The Whitstable School, Whitstable

In its own words: "The Whitstable School is a vibrant and nurturing community where creativity and academic excellence go hand in hand. Through our specialist academies-STEM and STAGE-and across all subjects, we champion innovation, independence and teamwork. Creativity isn't just reserved for the arts; it's embedded in every lesson, from English to mathematics."

Coming up: an open evening on Wednesday 25 November 2026 and an open evening on Thursday 26 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at The Whitstable School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 37.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.1 in Kent and 47 across England.

27% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Kent and 47% in England.

That is down from 39.3 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.52: 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 26.8, against 41.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Statistics, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 170 families put The Whitstable School as their first choice and 513 named it as one of their preferences, for 197 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 Whitstable School are Herne Bay High School (3.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 35.5); and The Archbishop's School (4.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 32.1).

The Whitstable School's 2026 results were higher than all 2 of them.

The Whitstable 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 201 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 85% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 37% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 6% into work.

Of the 42 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 36% went on to university or other higher education, 14% to apprenticeships and 24% into work.

1.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 165 pupils (14.8%) received SEN support and 34 (3.1%) 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 Whitstable Rail Station, about 760 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Community College (outside), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 158 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 Whitstable School issued 205 suspensions, 18.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Whitstable School are Whitstable Junior School (0.6 miles); St Alphege Church of England Infant School (0.7 miles); St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Whitstable (0.7 miles); and Whitstable and Seasalter Endowed Church of England Junior School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.