The Maplesden Noakes School, Maidstone

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Maplesden, we know we take on a weighty responsibility when you entrust your child to us. Education at Maplesden includes a commitment to helping every child reach their full potential in all their courses, but we believe it goes well beyond this too."

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 19 November 2026 at 6pm, an open evening on Thursday 26 November 2026 and an open evening on Thursday 21 January 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at The Maplesden Noakes School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 36, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.1 in Kent and 47 across England.

17% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Kent and 47% in England.

That is down from 39.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.55: 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 27.2, against 38.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 29 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 219 families put The Maplesden Noakes School as their first choice and 954 named it as one of their preferences, for 236 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 36 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The Maplesden Noakes School are Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (under 0.1 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 62.7); St Simon Stock Catholic School (0.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42); St Augustine Academy (0.8 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 35.4); and Oakwood Park Grammar School (0.9 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 66.1).

The Maplesden Noakes School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Of the 206 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 46% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 147 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 31% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 48% into work. 4% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

In 2026, 198 pupils (14%) received SEN support and 23 (1.6%) 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 Maidstone Barracks Rail Station, about 440 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is London Road Retail Park (adjacent), 240 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 472 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour 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 Maplesden Noakes School issued 136 suspensions, 9.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Maplesden Noakes School are Brunswick House Primary School (0.2 miles), Palace Wood Primary School (0.7 miles), North Borough Junior School (0.7 miles) and St Paul's Infant School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.