Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision, Maidstone
Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision is a pru school for pupils aged 12 to 17 in Maidstone. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision in detail
Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision in its own words
In its own words: "For many of the young people referred to The Maidstone & Malling Alternative Provision, education has been an unhappy and unsuccessful experience. Our initial priority is to ensure that a solid, trusting relationship is forged, one where the pupils' voice can be heard and staff can understand some of the challenges pupils have faced."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
What parents say
12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (75%).
Who goes there
100% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 1 pupils (100%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Maidstone Barracks Rail Station, about 660 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Court Drive (opposite), 290 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 543 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2019, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at helping pupils who have struggled elsewhere feel valued and regain confidence in learning. Staff build strong relationships based on respect and take time to understand each pupil's individual needs, resulting in most pupils successfully moving back to mainstream school or progressing to employment and training. The school offers a real second chance, with pupils achieving well and developing positive attitudes towards their future.
Key Strengths
- Strong sense of belonging with nurturing relationships between staff and pupils -
- Engaging and ambitious curriculum with GCSEs, vocational qualifications, and accreditations matched to pupils' aspirations -
- Excellent behaviour driven by high levels of respect and staff understanding of pupils' barriers to learning -
- High staffing ratios and small classes enabling personalised support and teaching -
- Priority on reading with daily reading lessons and targeted interventions helping pupils gain confidence
Areas for Improvement
- Short-term curriculum for younger pupils lacks clear sequencing of core subject knowledge and endpoints -
- Early reading teaching uses multiple schemes rather than one systematic phonics approach, slowing progress for some pupils
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school providing a safe environment where pupils feel secure and supported.
Extracurricular Activities
Varied trips and activities, lessons on consent, racism, substance misuse, and online safety
Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision is an alternative provision school that has successfully maintained good standards. The school supports pupils who have struggled with behaviour and attendance in mainstream settings, helping them re-engage with education and prepare for their next steps.
At a Glance
100.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
12 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby school
Keep up with Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision 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
- 16
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 10 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
6 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
School Occupancy
2%
Available places
1 pupils
52 places
51 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Maidstone
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Maidstone
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(7)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
1
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
1
Total Pupils
0
Boys
1
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
0.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,020
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision
What is Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision's Ofsted rating?
Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision?
No fixed boundary. When Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision is oversubscribed, Kent allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision?
Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision has around 1 pupils on roll. 100% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision 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 Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 10 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 6 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 Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision?
Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision is at 8 Bower Mount Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8AU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)