The Abbey School, Faversham

Inadequate
Secondary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 1119

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Dr Rowland Speller
Pupils:1,061 / 1,226 capacity
LA:Kent
Phone:01795532633
Address:London Road, Faversham, ME13 8RZ
Trust:THE HOWARD ACADEMY TRUST
Status:open
Opened:1 April 2023

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 8 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Strong Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Sixth Form
Strong Standard
Inspected 13 January 2026View full report
URN:149893
UKPRN:10092583
Constituency:Faversham and Mid Kent
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

The Abbey School excels at supporting the whole child, with outstanding pastoral care and extensive enrichment opportunities that help every pupil feel valued and safe. The school's post-16 provision is particularly strong, preparing students exceptionally well for university, apprenticeships and employment. Leaders demonstrate a genuine commitment to removing barriers for disadvantaged pupils and those with special needs, using creative approaches to help all pupils succeed.

Key Strengths

  • Exceptional personal development and wellbeing programme with strong pastoral support and extensive extra-curricular activities
  • Highly effective post-16 provision with students achieving well and progressing to ambitious destinations
  • Strong inclusive culture with innovative support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
  • Positive school environment with fair rules, low bullying concerns, and mutual respect between pupils and staff
  • Improving teaching quality and curriculum design helping pupils learn more securely

Areas for Improvement

  • Academic achievement in key stages 3 and 4 remains below national averages with slower-than-needed improvement
  • Disadvantaged pupils at key stage 4 attain below local and national averages
  • Attendance remains below national average, though improving
  • Inconsistencies in teaching in a small number of subjects affecting pupil progress
  • Need to develop staff expertise further for greater consistency in supporting disadvantaged pupils

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

ADHD Club, sports, creative activities, theatre visits, themed enrichment days, work experience, leadership roles, sports academies

The Abbey School is a strong school that has undergone significant positive change, with particular strengths in personal development, wellbeing, and post-16 provision. However, academic achievement in key stages 3 and 4 remains below national averages and needs further improvement.

At a Glance

40.3%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder

SEN Provision

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

21.5

Avg class size

50

Total classes

2 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Faversham Rail Station (rear entrance)
574m · 9 min walk

Bus Stops

The Mall (N-bound)
263m · 4 min walk
Canute Road (S-bound)
306m · 5 min walk
Aldi (o/s)
375m · 6 min walk
Tettenhall Way (W-bound)
395m · 6 min walk
Brogdale Road (adj)
397m · 6 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

87%

Available places

1,061 pupils

1,226 capacity

165 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Faversham

High pressure
New homes approved:723
Projected new pupils:130

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Faversham

Admissions Demand - Kent

Low demand0.94x oversubscription

Places available

19,410

Applications

18,281

Got 1st preference

80.6%

Got preferred school

96.5%

Secondary admissions across Kent (2025/26)

Inspection History

13 January 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Sixth Form

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

13.11243%

Overall absence

38.01802%

Persistent absence

1,110

Enrolments

Authorised5.54814%
Unauthorised7.56429%
Persistent (10%+)38.01802%
Severe (50%+)11.98198%

Absence trend

15.16409%
22/23
12.99977%
23/24
13.11243%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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