Thomas Knyvett College, Ashford

Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades Thomas Knyvett College on 6 areas: 1 expected standard and 5 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, at all levels, have a thorough understanding of the school's contextual challenges, its strengths and priorities for improvement."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' achievement across the curriculum is varied."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Pupils' attendance is not as high as it needs to be."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The quality of teaching in the school varies."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who are disadvantaged are not as consistently well supported as they need to be."

Personal development and wellbeing - Needs attention. "Sometimes, pupils are not as knowledgeable as they need to be about aspects of their personal development."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to work with families to reduce absence"; "Leaders should ensure that teaching is consistently of a high quality so that pupils learn effectively across all areas of the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that gaps in pupils' knowledge are swiftly identified and addressed"; "Leaders should ensure that the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are consistently understood and met"; "Leaders should embed their approaches to improving behaviour, so that pupils consistently meet leaders' high expectations".

In its own words: "At Thomas Knyvett College , we believe that Great Learning Changes Lives . This is more than a vision; it’s the heartbeat of our school."

From the headteacher's welcome: "As a school community, we are committed to realising our vision that Great Learning Changes Lives by creating a culture in which everyone aspires to achieve. We strive to provide a welcoming, challenging, secure and inclusive learning environment where all students and staff are respected, cared for and feel that they belong."

In 2026, pupils at Thomas Knyvett College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 38.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.8 in Surrey and 47 across England.

31% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 54% in Surrey and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 38.6.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.39: 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 31.1, against 42.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 17 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 75 families put Thomas Knyvett College as their first choice and 185 named it as one of their preferences, for 140 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 Thomas Knyvett College are The Matthew Arnold School (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.8); The Magna Carta School (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.7); Space Studio West London (2.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.5); and Rivers Academy West London (2.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.7).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Thomas Knyvett College.

Thomas Knyvett College is one of 14 schools run by The Howard Partnership Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.4 in 2024/25.

30 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Thomas Knyvett College (as of September 2025): 73% would recommend the school, 77% say their child is happy there and 64% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (87%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (57%).

Of the 151 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 72% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

39.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 33.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (50%), Asian (16%) and Mixed (11%).

The nearest railway station is Ashford (Surrey) Rail Station, about 420 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Salcombe Road (opposite), 30 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 180 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Surrey (76), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Thomas Knyvett College issued 351 suspensions, 51.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 6 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Thomas Knyvett College are Clarendon Primary School (0.3 miles), Ashford Park Primary School (0.4 miles), St Michael Catholic Primary School & Nursery (0.8 miles) and Town Farm Primary School & Nursery (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.