Schools by area › Kent › Hartsdown Academy
Hartsdown Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
George V Avenue, Margate CT9 5RE · hartsdown.org · 01843 227957
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Feb 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 32.1
- average Attainment 8 score. Kent 46.7, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.7
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 868
- 74% of 1,175 places
- Local authority
- Kent
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 63.8%
- First language not English
- 21%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 103 families put the school first and 144 places were offered; 98% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 144 | 103 | 0.7 | 98% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 167 | 84 | 0.5 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 172 | 84 | 0.5 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 242 | 84 | 0.3 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 142 | 82 | 0.6 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 32.1, and 19.7% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Kent it was 46.7, and across England 46.
In 2017/18 the average A level result was grade D- (17.1 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼32.1 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼19.7% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼38.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼14.6% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼2.68 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 26 | +4.4 |
| Further education | 63.4 | +17 |
| Other education | 0.8 | −3.3 |
| Employment | 1.6 | −1.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 6.5 | −7.9 |
| Activity not captured | 1.6 | −7.7 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
All academic average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 students | D+ (22.8) | Below average -0.47 | |
| 23 students | Merit+ (28.4) | Below average -0.40 |
| Earlier years: All academic | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 15 | D (21.1) | +0.18 |
| 2022/23 | 31 | D (21.1) | — |
| 2018/19 | 8 | D (20) | +0.45 |
| 2017/18 | 7 | D- (17.1) | -0.19 |
| 2016/17 | 11 | D+ (24.7) | -0.19 |
| 2015/16 | 9 | E+ (12.4) | -0.55 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 47.4 | +30.7 |
| Other education | 5.2 | — |
| Employment | 26.3 | +4.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 10.5 | −33.9 |
| Activity not captured | 10.5 | −6.2 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Hartsdown Academy on 24 February 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Needs attention
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Post-16 provision: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 24 Feb 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Needs attention |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Post-16 provision | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Dec 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Dec 2021Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Sixth form Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Mar 2018Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Mar 2014Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Jul 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement
What parents said
67% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (43 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 67%
- Positive
- 59%
- Replies
- 43
- 5% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 93% who raised concerns
based on 22 parents (51%) whose child was bullied
based on 18 parents (42%) with SEND