Skinners' Kent Academy, Tunbridge Wells

In its own words: "Our mission is clear..... ....to develop a passion for learning and achieving The Skinners' Kent Academy seeks to create, develop and maintain an education that focuses on providing opportunities for success for all and celebrating the achievements of everyone in all aspects of life at the Academy."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Thank you for your interest in The Skinners' Kent Academy. I am very pleased to introduce you to our popular, all-ability, 11-18 Academy. The Academy is part of the Skinners' Academies Trust , which is supported by the Skinners' Company, one of the 12 great livery companies in the City of London."

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026 at 4.30pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Skinners' Kent Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.1 in Kent and 47 across England.

40% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Kent and 47% in England.

That is up from 38.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0: pupils made about 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 33.7, against 47.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.9 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 166 families put Skinners' Kent Academy as their first choice and 618 named it as one of their preferences, for 173 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 26 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Skinners' Kent Academy are The Skinners' School (1.4 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 72.7); Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School (1.5 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 72.5); Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys (1.5 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 64.5); and St Gregory's Catholic School (1.6 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 44.8).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Skinners' Kent Academy.

Skinners' Kent Academy is one of 6 schools run by Skinners' Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 194 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 33% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 75 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 35% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 40% into work. 5% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

9.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (78%) and Mixed (8%).

In 2026, 250 pupils (24.6%) received SEN support and 27 (2.7%) 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.

The nearest railway station is High Brooms Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Skinners' Kent Academy (outside), 130 metres away.

In 2024/25, Skinners' Kent Academy issued 254 suspensions, 24.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Skinners' Kent Academy are Skinners' Temple Grove (0.4 miles), St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (0.9 miles), Skinners' Kent Primary School (1 mile) and St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.