The Sittingbourne School, Sittingbourne

In its own words: "At The Sittingbourne School, we want all students to understand the value of their education and how it will set them up for a successful future. They should develop curiosity, a love of learning and be prepared to work hard."

In 2026, pupils at The Sittingbourne School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 34.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.1 in Kent and 47 across England.

24% 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 34.1.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.7: 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 30.2, against 38.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 8.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Statistics and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 187 families put The Sittingbourne School as their first choice and 808 named it as one of their preferences, for 275 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 Sittingbourne School are Highsted Grammar School (0.8 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 61.9); Fulston Manor School (0.9 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 36.8); Borden Grammar School (1 mile, Good, selective, Attainment 8 62.7); and Westlands School (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.3).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than The Sittingbourne School.

The Sittingbourne 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.

Of the 257 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 77% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 37% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 108 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 33% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 39% into work. 2% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

37.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 7.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (78%) and Black (8%).

In 2026, 478 pupils (30.7%) received SEN support and 120 (7.7%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The Sittingbourne School has a resourced provision for hearing impairment and speech, language and communication needs: 60 places, 82 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Sittingbourne Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Sittingbourne School Grounds (in), 80 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Sittingbourne School 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 212 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 Sittingbourne School issued 110 suspensions, 6.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Sittingbourne School are Lansdowne Primary School (0.3 miles), Canterbury Road Primary School (0.4 miles), Bapchild and Tonge Church of England Primary School and Nursery (0.4 miles) and South Avenue Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.