SchoolScoresTurner Free School
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of TURNER SCHOOLS
Tile Kiln Lane, Cheriton, Folkestone, CT19 4PB
01303 842400 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 6 December 2022.
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 |
| 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
167 pupils in this year group.
25% — 22 points below the Kent average, and 21 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | 37.6 | 46.7 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.3 | 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.
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.
121 pupils in this year group.
90% — 3 points below the Kent average, and 2 points below 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. | 90% | 93% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 38% | 56% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 40% | 28% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 7% | 2% | 3% |
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
47 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | D+ | C+ | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 5% | 26% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 22% | 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. | 24.1 | 34.9 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
11 subjects, 83 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Literature | 11 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
| Biology | 9 | 0% | 0% | 27% |
| Mathematics | 9 | 0% | 11% | 40% |
| Psychology | 9 | 0% | 22% | 19% |
| Sociology | 8 | 0% | 0% | 20% |
| Chemistry | 7 | 0% | 0% | 30% |
| Film Studies | 7 | 0% | 0% | 17% |
| Art and Design (Fine Art) | 6 | 0% | 17% | 38% |
| French | 6 | 0% | 0% | 38% |
| History | 6 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Graphics).
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.
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 | 168 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 174 |
| Of those, offered a place | 148 (85%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 587 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.1 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 40 places for speech, language and communication needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 44.7% | 25.1%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Higher than 88% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 5.4% | 2.8%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 18.9% | 11.5%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Higher than 36% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.8% | 12.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Lower than 57% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.9% | 8.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Lower than 48% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 23.8% | 22.9%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 3rd lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Lower than 74% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 7.3 | 13.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Lower than 72% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 4.2% | 6.0% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Higher than 41% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.4 | 16.9 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Higher than 37% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.3 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Folkestone. Higher than 83% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 21.1% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- The Harvey Grammar School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2016), confirmed 2022 · 86% grade 5+ English and maths
- Folkestone Academy 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected, 1 needs attention · 15% grade 5+ English and maths
- Earlscliffe (Sussex Summer Schools Ltd) 0.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 32% A*/A at A level
- The Folkestone School for Girls 1.0 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 Turner Free School's Ofsted rating?
Turner Free School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 6 December 2022.
How did Turner Free School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 25% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 21 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Turner Free School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 174 families put Turner Free School as their first choice for 168 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 148 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 145923.
- 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.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.