LINK19 College, Gravesend
LINK19 College is a special school for pupils aged 19 to 25 in Gravesend. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, ended in a report card: 1 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Before that it was rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in October 2023.
- Ofsted report card
- 1 of 5 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
LINK19 College in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 5 May 2026 inspection grades LINK19 College on 5 areas: 1 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders identify learners' starting points very well."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear mission and vision to provide high-quality support for learners aged 19 to 25 years who have special educational needs and/or disabilities."
Achievement - Expected standard. "Learners, most of whom experience substantial barriers to learning, make significant progress towards independence and employability during their time at the college."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the quality of their curriculum because of their diligent approach to quality assurance."
Participation and development - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a curriculum which helps learners build their confidence, resilience and personal skills well."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should improve the consistency of written feedback so that learners understand what they need to do to improve"; "Leaders should improve the achievement rates on functional skills English and mathematics courses, where too few learners currently pass"; "Leaders should continue to strengthen the careers guidance they provide so learners develop a better understanding of potential future pathways and more progress into work".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to LINK19 College are Pier View Academy (1.1 miles, Good); Ifield School (1.4 miles, Outstanding); OA - North View (2.7 miles); and Abbey Court Foundation Special School (4.2 miles, Outstanding).
Pier View AcademyIfield SchoolOA - North ViewAbbey Court Foundation Special School
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Gravesend Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is North Kent College (adjacent), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 194 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- Participation and developmentExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
By type of provision
| Provision | Curriculum, teaching and training | Achievement | Participation and development |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provision for learners and apprentices with high needs | Expected standard | Expected standard | Expected standard |
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should improve the consistency of written feedback so that learners understand what they need to do to improve.
- Leaders should improve the achievement rates on functional skills English and mathematics courses, where too few learners currently pass.
- Leaders should continue to strengthen the careers guidance they provide so learners develop a better understanding of potential future pathways and more progress into work.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 5 May 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
LINK19 College creates a warm, welcoming environment where learners with high needs quickly develop a sense of belonging and flourish. Staff are exceptional at building learners' independence and confidence through carefully planned support, practical work experience, and incremental skill development. Learners make significant progress towards employment and adult living, with most moving into positive next steps including further education, voluntary work, and social care roles.
Key Strengths
- Excellent inclusion culture with highly trained staff who identify barriers to learning and provide tailored support plans
- Strong focus on developing independence and life skills, with learners gaining confidence in travel, employment, and social relationships
- Well-designed curriculum that skillfully blends vocational, academic and preparation for adulthood learning
- Highly effective transition planning and collaboration with families, schools, employers and local authorities
- Rich enrichment activities including residential trips, farm to fork programs, and community engagement
Areas for Improvement
- Too few learners achieve functional skills qualifications in English and mathematics
- Written feedback on assignments is often too positive and lacks constructive guidance for improvement
- Careers guidance is sometimes limited in scope, resulting in few learners moving into paid employment
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the college has created an open and positive culture of safeguarding where concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed, and learners feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
3-day residential camping and climbing trip, bushcraft activities, farm to fork allotment activities, fitness days at local sports centre, craft product-making for fundraising, black-tie dinner event
LINK19 College is a specialist post-19 college in Kent serving 37 learners aged 19-25 with special educational needs and disabilities. The college was rated as meeting expected standards with strong inclusion practices and effective support for learners' independence and employability.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with LINK19 College
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to LINK19 College from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. LINK19 College is in Kent; for families living there:
Apply to Kent for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 45
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 45 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 38 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
9 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Kent is 11 (the median across 711 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Gravesend
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Gravesend
Across Kent council
Places available
19,539
Applications
18,644
Got 1st preference
78.9%
Got preferred school
96.2%
All secondary applications across Kent council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
Further education and skills inspection (renewed framework)
Further education and skills inspection
Special educational needs provision
LINK19 College is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: Get Information about Schools (GIAS), Department for Education.
Questions parents ask about LINK19 College
What is LINK19 College's Ofsted rating?
LINK19 College's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2023, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for LINK19 College?
No fixed boundary. When LINK19 College is oversubscribed, Kent allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Does LINK19 College have specialist SEN provision?
LINK19 College is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to LINK19 College?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming LINK19 College on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near LINK19 College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 45 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 38 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 9 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Kent is 11 (the median across 711 schools, same distance and years).
Where is LINK19 College?
LINK19 College is at LINK Centre, Block H, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 2DP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)