School Chooser

Fulston Manor School

Secondary · ages 11-18MixedAcademy1,314 pupilsSixth formSittingbourneKent
School Chooser Score
4
Well below
similar schools
Likely range 3 to 6
Out of 100. Better than 2% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
OfstedRequires improvementLast Ofsted inspection, November 2023
Strong pass in English and maths20%England 46%
Attendance88.2%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families27%About the same as most schools in England
PlacesFull1,314 pupils, 1,104 places
Pupils per teacher14.8School workforce census

Fulston Manor School is a converter academy in Sittingbourne for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It has 1,314 pupils, 210 more than it has places for. About 26 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 4 out of 100. That puts it well below schools like it, ahead of 2% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was requires improvement, back in 2023.

Brenchley Road, Sittingbourne, ME10 4EG01795 475228fulstonmanor.kent.sch.ukMrs Susie Burden headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 14 November 2023, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Requires improvement overall.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Requires improvement
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Good
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Good
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Good
Sixth formOfsted calls this “post-16”
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

204 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score35.3
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths20%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths49%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11-0.70In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 41.241.220182019: 37.837.820192022: 41.041.020222023: 37.737.720232024: 39.039.020242025: 35.335.32025
Since 2018: -5.9Declining overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018KentEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11204204207210210194
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 835.339.037.741.037.841.247.846.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8-0.70-0.67-0.62-0.73-0.14
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths20%33%21%28%21%24%48%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths49%61%57%56%51%57%67%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score2.893.042.943.272.873.254.284.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry22%4%3%7%7%22%48%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged26.432.430.128.627.937.5
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged38.440.540.644.239.942.2
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers24.925.128.222.127.8
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers53.253.156.644.551.5

Subjects

Results came out for 20 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Subjects that did worse than the England average: Computer Science (11% here, 56% across England), Physics (39% here, 82% across England), Biology (44% here, 82% across England), Chemistry (46% here, 81% across England).

What is taught hereOffers triple science, 2 languages, computer science, music.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics202 entries · 87th of 101 in Kent
27%England 53%
English Language202 entries · 96th of 101 in Kent
25%England 54%
English Literature182 entries · 73rd of 100 in Kent
38%England 58%
Combined Science159 entries · 71st of 87 in Kent
16%England 36%
Art and Design142 entries · 44th of 81 in Kent
54%England 58%
History110 entries · 67th of 98 in Kent
32%England 52%
Business79 entries · 39th of 52 in Kent
24%England 51%
Geography70 entries · 65th of 99 in Kent
29%England 51%
French37 entries · 49th of 65 in Kent
32%England 60%
Social Studies29 entries · 19th of 37 in Kent
41%England 54%
Religious Studies26 entries · 39th of 45 in Kent
35%England 60%
Physics23 entries · 60th of 64 in Kent
39%England 82%
Biology23 entries · 59th of 67 in Kent
44%England 82%
Chemistry22 entries · 53rd of 64 in Kent
46%England 81%
11%England 56%
Spanish14 entries
36%England 54%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics2025%27%59%53%3,052 of 3,211
English Language2024%25%50%54%3,144 of 3,210
English Literature1826%38%59%58%2,801 of 3,202
Combined Science1592%16%37%36%2,784 of 3,084
Art and Design1428%54%73%58%1,646 of 2,818
History1108%32%47%52%2,706 of 3,126
Business791%24%52%51%1,618 of 1,806
Geography704%29%37%51%2,683 of 3,116
French375%32%51%60%1,773 of 1,974
Social Studies297%41%69%54%765 of 1,043
Religious Studies268%35%46%60%1,677 of 1,825
Physics2313%39%74%82%2,477 of 2,546
Biology239%44%74%82%2,448 of 2,570
Chemistry229%46%59%81%2,385 of 2,537
Computer Science186%11%39%56%
Spanish147%36%50%54%
Dance90%11%44%58%
Music90%56%89%61%
Food Preparation & Nutrition80%63%63%52%
Drama813%38%63%60%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

147 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeC-25.8 points per entry
A level progress-0.33Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better2%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished94%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students147149149169283249
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry25.8225.8623.7528.7623.2123.09
Average A level gradeC-C-D+CD+D+
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS27.4425.5025.4729.1725.1023.86
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects2%4%0%3%2%0%
A level progressA level value added-0.33-0.21-0.34-0.37
Applied general courses: points per entry32.1432.0428.8731.95
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed94%91%89%94%76%78%

A level subjects

16 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

Strongest A levels

Photography69%A* to B, England 58% · 26 entries
Fine Art75%A* to B, England 65% · 16 entries
A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsSociology40Law40English Literature33Psychology26Photography26Religious Studies16Fine Art16History15Biology13Mathematics12Government and Politics11Geography113D Studies9Textiles7Film Studies7Chemistry7
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Sociology40 entries · 10% A* or A · 98% passed
18%England 49%
Law40 entries · 5% A* or A · 85% passed
23%England 40%
English Literature33 entries · 6% A* or A · 97% passed
27%England 52%
Psychology26 entries · 8% A* or A · 100% passed
27%England 46%
Photography26 entries · 19% A* or A · 100% passed
69%England 58%
Religious Studies16 entries · 0% A* or A · 94% passed
19%England 50%
Fine Art16 entries · 19% A* or A · 100% passed
75%England 65%
History15 entries · 7% A* or A · 93% passed
33%England 55%
Biology13 entries · 0% A* or A · 62% passed
31%England 49%
Mathematics12 entries · 0% A* or A · 50% passed
8%England 60%
Government and Politics11 entries · 9% A* or A · 82% passed
27%England 55%
Geography11 entries · 9% A* or A · 100% passed
18%England 51%
3D Studies9 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
11%England 58%
Textiles7 entries · 14% A* or A · 100% passed
57%England 67%
Film Studies7 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
71%England 57%
Chemistry7 entries · 0% A* or A · 71% passed
14%England 53%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. Every gap at this school is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
26.438.4
Gap 12.0England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
6%25%
Gap 19 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
34.735.9
Gap 1.2England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Open to all. There is no entrance test.

A few spare places1,329 pupils for 1,473 places, 2024/25
90% full

About 144 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Kent council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll1,314Census January 2026
Places1,104119% full
Pupils from low-income families23%27% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English10%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support12%151 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan4%57 pupils with a plan
Average class size21.656 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils2%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)26%£297,000 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls612 / 702
White British pupils77%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (64), language and communications needs (46), Autistic spectrum disorder (30), Specific learning difficulty (30), Moderate learning difficulty (11), Other difficulty or disability (11).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll1,3141,3251,3281,3401,3571,370
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals23%21%19%18%16%14%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language10%9%5%5%4%5%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support11%11%13%12%12%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans4%4%4%3%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 88.2% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance88.2%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school31.6%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils12.22024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission5.8%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence11.8%13.1%12.0%10.6%7.6%6.9%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence6.0%6.4%5.8%6.1%4.4%4.2%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence5.8%6.7%6.2%4.5%3.2%2.7%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence31.6%36.8%36.3%34.1%21.1%17.9%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate12.214.814.29.75.6
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 207 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training90%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 82%, compared with 93% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training90%91%93%95%
Education77%81%82%88%
Apprenticeship10%3%5%4%
Work2%6%6%3%
Not in education, work or training6%5%4%4%

After sixth form

Where the 143 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training85%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 90%, compared with 85% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training60%England 72%
Top-third universities8%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship6%England 6%
Higher technical course2%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 36% went on to degree-level study or training and 8% to a top-third university.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training85%86%87%
Education50%52%59%
Apprenticeship6%6%4%1%
Work29%28%25%
Not in education, work or training12%10%10%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers88.5full-time equivalent, 92 people
Pupils per teacher14.8Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers92%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants16.1full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£50,935
Teachers who left in the year18%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher6.92024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£7,001England £7,965. Total £9.3m
Income per pupil£7,083England £8,423. Total £9.4m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,390England £4,444
Money in reserve9%A healthy amount put by: £851k, £639 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£109kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£7,001spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m14912 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate59 per 1,000 people35% lower than the England average
Typical house price£310,000Swale
Nearest bus stop60 mFulston Manor and Highsted Schools, 10 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Highsted Grammar SchoolAcademy (grammar)100 m793Good 202381Compare
Borden Grammar SchoolAcademy (grammar)530 m938Report card 202690Compare
The Sittingbourne SchoolAcademy0.9 miles1,556Good 202314Compare
Westlands SchoolAcademy1.3 miles1,690Good 202431Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Fulston Manor School with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats2%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
Near the bottom of its group. Its score of 4 is 34 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 2 · middle 39 · highest 90100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 50 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Fulston Manor School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Westlands SchoolAcademy1.3 miles1,690Good 202431Compare
Valley Park SchoolAcademy9.5 miles1,555No overall grade 202520Compare
St Simon Stock Catholic SchoolAcademy11.2 miles1,148Report card 202659Compare
The Whitstable SchoolAcademy13.1 miles1,112Good 202422Compare
The Canterbury AcademyAcademy14.6 miles1,984Report card 202623Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 4 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 4% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 3 to 6. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%below
-0.19
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 204 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%well below
-0.43
Ofsted grade, 2.8 years old
Progress pupils make20%well below
-0.24
DfE progress measure; 204 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%below
-0.08
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%below
-0.08
2024/25; 1,096 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%well below
-0.21
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 204 pupils
What pupils do next5%in line
-0.01
207 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Fulston Manor School a good school?

The figures are weak. Fulston Manor School scores 4 out of 100. That is well below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 2% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 3 to 6, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.

What is Fulston Manor School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Fulston Manor School requires improvement at its last full inspection on 14 November 2023.

How good are Fulston Manor School's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 20% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 35.3, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Fulston Manor School have?

1,314 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,104 places, so it is 119% full.

Is Fulston Manor School oversubscribed?

Probably not. 144 places were empty in 2024/25 (10% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at Fulston Manor School?

Pupils were in school 88.2% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 32% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Fulston Manor School?

The average class had 21.6 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 2% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Fulston Manor School have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was C-. 16 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Brenchley Road, Sittingbourne, ME10 4EG
Telephone
01795 475228
Website
www.fulstonmanor.kent.sch.uk
Headteacher
Mrs Susie Burden
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
None
Multi-academy trust
Fulston Manor Academies Trust (2 schools)
Local authority
Kent
Ward
Woodstock
Constituency
Sittingbourne and Sheppey
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 October 2010 (academy converter)
URN
136324 · LAESTAB 8865414 · UKPRN 10031570
Formerly
Fulston Manor School

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from