubs include Debate, Drama, Eco Club, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and specific learning difficulties, with a resourced provision on site. This is a school that suits families looking for a large, inclusive comprehensive where progress is strong despite high levels of disadvantage, and where the community feel is backed by real demand for places.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Broadstairs Road, Broadstairs, Thanet, CT10 2RL |
| Headteacher | Warren Smith |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 1,113 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 40.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,113 / 1,104 (101% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
28 Mar 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 24 May 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.22)
1031st of 3,141
Nationally
161st of 461
In South East
3rd of 9
In Thanet
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more 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
2022/2324%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 213 pupils).
- FE college56%
- School sixth form (stay)24%
- Not sustained10%
- Employment7%
- Apprenticeship3%
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
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed225
868
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
285 families put this school as their 1st choice (33% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British82.9%
- White (other)6.4%
- Mixed4.9%
- Asian1.1%
- Black0.1%
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.
11
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
6
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 The Charles Dickens 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
Broadstairs Road, Broadstairs
Thanet, CT10 2RL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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