Schools by area › Kent › The North School
The North School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–19 · Academy
Essella Road, Ashford TN24 8AL · thenorthschool.org.uk · 01233 614600
On the mapSearch near TN24 8AL
Overview
- Ofsted
- Standards maintained
- Ungraded inspection · Nov 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 41.1
- average Attainment 8 score. Kent 46.7, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,237
- 98% of 1,265 places
- Local authority
- Kent
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 34.6%
- First language not English
- 16.2%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 197 families put the school first and 206 places were offered; 86% 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 | 206 | 197 | 1 | 86% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 193 | 199 | 1▲ | 87% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 206 | 197 | 1 | 87% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 233 | 243 | 1▲ | 81% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 225 | 226 | 1▲ | 82% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 41.1, and 39.5% 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 (30.3 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼41.1 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼39.5% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼61.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼36.8% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.67 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 118832)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 28.4 | −9.2 |
| Further education | 56.4 | +8.2 |
| Other education | 0.9 | −0.3 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.4 | −0.5 |
| Employment | 1.9 | −2.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.6 | +4.1 |
| Activity not captured | 2.4 | +0.6 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 students | C (30.3) | Below average -0.47 | |
| 54 students | C (30.4) | Below average -0.44 | |
| 44 students | Dist- (30.3) | Average +0.03 | |
| 10 students | Dist- (30.5) | Average +0.37 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 31 | C- (28.2) | +0.01 |
| 2022/23 | 39 | C (29.9) | — |
| 2021/22 | 29 | C- (26.9) | — |
| 2018/19 | 42 | D (19.8) | -0.79 |
| 2017/18 | 52 | D+ (23.1) | -0.37 |
| 2016/17 | 50 | C- (25.3) | +0.44 |
| 2015/16 | 72 | D (21.2) | -0.10 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 38.6 | +8.9 |
| Apprenticeship | 7 | −3.9 |
| Employment | 33.3 | −8.9 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 17.5 | +3.4 |
| Activity not captured | 3.5 | +0.4 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 13 November 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for The North School was: Standards maintained.
- Outcome
- Standards maintained
- Inspected
- 12 Nov 2024
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Sept 2017
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 118832), which Ofsted links to this one.
Before September 2019
Sept 2017Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 118832)
Jun 2015Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 118832)
What parents said
77% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (151 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 77%
- Replies
- 151
- 12% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 85% who raised concerns
based on the 46% who had a child bullied
based on 51 parents (34%) with SEND