Schools by area › Kent › The Holmesdale School
The Holmesdale School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Sponsored academy
Malling Road, Snodland ME6 5HS · holmesdale.kent.sch.uk · 01634 240416
Overview
- Ofsted
- No overall grade
- 2019 framework · inspected Apr 2025
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 41.6
- average Attainment 8 score. Kent 46.7, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.7
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 606
- 63% of 959 places
- Local authority
- Kent
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 35.7%
- First language not English
- 4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 104 families put the school first and 151 places were offered; 100% 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 | 151 | 104 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 161 | 100 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 188 | 93 | 0.5 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 177 | 79 | 0.4 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 173 | 82 | 0.5 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 41.6, and 35% 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 E- (5 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼41.6 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼35.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼56.3% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼10.0% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.39 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 118796)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 25.6 | −9.9 |
| Further education | 46.3 | +13.4 |
| Other education | 1.2 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 4.9 | −3 |
| Employment | 3.7 | −8.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 13.4 | +8.1 |
| Activity not captured | 4.9 | −1.7 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 students | E- (5) | Well below average -1.22 | |
| 12 students | E- (5) | Well below average -1.22 | |
| 32 students | Dist (34.7) | Above average +0.23 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018/19 | 3 | — | +0.18 |
| 2017/18 | 34 | D- (18.3) | -0.17 |
| 2016/17 | 30 | E+ (12.7) | -0.73 |
| 2015/16 | 33 | D- (16.2) | -0.45 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 20.8 | −18.3 |
| Apprenticeship | 16.7 | −0.7 |
| Employment | 41.7 | +6.9 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 16.7 | +12.4 |
| Activity not captured | 4.2 | — |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Holmesdale School on 1 April 2025 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.
- Overall
- No overall grade
- Inspected
- 1 Apr 2025
- 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: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Jul 2021
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 118796), which Ofsted links to this one.
September 2019 to November 2025
Jul 2021Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Sixth form Good Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 118796)
- Feb 2021Monitoring visitEffective action
Before September 2019
Feb 2018Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils Inadequate Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate 16 to 19 study programmes Inadequate Safeguarding Not effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 118796)
Mar 2014Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 118796)
What parents said
78% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (69 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 78%
- Replies
- 69
- 12% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 86% who raised concerns
based on the 45% who had a child bullied
based on 22 parents (32%) with SEND