The Harvey Grammar School
104%
Capacity
1,015
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About The Harvey Grammar School
The Harvey Grammar School sits within the Kent local authority, a county with 106 state secondary schools, of which 16 currently hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating. The school itself ranks 30th in the county by Progress 8 score, placing it comfortably in the top third. Among its top-performing peers in Kent are Dartford Grammar School, The Judd School, and Dartford Grammar School for Girls, all of which post significantly higher Progress 8 scores. However, within its immediate local authority area of Folkestone and Hythe, Harvey Grammar ranks second out of six schools, making it one of the strongest academic options in the district. The school is a boys’ grammar school with a co-educational sixth form, and it is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 332 applications for 150 places, with 189 of those as first preferences. That level of demand reflects its standing as a selective school that draws families from across the Folkestone and Hythe area and beyond.
Academically, Harvey Grammar delivers strong results that sit well above the Kent average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.24 is rated ‘Above average’ and compares favourably with the local authority average of -0.13, meaning pupils here make around a quarter of a grade more progress per subject than peers nationally. The school’s Attainment 8 score is 62.9, and 85.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. In the EBacc, 41% of pupils achieved the full suite at grade 5 or above, with an EBacc average point score of 5.89. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is -0.04, which is in line with expectations, and the average points per entry is 34.88, equivalent to a C+ grade. The best three A-levels average out at a C+ grade as well, with 15.9% of entries achieving AAB or higher. The sixth form is graded Outstanding by Ofsted, and the school’s most recent ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed it remains Outstanding overall, a rating it has held since its graded inspection in 2016.
The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sixth form centre, astro turf, science labs, art studios, and a chapel. Sports provision is extensive, with rugby, hockey, rowing, athletics, and gymnastics among the options, and there are clubs covering drama, Model UN, Young Enterprise, and eco activities. SEND support is well-developed, covering autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and social, emotional and mental health needs. The school is oversubscribed and selective, so families should be prepared for the 11-plus entry process. It suits boys who thrive in a structured, academically demanding environment with strong extracurricular breadth, and the sixth form is a natural draw for those who want to continue in a selective setting. With its strong local reputation and Outstanding rating, Harvey Grammar is a solid choice for families in Folkestone and Hythe who prioritise academic rigour and a full programme of sport and enrichment.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Folkestone and Hythe, CT19 5JY |
| Headteacher | S Norman |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 1,015 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,015 / 980 (104% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
14 Dec 2022Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (14 Dec 2022): School remains Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 25 Apr 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.24)
986th of 3,141
Nationally
155th of 461
In South East
2nd of 6
In Folkestone and Hythe
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
36.3
'22/23
33.6
'23/24
34.9
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
2022/2391%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 146 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)91%
- FE college7%
- Employment1%
- Not sustained1%
99% 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
2022/2358%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 117 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
13%
Russell Group
20%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)58%
- Employment28%
- Not sustained6%
- Apprenticeship3%
- 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- Mathematics45
- Physics39
- History35
- Geography26
- Biology23
- Sociology23
- Economics22
- English Language and Literature21
- Psychology21
- Government and Politics19
- Religious Studies10
- Chemistry8
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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed150
332
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
189 families put this school as their 1st choice (57% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:15
Source: harveygs.kent.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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 British77.1%
- Asian9.7%
- Mixed5.5%
- White (other)4.1%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
12
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 The Harvey Grammar 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
Cheriton Road, Folkestone
Folkestone and Hythe, CT19 5JY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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