Catholic Schools / Kent
Catholic Schools in Kent
Find 58 Catholic schools in Kent. Compare Ofsted ratings, Section 48 results, faith admissions criteria and catchment areas.
58 catholic schools in Kent
Our Lady of Hartley Catholic Primary School, Hartley, Longfield
Longfield · Primary · Mixed
St Fidelis Catholic Primary School
Erith · Primary · Mixed
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Northfleet
Gravesend · Primary · Mixed
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Beckenham · Primary · Mixed
St Anselm's Catholic School, Canterbury
Canterbury · Secondary · Mixed
St Edmund's Catholic School
Dover · Secondary · Mixed
St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary School
Tonbridge · Primary · Mixed
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Gillingham · Primary · Mixed
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Deal · Primary · Mixed
St Peter Chanel Catholic Primary School
Sidcup · Primary · Mixed
St Peter's Catholic Primary School
Sittingbourne · Primary · Mixed
St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, Canterbury
Canterbury · Primary · Mixed
The Holy Family Catholic Primary School
Maidstone · Primary · Mixed
Bonus Pastor Catholic College
Bromley · Secondary · Mixed
English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School
Rochester · Primary · Mixed
Good Shepherd RC School
Bromley · Primary · Mixed
Holy Innocents Catholic Primary School
Orpington · Primary · Mixed
More Park Catholic Primary School
West Malling · Primary · Mixed
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School
Sidcup · Primary · Mixed
Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, Dartford
Dartford · Primary · Mixed
St Anselm's Catholic Primary School
Dartford · Primary · Mixed
St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School
Gillingham · Primary · Mixed
St Augustine's Catholic Primary School
Tunbridge Wells · Primary · Mixed
St Augustine's Catholic Primary School
Hythe · Primary · Mixed
St Bartholomew's Catholic Primary School, Swanley
Swanley · Primary · Mixed
St Benedict's Catholic Primary School
Chatham · Primary · Mixed
St Catherine's Catholic School
Bexleyheath · Secondary · Girls
St Columba's Catholic Boys' School
Bexleyheath · Secondary · Boys
St Edward's Catholic Primary School
Sheerness · Primary · Mixed
Stella Maris Catholic Primary School
Folkestone · Primary · Mixed
St Ethelbert's Catholic Primary School and Nursery
Ramsgate · Primary · Mixed
St Francis' Catholic Primary School, Maidstone
Maidstone · Primary · Mixed
St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Margate
Margate · Primary · Mixed
St Gregory's Catholic School
Tunbridge Wells · Secondary · Mixed
St James' Roman Catholic Primary School
Orpington · Primary · Mixed
St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School
Rochester · Secondary · Mixed
St John Fisher Catholic Primary School
Erith · Primary · Mixed
St John's Catholic Comprehensive
Gravesend · Secondary · Mixed
St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend
Gravesend · Primary · Mixed
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Bromley · Primary · Mixed
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Dartford · Primary · Mixed
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Aylesham
Canterbury · Primary · Mixed
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Broadstairs
Broadstairs · Primary · Mixed
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Whitstable
Whitstable · Primary · Mixed
St Michael Catholic Primary and Nursery School
Chatham · Primary · Mixed
St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School
Orpington · Primary · Mixed
St Philomena's Primary School
Orpington · Primary · Mixed
St Richard's Catholic Primary School
Dover · Primary · Mixed
St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford
Ashford · Primary · Mixed
St Simon Stock Catholic School
Maidstone · Secondary · Mixed
St Stephen's Catholic Primary School
Welling · Primary · Mixed
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School
Ashford · Primary · Mixed
St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks · Primary · Mixed
St Thomas More Catholic Primary School
Bexleyheath · Primary · Mixed
St Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School
Chatham · Primary · Mixed
St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School
Gillingham · Primary · Mixed
St William of Perth Roman Catholic Primary School
Rochester · Primary · Mixed
Ursuline College
Westgate-on-Sea · Secondary · Mixed
About Catholic schools in Kent
Catholic schools in Kent are faith schools maintained by the local diocese and funded by the state as voluntary aided or academy schools, meaning they are free to attend. Most give priority to baptised Catholic children when places are oversubscribed, applying faith-based criteria - such as a baptism certificate, evidence of regular Mass attendance, and sometimes a parish priest's reference - before distance or sibling rules come into play. Admissions requirements vary school by school, so it is important to read each school's published policy and any supplementary information form carefully. Some Catholic schools in Kent are not heavily oversubscribed and may admit children of other faiths or no faith without requiring faith evidence at all.
Catholic schools in Kent cover primary and secondary phases, with some offering sixth-form provision. As well as the standard Ofsted inspection, each school is subject to a Section 48 (denominational) inspection commissioned by the diocese, which assesses the Catholic ethos, religious education and collective worship - worth reading alongside the Ofsted report. Many parents also weigh pastoral care, the school's links to the local parish and community feel, not just academic results. Ofsted ratings and progress data are a useful starting point, but visiting the school and attending an open day will give you the most rounded picture before you apply.
Choosing a school in Kent
Whether or not Kent has schools of a particular type, the same fundamentals help you compare your options. Ofsted judgements - Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate - summarise the quality of education, behaviour, personal development and leadership. A rating is a useful starting point, but bear in mind that some schools have not been inspected for several years and that a single word cannot capture everything about a school.
For secondary schools, Progress 8 is often more revealing than raw results. It measures how much pupils improve between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, so a school serving a less advantaged community can still post strong progress. Attainment 8 shows average achievement across eight GCSEs, and the percentage of pupils reaching grade 5 or above in English and maths is a useful benchmark. For 16-18 study, look at A-Level and applied-course results and where students go next.
Beyond the data, look at how places are allocated when a school is oversubscribed and whether your address is likely to secure one, the range of subjects and activities on offer, the sixth-form provision if you are planning ahead, and travel and transport. Above all, visit. An open day tells you more about a school's atmosphere, pastoral care and whether it will suit your child than any league table can.
Frequently asked questions
How many catholic schools are there in Kent?
There are 58 catholic schools in Kent listed on School Signal, of which 13 are rated Outstanding or Good by Ofsted.
Which Catholic school in Kent has the best Ofsted rating?
Our Lady of Hartley Catholic Primary School, Hartley, Longfield is among the highest rated catholic schools in Kent, judged Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection.
Do you have to be Catholic to get into a Catholic school in Kent?
Not always. When a Catholic school in Kent is oversubscribed, it will usually prioritise baptised Catholic children and apply faith criteria - such as a baptism certificate and evidence of regular Mass attendance - before admitting children of other faiths or none. Schools that are not oversubscribed may admit non-Catholic children without any faith requirement. Always check each school's admissions policy and supplementary information form, as the criteria vary between schools and dioceses.