SchoolScoresThe Victory Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, ME4 5JB
03333 602140 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 2 February 2023.
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 | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
219 pupils in this year group.
22% — 22 points below the Medway average, and 23 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 22% | 44% | 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. | 35.5 | 46.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.0 | 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.
202 pupils in this year group.
81% — 10 points below the Medway average, and 11 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 81% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 37% | 54% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | Not published | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 40% | 28% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 2% | 3% | 3% |
"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 85% | 81% |
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
53 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | D | C+ | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 4% | 21% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 14% | 47% | 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. | 20.5 | 32.7 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
13 subjects, 92 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sociology | 23 | 0% | 0% | 20% |
| English Literature | 16 | 0% | 6% | 23% |
| Biology | 9 | 0% | 0% | 27% |
| Media/Film/Tv Studies | 9 | 0% | 0% | 14% |
| Design and Technology (Product Design) | 7 | 0% | 0% | 15% |
| Geography | 6 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
| Mathematics | 6 | 0% | 0% | 40% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Fine Art), Spanish, Chemistry, Computer Studies / Computing, Physics, Psychology.
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.
59 students in this year group.
78% — 2 points above the Medway average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 78% | 76% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 9% | 7% |
| Work | 20% | 33% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 70% | 78% |
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.
42 students in this year group.
67% — 16 points above the Medway average, and 7 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 67% | 51% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 0% | 11% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 59% | 67% |
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 Medway. 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 222 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 191 |
| Of those, offered a place | 167 (87%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 560 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.9
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 20 places for social, emotional and mental health needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools in Chatham. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 45.1% | 27.0%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Chatham. Higher than 8% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.0% | 1.8%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Chatham. Higher than 60% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 15.2% | 12.7%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools in Chatham. Higher than 76% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 26.9% | 13.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Chatham. Lower than 26% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.8% | 7.7%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Chatham. Lower than 31% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 27.2% | 21.6%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Chatham. Lower than 29% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 26.0 | 23.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Chatham. Lower than 42% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 7.7% | 7.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded9 pupils | 0.74% | 0.30% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Chatham. Higher than 21% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.3 | 17.2 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Chatham. Higher than 19% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.3 | 12.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Chatham. Higher than 44% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 12.3% | 15.3%* | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Holcombe Grammar School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 85% grade 5+ English and maths
- Chatham Grammar 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 76% grade 5+ English and maths
- St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Brompton Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- Fort Pitt Grammar School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 85% grade 5+ English and maths
- Walderslade School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2023, before conversion) · 11% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Thomas Aveling School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2022 · 26% grade 5+ English and maths
- Greenacre School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2023, before conversion) · 17% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Rochester Grammar School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 92% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Robert Napier School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 16% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Victory Academy's Ofsted rating?
The Victory Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 February 2023.
How did The Victory Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 22% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 23 points below the England average of 45%.
Is The Victory Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 191 families put The Victory Academy as their first choice for 222 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 167 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 136108.
- 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.