SchoolScoresThe Royal Harbour Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of COASTAL ACADEMIES TRUST
Marlowe Way, Ramsgate, CT12 6FA
01843 572500 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 19 May 2026 , published 12 July 2026.
In short: 3 expected, 3 needs attention, 1 urgent improvement, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
Category of concern: Requires significant improvement. Ofsted will monitor the school closely until it improves.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Urgent improvement The lowest of five grades. Ofsted found serious weaknesses that need fixing quickly. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Post-16 provisionSixth form or other study after 16. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
180 pupils in this year group.
16% — 31 points below the Kent average, and 30 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 16% | 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. | 28.9 | 46.7 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 2.3 | 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.
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 offered | 212 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 233 |
| Of those, offered a place | 176 (76%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 489 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.1
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 103 state secondary schools in Kent. Higher than 98% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 63.6% | 25.1%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 9th highest of 103 state secondary schools in Kent. Higher than 95% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 6.9% | 2.8%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 103 state secondary schools in Kent. Higher than 99% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 29.8% | 11.5%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language Joint 57th highest of 103 state secondary schools in Kent. Higher than 44% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.2% | 12.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 102nd lowest of 102 state secondary schools in Kent. Lower than 1% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 15.8% | 8.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 98th lowest of 102 state secondary schools in Kent. Lower than 2% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 43.3% | 22.9%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 90th lowest of 103 state secondary schools in Kent. Lower than 23% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 30.3 | 13.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 95th lowest of 103 state secondary schools in Kent. Lower than 13% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.1% | 6.0% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 87th highest of 104 state secondary schools in Kent. Higher than 21% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.3 | 16.9 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 90th highest of 104 state secondary schools in Kent. Higher than 14% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.0 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 66th highest of 103 state secondary schools in Kent. Higher than 34% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 10.9% | 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
- St George's CofE Foundation School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 17% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Lawrence College 1.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 23% A*/A at A level
- Dane Court Grammar School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 93% grade 5+ English and maths
- Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 85% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Charles Dickens School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 29% grade 5+ English and maths
- Wellesley Haddon Dene School 1.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Hartsdown Academy 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 4 expected, 2 needs attention · 20% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Royal Harbour Academy's Ofsted rating?
The Royal Harbour Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 19 May 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 3 expected, 3 needs attention, 1 urgent improvement, and safeguarding was met.
How did The Royal Harbour Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 16% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 30 points below the England average of 45%.
Is The Royal Harbour Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 233 families put The Royal Harbour Academy as their first choice for 212 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 176 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 149554.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.