The Maplesden Noakes School
95%
Capacity
1,421
Pupils
4.0x
Demand
About The Maplesden Noakes School
The Maplesden Noakes School is a large mixed secondary in Maidstone, currently home to 1,421 pupils against a capacity of 1,500, so it is running close to full. The proportion of students eligible for free school meals stands at 24.6%, which is notably higher than the national average for secondary schools and signals a more diverse intake than many of its Kent neighbours. Demand is strong: for the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 957 applications for 239 places, an oversubscription ratio of 4 to 1. Of those, 222 families put it as their first preference, and 199 first-preference offers were made, meaning roughly nine in ten first-choice applicants secured a place. This level of competition suggests the school is a popular local option, particularly for families seeking a non-selective, co-educational state school in an area where grammar schools dominate the top of the performance tables.
Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024 rated it Good across all five categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision. This is consistent with its previous Good rating from 2013. However, the headline Progress 8 score for 2023/24 is -0.55, which places the school well below average nationally and ranks it 7th out of 10 schools in Maidstone, and 70th out of 106 in Kent. The local authority average Progress 8 is -0.13, so Maplesden’s score is significantly behind that benchmark. Attainment 8 sits at 36.7, and just 46.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the picture is similar: a value-added score of -0.61 is below average, with an average points per entry of 22.32, equivalent to a D+. The sixth form is rated Good but the data suggests it serves a cohort that enters with lower prior attainment.
The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a swimming pool, astro turf, science labs, and a sixth form centre, plus sports like rowing and gymnastics alongside the usual football and netball. There is a broad set of SEND provisions covering dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. The school is oversubscribed, so families should be prepared to apply early and list it as a first preference to maximise their chances. It will suit families who value a large, inclusive, non-selective environment with strong pastoral and SEND support, and who are comfortable with academic outcomes that sit below the local average. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, just 0.2 km away, but that is selective, so Maplesden remains the main comprehensive option in the immediate area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Buckland Road, Maidstone, Maidstone, ME16 0TJ |
| Headteacher | Tom Newcombe |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 1,421 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,421 / 1,500 (95% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 9 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.55)
2673rd of 3,141
Nationally
385th of 461
In South East
7th of 10
In Maidstone
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
30.6
'22/23
24.1
'23/24
22.3
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
2022/2349%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 172 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)49%
- FE college41%
- Employment5%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Not sustained2%
98% 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
2022/2339%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 127 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
3%
Russell Group
3%
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)39%
- Employment35%
- Apprenticeship10%
- Not sustained9%
- Further education6%
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- Psychology27
- Art and Design (Photography)19
- History16
- Sociology16
- Biology15
- Business Studies:Single11
- Art and Design10
- Chemistry10
- English Literature10
- Film Studies10
- Mathematics10
- Art and Design (Graphics)9
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
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed239
957
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
222 families put this school as their 1st choice (23% 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: maplesden.kent.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British72.3%
- White (other)9.1%
- Mixed5.3%
- Asian4.3%
- Black1.1%
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.
13
Total schools
11
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 Maplesden Noakes 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
Buckland Road, Maidstone
Maidstone, ME16 0TJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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