Pier View Academy, Gravesend
Pier View Academy is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 25 in Gravesend. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Pier View Academy in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Pier View Academy are LINK19 College (1.1 miles, Requires improvement); Ifield School (1.7 miles, Outstanding); OA - North View (1.8 miles); and Treetops School (3.5 miles, Outstanding).
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Pier View Academy has an education, health and care plan (36 of 36 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Gravesend Rail Station, about 480 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Clock Tower Harmer Street (s-bound), 30 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Pier View Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 376 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: 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 · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Pierview Academy is life-changing for pupils who arrive with negative school experiences. The school combines high expectations with genuine care - pupils feel their needs are always met and learn to enjoy school again. With small-group teaching, a creative curriculum, and exceptional outdoor learning opportunities, pupils develop confidence, independence and social skills while achieving real qualifications.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional behaviour and attitudes - pupils are respectful and help their peers
- Outstanding sixth-form curriculum with diverse options (creative arts, construction, mechanics, equestrian studies) leading to successful outcomes
- Strong reading programme with daily reading, phonics support, and engaging library provision
- Highly personalised curriculum tailored to pupils' interests and EHC plans
- Excellent outdoor learning provision (The Lodge) with swimming, animal care, and practical building projects
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff do not consistently adapt learning tasks well enough for all pupils, causing some to struggle with accessing content
- Need to ensure all pupils receive suitably designed tasks that meet their individual needs
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with clear systems and a positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Theatre trips, Christmas markets, airport visits, restaurant trips, swimming, animal care, outdoor building projects, learning musical instruments, student ambassador roles, sponsored reads, community contribution projects
Pierview Academy is a special school that transforms pupils' experiences through personalised, holistic learning. The school has been rated Good overall, with Outstanding ratings for behaviour, attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Pier View Academy
Getting There
Train Stations
Ferry Terminals
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 76
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 10
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 76 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 66 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
13 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
90%
Near capacity
36 pupils
40 places
4 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
36
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pier View Academy is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
36
Total Pupils
26
Boys
10
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Pier View Academy
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Pier View Academy
What is Pier View Academy's Ofsted rating?
Pier View Academy was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2025.
Does Pier View Academy meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in July 2025, Pier View Academy met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Pier View Academy?
Pier View Academy has around 36 pupils on roll.
Does Pier View Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Pier View Academy is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Pier View Academy?
Pier View Academy is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Pier View Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 76 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 66 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 13 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 Pier View Academy?
Pier View Academy is at 42-44 Harmer Street, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 2AX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)