SchoolScoresThe Harvey Grammar School
Grammar school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Boys only · Sixth form
Part of THE HARVEY ACADEMY
Cheriton Road, Folkestone, CT19 5JY
01303 252131 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 16 March 2016.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Outcomes for pupils | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Sixth form | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 14 December 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
145 pupils in this year group.
86% — 39 points above the Kent average, and 40 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 86% | 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. | 61.8 | 46.7 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 5.7 | 4.2 | 4.1 |
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.
142 pupils in this year group.
100% — 7 points above the Kent average, and 8 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 100% | 93% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 77% | 56% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 17% | 28% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 98% | 100% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
101 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | C+ | C+ | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 19% | 26% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 44% | 53% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 33.2 | 34.9 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
20 subjects, 265 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 44 | 11% | 27% | 40% |
| Physics | 36 | 6% | 17% | 31% |
| History | 20 | 0% | 15% | 23% |
| Geography | 18 | 0% | 17% | 23% |
| Psychology | 17 | 6% | 6% | 19% |
| Sociology | 17 | 0% | 6% | 20% |
| Economics | 16 | 0% | 6% | 26% |
| Government and Politics | 14 | 21% | 43% | 26% |
| Biology | 13 | 8% | 23% | 27% |
| Religious Studies | 13 | 0% | 0% | 22% |
| Chemistry | 11 | 18% | 27% | 30% |
| Computer Studies / Computing | 8 | 0% | 13% | 24% |
| Art and Design (Fine Art) | 7 | 43% | 71% | 38% |
| English Language and Literature | 7 | 0% | 14% | 16% |
| Film Studies | 6 | 0% | 17% | 17% |
| Spanish | 6 | 0% | 0% | 34% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Mathematics (Further), Design and Technology (Product Design), French, English Literature.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. 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.
131 students in this year group.
89% — 9 points above the Kent average, and 10 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 89% | 80% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 8% | 6% | 7% |
| Work | 31% | 30% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 91% | 89% |
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.
117 students in this year group.
62% — 4 points above the Kent average, and 2 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 62% | 58% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 16% | 20% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 67% | 62% |
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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 147 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 190 |
| Of those, offered a place | 142 (75%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 348 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.3
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.
This is a grammar school: places depend on passing an entrance test (the 11 plus), usually taken in September of Year 6.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Higher than 14% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 13.8% | 25.1%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Higher than 3% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 0.4% | 2.8%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Higher than 3% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.9% | 11.5%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Higher than 37% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 8.2% | 12.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Lower than 95% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 4.9% | 8.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Lower than 97% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.7% | 22.9%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Lower than 95% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 1.3 | 13.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Lower than 95% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 1.2% | 6.0% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Higher than 76% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 18.1 | 16.9 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Higher than 94% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.8 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Higher than 1% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 2.8% | 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
- Earlscliffe (Sussex Summer Schools Ltd) 0.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 32% A*/A at A level
- Turner Free School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- Folkestone Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected, 1 needs attention · 15% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Folkestone School for Girls 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 67% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Harvey Grammar School's Ofsted rating?
The Harvey Grammar School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 16 March 2016. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 14 December 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding.
How did The Harvey Grammar School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 86% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 40 points above the England average of 45%.
Is The Harvey Grammar School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 190 families put The Harvey Grammar School as their first choice for 147 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 142 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 138480.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.