Westlands School, Sittingbourne

In its own words: "At Westlands School, our ambitious and enriching education prepares every student for a successful future. We combine academic excellence-including a dedicated Grammar Stream for our most able students-with unique, hands-on experiences. Our consistently strong Progress 8 scores show that students make excellent progress, no matter their starting point."

Coming up: an admissions event on Saturday 7 November 2026, an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026, an open evening on Tuesday 29 June 2027 and an open evening on Friday 2 July 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Westlands School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.1 in Kent and 47 across England.

36% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Kent and 47% in England.

That is up from 40.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.38: 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 34.3, against 45.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 31 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Statistics, Combined Science and History.

For September 2026 entry, 294 families put Westlands School as their first choice and 1007 named it as one of their preferences, for 282 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 38 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Westlands School are Borden Grammar School (1.1 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 62.7); Highsted Grammar School (1.3 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 61.9); Fulston Manor School (1.3 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 36.8); and The Sittingbourne School (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 34.8).

Westlands School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Westlands 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 315 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 77% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 34% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

Of the 84 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 37% went on to university or other higher education, 12% to apprenticeships and 36% into work. 3% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

5.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 316 pupils (18.7%) received SEN support and 120 (7.1%) 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.

Westlands School has a resourced provision (10 places, 10 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit (32 places, 28 pupils on roll) for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia and physical disability.

The nearest railway station is Sittingbourne Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Billet (opposite), 190 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 179 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, Westlands School issued 224 suspensions, 12.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Westlands School are Grove Park Primary School (0.5 miles), Westlands Primary School (0.5 miles), Borden Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles) and Bobbing Village School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.