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The Charles Dickens School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Sponsored academy
Broadstairs Road, Broadstairs CT10 2RL · cds.kent.sch.uk · 01843 862988
On the mapSearch near CT10 2RL
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Mar 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 42.5
- average Attainment 8 score. Kent 46.7, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.3
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,117
- 13 over 1,104 places · 101%
- Local authority
- Kent
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 42.5%
- First language not English
- 8.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 288 families put the school first and 227 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 | 227 | 288 | 1.3▲ | 71% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 225 | 285 | 1.3▲ | 65% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 225 | 220 | 1 | 77% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 221 | 225 | 1▲ | 70% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 222 | 214 | 1 | 80% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 42.5, and 28.6% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Kent it was 46.7, and across England 46.
In 2016/17 the average A level result was grade D (21.2 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼42.5 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼28.6% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼55.8% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼18.1% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.42 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 118910)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 33.2 | +1.1 |
| Further education | 49.3 | −1.4 |
| Other education | 0.5 | −0.9 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.3 | +2.8 |
| Employment | 0.9 | −2.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 10.4 | +1.1 |
| Activity not captured | 2.4 | −0.4 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2016/17 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 students | D (21.2) | +0.02 | |
| 17 students | D (20.7) | -0.03 | |
| Applied general17 students | — | -0.16 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015/16 | 29 | D (18.4) | -0.23 |
Published for the predecessor school (URN 118910)
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2016/17 | |
|---|---|
| University | 20 |
| Further education | 5 |
| Apprenticeship | 5 |
| Employment | 50 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5 |
| Activity not captured | 15 |
Published for the predecessor school (URN 118910)
Ofsted
The Charles Dickens School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 28 March 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 28 Mar 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Jun 2019
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 118910), which Ofsted links to this one.
Before September 2019
Jun 2019Requires 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 Safeguarding Effective Sept 2014Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate 16 to 19 study programmes Inadequate Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 118910)
What parents said
76% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (153 replies, to 1 January 2024).
- Recommend
- 76%
- Replies
- 153
- 14% · 1 Jan 2024
based on the 84% who raised concerns
based on the 44% who had a child bullied
based on 38 parents (25%) with SEND