Folkestone Academy, Folkestone
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
Folkestone Academy excels at creating an inclusive, welcoming environment where all pupils - including those with complex needs and those learning English as an additional language - are fully supported and feel they belong. The school has dramatically improved attendance rates by working closely with families to remove barriers, and has strong systems for pastoral care and wellbeing. Staff are well-supported, and pupils benefit from a rich personal development programme that builds their resilience and helps them understand important issues like online safety and healthy relationships.
Key Strengths
- Strong inclusive ethos with excellent support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
- Significant improvements in attendance, now close to national averages including for vulnerable pupils
- Well-behaved pupils who understand expectations, with rare bullying and low-level disruption
- Effective personal development programme including the 'Turner 25' enrichment programme
- Strong safeguarding culture where pupils feel safe and supported
Areas for Improvement
- Examination results at key stage 4 remain below national average, limiting pupils' readiness for next steps
- Some inconsistency in how staff check pupil understanding and address misconceptions across subjects
- Mathematics curriculum improvements are recent and pupil progress still developing
- Pupils' understanding of democracy beyond school voting processes needs strengthening
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Turner 25 programme including first aid training, charity fundraising, musical instrument learning, peer mentoring, sports leadership programme, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, reading mentorship, work experience
Folkestone Academy is an inclusive school that serves a diverse student body with many disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs. The school has made significant improvements in attendance and inclusion, though examination results remain an area requiring continued focus.
At a Glance
54.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
20.7
Avg class size
43
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
54%
Available places
936 pupils
1,720 capacity
784 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Folkestone
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Folkestone
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(103)
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
9.70102%
Overall absence
30.32874%
Persistent absence
943
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
Folkestone Academy
Folkestone Primary
Stella Maris Catholic Primary School
Mundella Primary School
Christ Church Cep Academy, Folkestone
Morehall Primary School and Nursery
Castle Hill Community Primary School
St Eanswythe's Church of England Primary School
Sandgate Primary School
Folkestone, St Peter's Church of England Primary School
Harcourt Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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