The North School, Ashford

In 2026, pupils at The North School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.1 in Kent and 47 across England.

32% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Kent and 47% in England.

That is down from 41.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.26: 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 32.7, against 42.5 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 9.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Statistics and History.

For September 2026 entry, 197 families put The North School as their first choice and 696 named it as one of their preferences, for 206 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 27 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The North School are The Norton Knatchbull School (0.3 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 64.2); Highworth Grammar School (1.2 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 69.2); The John Wallis Church of England Academy (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 36.4); and Towers School and Sixth Form Centre (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.4).

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

The North School is one of 19 schools run by Swale Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 38.5 in 2024/25.

151 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The North School (as of September 2025): 77% would recommend the school, 82% say their child is happy there and 57% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (82%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (57%).

Of the 211 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 56% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 57 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 39% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 33% into work. 1% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

33.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

The North School has a resourced provision for autism: 30 places, 32 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Ashford International Rail Station, about 660 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mabledon Avenue (opposite), 260 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 322 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, The North School issued 198 suspensions, 15.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The North School are Victoria Road Primary School (0.7 miles), Willesborough Junior School (0.8 miles), Willesborough Infant School (0.8 miles) and East Stour Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.