The Archbishop's School, Canterbury

In its own words: "Together with God, we enable all to flourish and fulfil their potential. Within our inclusive and aspirational learning community, we nurture creativity and inspire minds to be ready for the next step."

From the headteacher's welcome: "The Archbishop's School welcomes you to our vibrant, caring, and supportive Christian Community. The Archbishop's School is a mixed ability school for students aged 11-19. The school community is smaller than most secondary schools, enabling us to provide a personalised approach to education."

Coming up: an open day on Saturday 7 November 2026 at 10am and an open evening on Thursday 26 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at The Archbishop's School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 32.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.1 in Kent and 47 across England.

19% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Kent and 47% in England.

That is down from 35.2 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.79: 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 27, against 38.5 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.5 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Religious Studies and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 64 families put The Archbishop's School as their first choice and 275 named it as one of their preferences, for 133 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 The Archbishop's School are The Canterbury Academy (1.2 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 35.2); Barton Court Grammar School (1.4 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 66.1); Barton Manor School (1.8 miles); and Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School (2.2 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 66).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than The Archbishop's School.

Of the 110 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 24% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 47 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 19% went on to university or other higher education, 11% to apprenticeships and 40% into work.

53.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 27.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (54%), Black (11%) and other ethnic groups (8%).

The Archbishop's School has a resourced provision for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia: 10 places, 2 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Canterbury West Rail Station, about 1100 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Archbishop's School (adjacent), 100 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 266 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, The Archbishop's School issued 227 suspensions, 28.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Archbishop's School are St Stephen's Junior School (0.3 miles), St Stephen's Infant School (0.3 miles), St Johns Church of England Primary School (0.8 miles) and St Peter's Methodist Primary School (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.