Sandwich Technology School, Sandwich

Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades Sandwich Technology School on 7 areas: 2 expected standard, 2 needs attention and 3 urgent improvement. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have effective systems in place to identify any barriers that pupils may face to their learning and/or wellbeing."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have put in place a programme of learning that supports pupils well in their personal development."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The quality of teaching in the school is variable."

Post 16 provision - Needs attention. "Achievement in the sixth form is variable."

Achievement - Urgent improvement. "Pupils do not achieve as well as they should in national examinations."

Attendance and behaviour - Urgent improvement. "Leaders have not taken sufficiently swift action to address poor attendance."

Leadership and governance - Urgent improvement. "Leaders have not taken timely actions to address some of the school's priorities for improvement."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Governors should ensure that they fulfil their core functions effectively. Leaders and governors should ensure that they identify the right priorities and take swift action to secure sustained improvements"; "Leaders should ensure that their work to improve attendance is effective and reduces persistent absence, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)"; "Leaders should take swift action to improve pupils' achievement. They should ensure that teachers identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge, particularly where pupils have not yet secured the necessary foundations in their reading and writing skills"; "Leaders should ensure that teaching is consistently effective across the school so that pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and pupils with SEND, achieve more securely and are better prepared for their next steps".

In its own words: "Our school motto, "Hold fast that which is good", reflects our educational values - it is inclusive of all that promotes the successful transition from childhood to adulthood of those in our care."

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are entering a really exciting period for the school, as it joins the Barton Court Academy Trust. BCAT is a well-respected local Trust that runs three high-achieving schools, two of which are very similar in profile to Sandwich Technology School. This collaboration is very important as we strive to deliver our core values."

In 2026, pupils at Sandwich Technology School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 30, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.1 in Kent and 47 across England.

12% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Kent and 47% in England.

That is down from 35.3 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.85: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 25.8, against 33 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 115 families put Sandwich Technology School as their first choice and 398 named it as one of their preferences, for 243 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Sandwich Technology School are Sir Roger Manwood's School (0.6 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 59); and Goodwin Academy (4.3 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 30.7).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Sandwich Technology School.

224 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Sandwich Technology School (as of September 2025): 79% would recommend the school, 86% say their child is happy there and 58% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (86%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (58%).

Of the 225 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 60% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 58 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 43% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 26% into work. 5% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

38.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 5.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 285 pupils (25.8%) received SEN support and 12 (1.1%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

Sandwich Technology School had 90 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Sandwich Rail Station, about 700 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sandwich Technology School Grounds (in), 160 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 24 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).

In 2024/25, Sandwich Technology School issued 398 suspensions, 32.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Sandwich Technology School are Sandwich Junior School (0.2 miles), Worth Primary School (0.8 miles) and Sandwich Infant School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.