The Marsh Academy, New Romney

In its own words: ""Academic excellence, educational equity, and fairness demand a strong foundation of knowledge for all learners." - E.D Hirsch At The Marsh Academy, we believe that every student, regardless of their background or starting point, is entitled to an ambitious, knowledge-rich curriculum that enables them to achieve highly and prepares them to thrive in further education, employment and modern society."

From the headteacher's welcome: "As Principal I am proud to welcome you to The Marsh Academy."

In 2026, pupils at The Marsh Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 38.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.1 in Kent and 47 across England.

33% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Kent and 47% in England.

That is up from 37.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.25: 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 32.2, against 42.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.5 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Spanish and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 143 families put The Marsh Academy as their first choice and 253 named it as one of their preferences, for 168 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 Marsh Academy is one of 6 schools run by Skinners' Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 152 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 47% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 82 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 39% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 38% into work. 4% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

37.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 3.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 299 pupils (29.3%) received SEN support and 48 (4.7%) 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 autism.

The Marsh Academy has a resourced provision for autism: 24 places, 20 pupils on roll.

The Marsh Academy had 77 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest tram or metro stop is New Romney Station (RHDR), about 410 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Marsh Academy (adjacent), 90 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Marsh Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 42 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).

In 2024/25, The Marsh Academy issued 159 suspensions, 15.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Marsh Academy are St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy (0.3 miles) and Greatstone Primary School (1.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.