The Sittingbourne School
118%
Capacity
1,587
Pupils
3.0x
Demand
About The Sittingbourne School
The Sittingbourne School, a large mixed secondary in Swale, Kent, was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, a rating it has held consistently since at least its previous inspection in 2017. However, the school’s academic outcomes tell a more complicated story. Its Progress 8 score, which measures how much pupils improve between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, stands at -0.7. This is significantly below the local authority average of -0.13 and places the school in the bottom 50 nationally, ranking 2853 out of 3141 schools. In Swale itself, it sits 74th out of 106 similar schools. The Attainment 8 score, which reflects average GCSE results across eight subjects, is 33.2, and only 20.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. Just 2.3% entered for the full EBacc combination of subjects.
At A-level, the picture is more mixed. The school’s value-added score is -0.03, which is classed as Average, and the average points per entry is 28.95, equivalent to a grade C. The best three A-levels average out at a C- grade. Only 39 pupils were in the sixth form cohort, and no pupils achieved AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects. The Ofsted inspection rated the sixth form provision as Good, noting that behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management are all Good as well. The school’s Progress 8 banding is described as ‘Well below average’, and its EBacc average point score is 2.74. For parents focused purely on academic outcomes, these figures suggest the school serves a cohort with significant challenges, and its results reflect that context rather than a lack of effort.
The school is significantly oversubscribed: for 2025/26, it received 809 applications for 265 places, with 202 first-preference applications and 197 first-preference offers. This suggests strong local demand despite the academic data. The school has a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, tennis courts, and a sixth form centre, and offers sports from martial arts to rugby and netball. Its SEND provisions are extensive, covering specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, plus a resourced provision. With 38% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school clearly serves a diverse and disadvantaged community. This is a school that will suit families who value a broad, inclusive environment with strong pastoral and SEND support, rather than one focused purely on high-stakes academic league table performance.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Swanstree Avenue, Sittingbourne, Swale, ME10 4NL |
| Headteacher | Nick Smith |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 1,587 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 38.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,587 / 1,350 (118% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Mar 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 May 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.70)
2853rd of 3,141
Nationally
411th of 461
In South East
7th of 7
In Swale
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
25.1
'23/24
28.9
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
2022/2346%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 241 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)46%
- FE college36%
- Employment6%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship3%
93% 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
2022/2331%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 83 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
2%
Russell Group
2%
Top-third HE
2%
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.
- Employment45%
- University (HE)31%
- Not sustained16%
- Apprenticeship4%
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- English Literature16
- Sociology16
- Art and Design (Fine Art)8
- History7
- Psychology6
- French4
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
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed265
809
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
202 families put this school as their 1st choice (25% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British80.5%
- White (other)5.8%
- Mixed3.5%
- Asian0.8%
- 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.
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.
9
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
5
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 Sittingbourne 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
Swanstree Avenue, Sittingbourne
Swale, ME10 4NL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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