Astor Secondary School, Dover
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Astor Secondary School excels at looking after pupils' wellbeing and personal development, offering warm, supportive relationships with staff and a wide range of enrichment opportunities including sports, dance, robotics and educational trips. The post-16 provision is particularly inclusive, welcoming students who might not otherwise have access to sixth-form education. New leadership is driving improvements in behaviour and attendance, with pupils responding positively to high expectations and consistent support.
Key Strengths
- Strong pastoral care and personal development with effective support for pupils' mental health and wellbeing
- Inclusive post-16 provision that welcomes students who might otherwise miss out on sixth-form experience
- Well-organised, broad and ambitious curriculum with most teachers having secure subject knowledge
- Warm, respectful relationships between staff and pupils creating a calm, orderly environment
- Effective support for disadvantaged pupils' reading skills through targeted initiatives
Areas for Improvement
- Exam achievement at key stage 4 remains below national average, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
- Attendance rates are persistently too high, with too many pupils missing school regularly
- Too much inconsistency in how well teachers use assessment to adjust teaching for individual pupils
- Staff knowledge and skills in supporting pupils who face barriers to learning are too varied
- Previous slow pace of improvement, though this is now accelerating under new leadership
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed, making pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports clubs, dance, robotics, creative activities, peer coaching, prefects, reading mentors, educational visits, international trips, London and Canterbury excursions, university experiences
Astor Secondary School is working to improve outcomes following recent leadership changes. While safeguarding is effective and personal development is strong, the school needs to address variability in teaching quality, low attendance rates, and exam achievement that remains below national averages.
At a Glance
63.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
17.9
Avg class size
38
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
60%
Available places
732 pupils
1,230 capacity
498 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Dover
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Dover
Admissions Demand - Kent
Places available
19,410
Applications
18,281
Got 1st preference
80.6%
Got preferred school
96.5%
Secondary admissions across Kent (2025/26)
Inspection History(21)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
13.29387%
Overall absence
47.71242%
Persistent absence
765
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Astor Secondary School
St Martin's School
Vale View Community School
Priory Fields School
White Cliffs Primary and Nursery School
Barton Junior School
Shatterlocks Infant and Nursery School
Charlton Church of England Primary School
Aycliffe Community Primary School
St Richard's Catholic Primary School
Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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