The Lenham School
82%
Capacity
826
Pupils
2.6x
Demand
About The Lenham School
Ofsted's Parent View survey, based on 178 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, shows that 83% of parents would recommend The Lenham School. That's a solid endorsement, though the picture is more nuanced when you dig into individual questions. For instance, 82% of parents agree or strongly agree that their child is happy, and 85% feel their child is safe. However, only 74% agree that the school deals with concerns properly, and a slightly lower 74% agree that bullying is dealt with quickly and effectively, though a significant 51% of respondents marked bullying as 'not applicable'. The school is clearly popular: for 2025/26 entry, it received 407 applications for 156 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.61, with 140 of those 164 first-preference applicants receiving an offer. This demand suggests it's a go-to choice for many local families, despite some mixed feedback on specific pastoral issues.
Academically, The Lenham School presents a mixed picture. Its Progress 8 score of -0.32 is 'Below average' nationally, meaning pupils typically achieve about a third of a grade less per subject than similar students nationally. This is notably below the Kent local authority average of -0.13. The Attainment 8 score sits at 38.6, and 46.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, dropping to 25.5% for a grade 5 or above. The school's EBacc entry rate is high at 75.2%, but only 19.3% achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the picture is based on a very small cohort of just 8 pupils, who achieved an average of 28.75 points per entry, equivalent to a grade C. The school's value-added score of -0.17 is within the 'Average' banding. In the local authority rankings, it sits 56th out of 106 secondary schools, and 6th out of 10 in Maidstone.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, and sixth form centre, alongside clubs like the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, and coding. Its SEND provision is extensive, covering nine areas from dyslexia to autistic spectrum disorder and multi-sensory impairment. With 29% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it serves a relatively disadvantaged intake compared to many Kent schools. The Lenham School is a mixed, non-faith secondary with a sixth form, and its high oversubscription ratio indicates strong local demand. It will particularly suit families who value a wide co-curricular offer and strong SEND support, and who are comfortable with a school where academic outcomes are below the local average but where the majority of parents report their child is happy and doing well.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Ham Lane, Maidstone, Maidstone, ME17 2LL |
| Headteacher | Robbie Ferguson |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 826 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 29.0% |
| School Capacity | 826 / 1,012 (82% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Feb 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (5 Feb 2025): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 1 Dec 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.32)
2285th of 3,141
Nationally
332nd of 461
In South East
6th of 10
In Maidstone
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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
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
2022/2327%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 67 pupils).
- FE college48%
- School sixth form (stay)27%
- Employment10%
- Not sustained9%
- Apprenticeship4%
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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2336%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 14 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
0%
Russell Group
0%
Top-third HE
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)36%
- Employment36%
- Not sustained14%
- Apprenticeship7%
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.
Ofsted Parent View
178 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed156
407
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
164 families put this school as their 1st choice (40% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Source: thelenham.viat.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British84.4%
- White (other)4.6%
- Mixed3.6%
- Black0.2%
- Asian0.1%
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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
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 Lenham 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
Ham Lane, Maidstone
Maidstone, ME17 2LL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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