School Chooser

Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre

Secondary · ages 11-18MixedAcademy1,772 pupilsSixth formTenterdenKent
School Chooser Score
21
Below
similar schools
Likely range 17 to 29
Out of 100. Better than 18% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
OfstedGoodLast Ofsted inspection, April 2023
Strong pass in English and maths27%England 46%
Attendance88.6%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families29%About the same as most schools in England
Places384 spare1,772 pupils, 2,156 places
Pupils per teacher16.9School workforce census

Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre is a converter academy in Tenterden for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It has 1,772 pupils and room for 2,156. About 29 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 21 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 18% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2023.

Ashford Road, Tenterden, TN30 6LT01580 764222homewood-school.co.ukMr Jeremy Single principalAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 25 April 2023, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
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

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

Average GCSE score39.7
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths27%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths55%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11-0.35In each subject, pupils here finished about half 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: 37.537.520182019: 37.837.820192022: 44.444.420222023: 40.040.020232024: 39.839.820242025: 39.739.72025
Since 2018: +2.2Declining overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018KentEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11363322328295340336
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 839.739.840.044.437.837.547.846.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8-0.35-0.28-0.18-0.40-0.40
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths27%36%27%40%28%23%48%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths55%55%52%65%52%49%67%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score3.233.313.293.713.083.094.284.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry15%20%16%17%19%16%48%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged30.329.733.737.632.133.6
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged43.644.242.446.739.438.8
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers24.727.733.921.722.3
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers56.661.062.551.650.7

Subjects

Results came out for 21 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: Physics (45% here, 82% across England), Computer Science (24% here, 56% across England), Chemistry (51% here, 81% across England), German (33% here, 63% across England).

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

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

Every subject against England, 2025
English Language357 entries · 63rd of 101 in Kent
38%England 54%
Mathematics356 entries · 70th of 101 in Kent
34%England 53%
English Literature348 entries · 71st of 100 in Kent
39%England 58%
Combined Science286 entries · 59th of 87 in Kent
24%England 36%
Geography184 entries · 62nd of 99 in Kent
29%England 51%
Art and Design128 entries · 33rd of 81 in Kent
64%England 58%
Business103 entries · 27th of 52 in Kent
38%England 51%
History103 entries · 52nd of 98 in Kent
42%England 52%
Physics65 entries · 54th of 64 in Kent
45%England 82%
Chemistry65 entries · 49th of 64 in Kent
51%England 81%
Biology65 entries · 48th of 67 in Kent
59%England 82%
Social Studies52 entries · 10th of 37 in Kent
60%England 54%
Food Preparation & Nutrition50 entries · 22nd of 30 in Kent
32%England 52%
German49 entries · 20th of 21 in Kent
33%England 63%
Physical Education47 entries · 34th of 45 in Kent
43%England 56%
Computer Science42 entries · 49th of 55 in Kent
24%England 56%
French38 entries · 42nd of 65 in Kent
47%England 60%
Dance36 entries · 7th of 8 in Kent
50%England 58%
Media / Film / TV32 entries · 9th of 13 in Kent
50%England 55%
Drama26 entries · 19th of 31 in Kent
58%England 60%
Other Modern Languages20 entries · 5th of 5 in Kent
80%England 49%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
English Language3578%38%58%54%2,684 of 3,210
Mathematics3569%34%63%53%2,788 of 3,211
English Literature3485%39%63%58%2,757 of 3,202
Combined Science2864%24%47%36%2,316 of 3,084
Geography1848%29%42%51%2,648 of 3,116
Art and Design12815%64%87%58%1,153 of 2,818
Business10311%38%52%51%1,256 of 1,806
History10318%42%56%52%2,133 of 3,126
Physics6511%45%69%82%2,429 of 2,546
Chemistry659%51%74%81%2,323 of 2,537
Biology656%59%82%82%2,266 of 2,570
Social Studies5214%60%67%54%413 of 1,043
Food Preparation & Nutrition508%32%54%52%883 of 1,098
German498%33%51%63%518 of 571
Physical Education4713%43%66%56%1,118 of 1,559
Computer Science425%24%29%56%1,708 of 1,861
French3813%47%74%60%1,458 of 1,974
Dance3611%50%64%58%56 of 74
Media / Film / TV3213%50%66%55%346 of 580
Drama2627%58%73%60%514 of 844
Other Modern Languages2015%80%80%49%111 of 454

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

184 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeC-27.4 points per entry
A level progress-0.26Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better12%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished84%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students184185205162346375
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry27.4127.1626.0526.4727.0024.90
Average A level gradeC-C-C-C-C-D+
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS30.0027.6023.8824.2527.8023.28
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects12%6%3%2%2%4%
A level progressA level value added-0.26-0.41+0.24+0.07
Applied general courses: points per entry27.1226.2829.4827.03
T levels: points per entry24.3627.0830.0025.00
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed84%93%88%93%83%84%

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.

A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsGeography33English Literature24Psychology21Mathematics18Chemistry15Biology15Physics14English Language and Literature12Photography11History10Graphics7Business Studies7Drama and Theatre Studies6Film Studies6Media / Film / TV Studies6Physical Education / Sports Studies6
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Geography33 entries · 15% A* or A · 88% passed
27%England 51%
English Literature24 entries · 4% A* or A · 100% passed
17%England 52%
Psychology21 entries · 0% A* or A · 71% passed
0%England 46%
Mathematics18 entries · 28% A* or A · 94% passed
56%England 60%
Chemistry15 entries · 20% A* or A · 87% passed
47%England 53%
Biology15 entries · 7% A* or A · 80% passed
27%England 49%
Physics14 entries · 14% A* or A · 79% passed
21%England 51%
English Language and Literature12 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
42%England 47%
Photography11 entries · 9% A* or A · 100% passed
46%England 58%
History10 entries · 10% A* or A · 100% passed
60%England 55%
Graphics7 entries · 29% A* or A · 100% passed
43%England 65%
Business Studies7 entries · 29% A* or A · 100% passed
43%England 47%
Drama and Theatre Studies6 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
17%England 54%
Film Studies6 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
67%England 57%
Media / Film / TV Studies6 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
0%England 46%
Physical Education / Sports Studies6 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
17%England 41%

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. 1 of the 3 gaps 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
30.343.6
Gap 13.3England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
11%34%
Gap 23 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
38.241.0
Gap 2.8England 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.

Plenty of spare places1,835 pupils for 2,600 places, 2024/25
71% full

765 places were empty (29% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 11% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

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 roll1,772Census January 2026
Places2,15682% full
Pupils from low-income families27%29% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English4%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support12%207 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan4%77 pupils with a plan
Average class size19.585 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils6%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)31%£487,300 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls864 / 908
White British pupils79%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (85), Autistic spectrum disorder (81), Specific learning difficulty (40), language and communications needs (28), Moderate learning difficulty (26), Physical disability (10).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll1,7721,8631,9472,1032,0892,068
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals27%28%27%24%22%18%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language4%5%5%4%3%3%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support9%8%9%9%9%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans4%4%3%3%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 88.6% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance88.6%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school32.8%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils30.22024/25, 1 permanent exclusion
Missed without permission4.1%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence11.4%12.9%13.3%12.5%7.3%7.2%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence7.3%8.1%7.8%8.1%4.7%4.9%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence4.1%4.8%5.5%4.5%2.7%2.3%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence32.8%38.4%41.1%44.8%22.8%22.0%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate30.235.025.97.83.2
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions10110

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 328 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training95%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 92%, compared with 96% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training95%92%94%96%
Education84%84%82%88%
Apprenticeship6%3%6%5%
Work5%4%6%4%
Not in education, work or training4%6%5%3%

After sixth form

Where the 189 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training81%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 66%, compared with 84% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training46%England 72%
Top-third universities2%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship5%England 6%
Higher technical course2%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 54% went on to degree-level study or training and 0% to a top-third university.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training81%84%83%
Education40%32%40%
Apprenticeship5%12%6%1%
Work37%41%37%
Not in education, work or training13%14%10%

Staff and money

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

Teachers104.7full-time equivalent, 113 people
Pupils per teacher16.9Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers98%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants38.3full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£51,369
Teachers who left in the year9%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher5.62024/25

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£7,684England £7,965. Total £14m
Income per pupil£7,968England £8,423. Total £15m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,263England £4,444
Money in reserve0%Very little put by: £15k, £8 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£528kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£7,684spent 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 m7412 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate69 per 1,000 people24% lower than the England average
Typical house price£345,000Ashford
Nearest bus stop40 mHomewood School, 7 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

No other schools of this phase within 8 km.

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre 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.

Beats18%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the bottom quarter of its group. Its score of 21 is 16 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 2 · middle 37 · highest 88100

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 Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre, 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
The North SchoolAcademy9.6 miles1,237Not inspected31Compare
Cornwallis AcademyAcademy13.1 miles1,402Good 202329Compare
Leigh Academy MascallsAcademy14.7 miles1,227Report card 202637Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 21 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 21% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 17 to 29. 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
-0.17
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 363 pupils
Ofsted inspection19% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)in line
+0.02
Ofsted grade, 3.4 years old
Progress pupils make20%below
-0.14
DfE progress measure; 363 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%below
-0.07
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%below
-0.10
2024/25; 1,618 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%below
-0.08
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 363 pupils
What pupils do next5%above
+0.03
328 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 Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre a good school?

The figures are weak. Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre scores 21 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 18% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 17 to 29, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.

What is Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre good at its last full inspection on 25 April 2023.

How good are Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 27% 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 39.7, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished about half a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre have?

1,772 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 2,156 places, so it is 82% full.

Is Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre oversubscribed?

Probably not. 765 places were empty in 2024/25 (29% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre?

Pupils were in school 88.6% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 33% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre?

The average class had 19.5 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 6% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre 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
Ashford Road, Tenterden, TN30 6LT
Telephone
01580 764222
Website
www.homewood-school.co.uk
Principal
Mr Jeremy Single
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
Tenterden Schools Trust (6 schools)
Local authority
Kent
Ward
Tenterden North
Constituency
Weald of Kent
Setting
Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 September 2011 (academy converter)
URN
137484 · LAESTAB 8865408 · UKPRN 10035054
Formerly
Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from