The Lenham School, Maidstone

In its own words: "We were thrilled to receive our incredibly positive Ofsted Report in February 2025, as well as the Optimus Award for Outstanding Personal Development in September 2025. However, we have no intention on easing up on our ambitious plans and have already started the next phase of the school's journey."

From the headteacher's welcome: "The Lenham School is a genuinely special place in the heart of the beautiful Kent countryside. We are a school proudly rooted in our community, and those values flow through our caring, collaborative and supportive environment. Here, your child will be expertly guided through their academic qualifications with high expectations, but that is only part of the journey."

In 2026, pupils at The Lenham School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 37.3, 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 in line with 2025, when the score was 37.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.32: pupils made 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 33.2, against 38.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 5.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 149 families put The Lenham School as their first choice and 372 named it as one of their preferences, for 158 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 16 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The Lenham School is one of 9 schools run by Valley Invicta Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49.6 in 2024/25.

178 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Lenham School (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 82% say their child is happy there and 59% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (85%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (59%).

Of the 145 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 78% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 38% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.

Of the 22 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 41% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 32% into work.

3.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 211 pupils (25.7%) received SEN support and 33 (4%) 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 Lenham Rail Station, about 580 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Lenham School (in), 170 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 36 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).

In 2024/25, The Lenham School issued 243 suspensions, 29.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Lenham School are Lenham Primary School (0.1 miles) and Platts Heath Primary School (1.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.