A new study ranks Kent’s top primary and secondary schools based on performance metrics, highlighting the best educational institutions in the area.
Kent: A recent study ranked the best primary and secondary schools in Kent. It used the latest government data to assess school performance. Factors included student care, safety, family support, and Ofsted ratings.
Pass rates and average grades are key metrics for evaluating teaching quality. The report, created by Online Marketing Surgery and Ratcliffe Cleaning Contractors, identified the top 10 primary and secondary schools in Kent.
The rankings are based on data from GOV.UK, focusing on SAT and GCSE performance for the 2023/24 school year. First, they looked at primary schools to see how many students met the expected standards.
This assessment considered progress scores in reading, writing, and maths. For Key Stage 2, scores range from 80 to 120. A score of 100 or higher means students are meeting or exceeding expectations.
If schools had the same percentage of students meeting standards, they were ranked by the number of pupils completing Key Stage 2. Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School topped the list, with 100% of its eight pupils meeting the expected standard.
Following closely is Leigh Academy in Dartford, with 97%, and Temple Ewell Church of England Primary School in Dover at 96%. The Borden Church of England Primary School near Sittingbourne rounded out the top ten with 89%.
For secondary schools, rankings were based on the Attainment 8 score, which averages the highest scores across eight subjects. Tonbridge Grammar School led with a score of 79.3, followed by The Judd School and Dartford Grammar at 78.4.
Interestingly, all top-ranking secondary schools are located in Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Dartford, or Maidstone. Check out the full results below.
Kent’s Best Performing Schools for the 2023/2024 School Year
Primary
| Primary School | Location | Number of Pupils at End of Key Stage 2 | Percentage of Pupils Meeting Expected Standard |
| Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School | Bossingham, Canterbury | 8 | 100% |
| Leigh Academy Dartford | Dartford | 88 | 97% |
| Temple Ewell Church of England Primary School | Dover | 24 | 96% |
| Sandgate Primary School | Folkestone | 60 | 95% |
| Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School | Deal | 32 | 94% |
| Four Elms Primary School | Edenbridge | 15 | 93% |
| Minster in Sheppey Primary School | Minster-on-Sea | 91 | 92% |
| Leigh Academy Oaks | Maidstone | 26 | 92% |
| Stowting Church of England Primary School | Stowting, Ashford | 13 | 92% |
| Borden Church of England Primary School | Borden, Sittingbourne | 20 | 89% |
Secondary
| Secondary School/College/Private School | Location | Number of Pupils at End of Key Stage 4 | Attainment 8 Scores |
| Tonbridge Grammar School | Tonbridge | 175 | 79.3 |
| The Judd School | Tonbridge | 189 | 78.4 |
| Dartford Grammar School | Dartford | 184 | 78.4 |
| Dartford Grammar School for Girls | Dartford | 179 | 75.3 |
| The Skinners’ School | Tunbridge Wells | 159 | 74.1 |
| OneSchool Global UK – Maidstone Campus | Maidstone | 13 | 71.2 |
| Invicta Grammar School | Maidstone | 249 | 71.1 |
| Wilmington Grammar School for Girls | Dartford | 146 | 70.2 |
| Weald of Kent Grammar School | Tonbridge | 302 | 70.1 |
| Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School | Tunbridge Wells | 144 | 70.1 |
