Turner Free School
81%
Capacity
1,020
Pupils
3.4x
Demand
About Turner Free School
Turner Free School is a mixed secondary in Folkestone and Hythe that currently educates 1,020 pupils against a capacity of 1,260. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 43.1%, which is notably high compared with the national average for secondary schools and gives a clear indication of the community it serves. Despite not being full to capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 577 applications for just 170 places, a ratio of 3.39 applicants per spot. Only 155 of those offers went to first-preference families, suggesting strong local demand. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Jamie MacLean, who took over a Good-rated school following its most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2022.
Academically, the picture is more mixed. Turner Free School’s Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was -0.55, which places it well below average nationally and ranks it 69th out of 106 schools in the Kent local authority. That’s a significant gap from the LA average Progress 8 score of -0.13. The Attainment 8 score sits at 35.4, and just 43.9% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, dropping to 17% at the higher grade 5 threshold. The EBacc average point score is 3.03, with only 30.4% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good across all categories including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management, with each area scoring a 2. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is The Harvey Grammar School, just 0.8 km away, which may be a consideration for some families.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a sports hall, gymnasium, swimming pool, science labs, music rooms, art studios, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include hockey, cricket, rowing, football, and badminton, while clubs range from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Model UN to gardening, eco club, and debate. SEND provision is extensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate to severe learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. With a sixth form officially on site, pupils can continue through to 18. This is a school that serves a high-needs community and is clearly popular locally, but families should weigh the strong demand against the below-average Progress 8 outcomes when deciding if it’s the right fit.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Tile Kiln Lane, Folkestone, Folkestone and Hythe, CT19 4PB |
| Headteacher | Jamie MacLean |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 1,020 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 43.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,020 / 1,260 (81% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
6 Dec 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 30 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.55)
2674th of 3,141
Nationally
386th of 461
In South East
4th of 6
In Folkestone and Hythe
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.
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
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed170
577
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
192 families put this school as their 1st choice (33% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
09:00 – 15:30
Breakfast club
08:30-08:55
Source: turnerfreeschool.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British81.6%
- Mixed4.7%
- White (other)4.5%
- Asian3.9%
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.
10
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
6
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 Turner Free 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
Tile Kiln Lane, Folkestone
Folkestone and Hythe, CT19 4PB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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