Skinners' Kent Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of SKINNERS' ACADEMIES TRUST

Sandown Park, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 4PY

01892 534377 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 10 May 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths25%England 45% · 2024/25
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 9% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,017Room for 1,150 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 965 in 2019, 1,099 in 2021, 1,100 in 2022, 1,084 in 2023, 1,036 in 2024, 1,035 in 2025, 1,017 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0166 for 173 places, September 2026
5th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 52% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 10 May 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

176 pupils in this year group.

25% — 22 points below the Kent average, and 20 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 25% 47% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 38.4 46.7 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.6 4.2 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 33%This school 2023/24: 48%This school 2024/25: 25% This school England 45% 2022/23 33% 2023/24 48% 2024/25 25%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

189 pupils in this year group.

92% — about the same as the Kent average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 92% 93% 92%
School sixth form 43% 56% 34%
Sixth form college 0% – 13%
Further education college 35% 28% 37%
Apprenticeship 4% 3% 3%
Work 8% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%92%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

66 students in this year group.

85% — 5 points above the Kent average, and 6 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 85% 80% 79%
Apprenticeship 3% 6% 7%
Work 55% 30% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
80%85%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

74 students in this year group.

47% — 11 points below the Kent average, and 13 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 47% 58% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 8% 20% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
81%47%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Kent. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered173
Families who put it first166
Of those, offered a place140 (84%)
Families who listed it at all618

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Kent

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolKentEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 60% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
31.1% 25.1%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 54% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.1% 2.8%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 96% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
24.4% 11.5%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 46% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
10.8% 12.7%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Lower than 56% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.0% 8.0%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Lower than 53% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
22.8% 22.9%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Lower than 31% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
24.5 13.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Lower than 37% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
8.4% 6.0% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.19% 0.03% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 61% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.3 16.9 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 49% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.8 12.0 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 27% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
9.8% 13.6%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Skinners' Kent Academy's Ofsted rating?

Skinners' Kent Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 10 May 2023.

How did Skinners' Kent Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 25% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 20 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Skinners' Kent Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 166 families put Skinners' Kent Academy as their first choice for 173 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 140 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.