Schools by area › Kent › The Norton Knatchbull School
The Norton Knatchbull School
Secondary · Boys · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Hythe Road, Ashford TN24 0QJ · nks.kent.sch.uk · 01233 620045
On the mapSearch near TN24 0QJ
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Dec 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 67.3
- average Attainment 8 score. Kent 46.7, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.2
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,348
- 32 over 1,316 places · 102%
- Local authority
- Kent
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Selective
- Free school meals
- 8.5%
- First language not English
- 17.5%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 225 families put the school first and 192 places were offered; 71% 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 | 192 | 225 | 1.2▲ | 71% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 173 | 203 | 1.2▲ | 75% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 198 | 229 | 1.2▲ | 75% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 190 | 222 | 1.2▲ | 73% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 184 | 197 | 1.1▲ | 78% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 67.3, and 90.9% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Kent it was 46.7, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (34.6 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲67.3 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲90.9% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲97.1% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲98.6% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲6.52 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 84.9 | −1.1 |
| Sixth form college | 0.5 | — |
| Further education | 11.2 | +1.4 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.5 | −0.3 |
| Employment | 0.5 | −0.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 1 | +0.4 |
| Activity not captured | 0.5 | −0.1 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 130 students | C+ (34.6) | Average -0.01 | |
| 130 students | C+ (34.5) | Average -0.02 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 94 | C+ (32.4) | -0.09 |
| 2022/23 | 153 | C (31.6) | — |
| 2021/22 | 129 | B (38.7) | — |
| 2018/19 | 109 | C+ (32.4) | +0.03 |
| 2017/18 | 184 | C- (27.1) | -0.54 |
| 2016/17 | 150 | C (29.1) | -0.04 |
| 2015/16 | 156 | C (30.7) | +0.06 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 53.1 | −8.4 |
| Further education | 2.1 | −2.6 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.1 | −3.1 |
| Employment | 27.1 | +8.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 9.4 | +4.8 |
| Activity not captured | 5.2 | +0.6 |
Ofsted
The Norton Knatchbull School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 13 December 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 13 Dec 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
Previously: Concerns, ungraded inspection, Oct 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Oct 2022Ungraded inspectionConcerns
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Nov 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Nov 2007Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
90% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (191 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 90%
- Replies
- 191
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 66% who raised concerns
based on the 27% who had a child bullied
based on 25 parents (13%) with SEND