The Kingston Academy
99%
Capacity
1,178
Pupils
5.8x
Demand
About The Kingston Academy
The Kingston Academy was rated Outstanding in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, a grade it has held since its previous graded inspection in 2018, and the school remains one of only five secondary schools in Kingston upon Thames to hold that top rating. But the real story is in the exam data. The school’s Progress 8 score for 2023/24 is 1.16, which is well above average nationally and more than double the local authority average of 0.66. That score places it first out of ten secondary schools in Kingston upon Thames, 20th out of 487 schools in London, and 32nd out of 3,141 schools nationally. In other words, pupils here make significantly more academic progress between Year 7 and Year 11 than their peers in the borough or the country. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 62.1 and its EBacc average point score of 5.9 back that up, as does the fact that 88.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths.
Digging deeper into the Progress 8 breakdown, the school’s strongest subject area is maths, with a progress score of 1.28, followed closely by English at 1.26 and the EBacc subjects at 1.24. The open element, which covers other GCSEs, is still very strong at 0.93. At A-level, the school’s value added score of 0.4 is rated well above average, with pupils averaging a B grade per entry and a best three A-level grade of B-. The sixth form is a formal part of the school, with 101 pupils in the 2023/24 cohort. The school also has a strong EBacc focus: 73.9% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, and 61.4% achieved a grade 4 or above across all five components. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is 0.66, so The Kingston Academy is performing nearly a full grade above what is typical for the area.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 1,305 applications for 225 places, an oversubscription ratio of 5.8 to one, with 313 first-preference applications for just 176 first-preference offers. Facilities include a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, tennis courts, playing fields, science labs, music rooms, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The school offers a wide range of clubs and sports, including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, coding, debate, martial arts, and gardening. Its SEND provisions cover nine areas, including autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, and physical disability, and it has a resourced provision. This is a school for families who want strong academic outcomes backed by clear data, and who are comfortable navigating a competitive admissions process. The Kingston Academy suits pupils who are motivated and thrive in a high-attaining environment, with the sixth form offering a natural continuation for those who meet the entry requirements.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Richmond Road, Kingston upon Thames, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 5PE |
| Headteacher | Sophie Cavanagh |
| Local Authority | Kingston upon Thames |
| Number of Pupils | 1,178 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,178 / 1,188 (99% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
18 Apr 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (18 Apr 2024): School remains Outstanding
Source: Ofsted, 3 Jul 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+1.16)
32nd of 3,141
Nationally
20th of 487
In London
1st of 10
In Kingston upon Thames
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
37.0
'22/23
36.2
'23/24
38.6
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
2022/2353%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 179 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)53%
- FE college23%
- Sixth form college16%
- Not sustained3%
- Employment1%
97% 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
2022/2371%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 89 pupils).
- University (HE)71%
- Employment17%
- Not sustained8%
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- Mathematics49
- Physics27
- Business Studies:Single26
- Biology24
- History21
- Chemistry17
- Computer Studies / Computing16
- Media/Film/Tv Studies15
- Economics14
- Government and Politics14
- English Literature11
- Sociology10
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
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed225
1,305
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
313 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.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British38.1%
- Asian19.5%
- White (other)15.6%
- Mixed12.7%
- 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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half 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.
16
Total schools
13
Oversubscribed
10
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Kingston 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
Richmond Road, Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames, KT2 5PE
Richmond Road, Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames, KT2 5PE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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