Astor Secondary School
Academy converter · sixth form · 732 pupils
72% stayed in education · Attainment 8 27.9
Academy converter
The North School
- Pupils on roll
- 1,237of 1,265 places
- Free school meals
- 34.6%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 228
- Ofsted
- Standards maintained, 13 November 2024Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: The North School (URN 118832, until 1 January 2022).
What the data says
Of the 201 pupils who finished Year 11 at The North School in 2023, 45% stayed on in The North School’s own sixth form (Kent average 56%), 38% went to a further education college and 3% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 79 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 30% went to university (Kent 39%, England 37%), and 0% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
Statistics is unusually popular at GCSE: 95% of the year group took it, against 5% of pupils across England.
GCSE results in 2025 were below the national picture: Attainment 8 of 41.1 against 46.1 across England and 46.7 in Kent, with 40% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Kent and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | The North School | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 201 | 17,954 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 88% | 93% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 84% | 88% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 45% | 56% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 0% | — | 13% |
| — further education college | 38% | 28% | 37% |
| — other education | — | 4% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Employment | 1% | 2% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 9% | 5% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | The North School | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 79 | 14,947 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 78% | 80% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 30% | 39% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 0% | 20% | 19% |
| Further education | 1% | 4% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 6% | 6% | 7% |
| Employment | 41% | 30% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 15% | 15% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | The North School | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 41.1 | 46.7 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 40% | 47% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 61% | 65% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 37% | 47% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 3.67 | 4.18 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 36% | 25% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 33.6 | 32.2 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 45.5 | 51.5 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 21% | 12% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 226 | 99% | 88% | 19% | 22% | 75% |
| English Language | 226 | 99% | 89% | 5% | 20% | 56% |
| English Literature | 223 | 98% | 86% | 8% | 21% | 60% |
| Combined Science | 218 | 96% | 65% | 13% | 9% | 61% |
| Statistics | 216 | 95% | 5% | 7% | 20% | 56% |
| History | 109 | 48% | 41% | 8% | 26% | 52% |
| Geography | 84 | 37% | 41% | 11% | 25% | 38% |
| Spanish | 57 | 25% | 19% | 16% | 27% | 67% |
| French | 55 | 24% | 18% | 2% | 29% | 29% |
| Business Studies | 41 | 18% | 18% | 5% | 20% | 44% |
| Physical Education | 26 | 11% | 11% | 8% | 24% | 62% |
| Computer Science | 23 | 10% | 13% | 4% | 30% | 87% |
| Psychology | 20 | 9% | 3% | 20% | 22% | 90% |
| Art and Design | 18 | 8% | 7% | 0% | 24% | 56% |
| Drama | 9 | 4% | 7% | 0% | 27% | 67% |
| Dance | 9 | 4% | 1% | 11% | 27% | 78% |
| Portuguese | 2 | 1% | 0% | — | 50% | — |
| Polish | 1 | 0% | 1% | — | 84% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitality / Catering Studies | 51 | 100% | — |
| Animal Care (Non-Agricultural) | 24 | 50% | — |
| Building / Construction Operations (General / Combined) | 22 | 46% | — |
| Tourism | 19 | 40% | — |
| Sports Studies | 18 | 38% | — |
| Music performance: Group | 16 | 33% | — |
| Childcare Skills | 12 | 25% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 12 | 25% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | The North School | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 123 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 48 | 7,794 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 30.34 | 34.87 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C+ | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 22% | 17% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sociology | 17 | 35% | 13% |
| Biology | 16 | 33% | 20% |
| Mathematics | 16 | 33% | 31% |
| Psychology | 11 | 23% | 23% |
| Business Studies | 9 | 19% | 13% |
| Chemistry | 9 | 19% | 17% |
| History | 8 | 17% | 13% |
| English Literature | 7 | 15% | 11% |
| Photography | — | — | 3% |
| Fine Art | — | — | 3% |
| Art and Design | — | — | 1% |
| Economics | — | — | 13% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance / Accounting (General) | VRQ Level 3 | 15 | 31% | — |
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 14 | 29% | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | 13 | 27% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 12 | 25% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 11 | 23% | — |
| Applied Business | VRQ Level 3 | 9 | 19% | — |
| History | GCE AS level (All) | 9 | 19% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 7 | 15% | — |
| Animal Husbandry: Specific Animals | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 6 | 13% | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 6 | 13% | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | 6 | 13% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 6 | 13% | — |
| Animal Husbandry: Specific Animals | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Animal Husbandry: Specific Animals | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | — | — | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| History | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Music performance: Group | VRQ Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Administrative Management | BTEC Technical Certificate L2 - Band E - P-D | — | — | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Kent
Aylesford School
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 916 pupils
73% stayed in education · Attainment 8 37.6
Barton Court Grammar School
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97% stayed in education · Attainment 8 66.4
Bennett Memorial Diocesan School
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95% stayed in education · Attainment 8 54.0
Borden Grammar School
Academy converter · sixth form · 938 pupils
94% stayed in education · Attainment 8 63.2
Brockhill Park Performing Arts College
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,314 pupils
86% stayed in education · Attainment 8 37.4
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.