School Admission Appeals

Contested schools in Kent

These are the Kent schools that turned first-choice families away in at least one of the last three years — either because more families named them first than they had places, or because they refused families who named them first anyway. Figures shown are for 2026/27. Demand is not a forecast: an oversubscribed school turns more families away, which is not the same as their appeals succeeding more often.

Appeal success rates for Kent

Secondary schools (77)

Each has its own page with a 12-year demand history.

Contested secondary schools in Kent, 2026/27
School Places First choices Per place
Dartford Grammar School 179 569 3.18
Dartford Grammar School for Girls 178 428 2.40
The Judd School 179 400 2.23
Tonbridge Grammar School 180 353 1.96
St John's Catholic Comprehensive 172 304 1.77
The Malling School 150 247 1.65
School of Science and Technology Maidstone 186 303 1.63
Cranbrook School 88 143 1.62
Leigh Academy Wilmington 221 324 1.47
Trinity School 173 252 1.46
The Skinners' School 160 232 1.45
Hadlow Rural Community School 77 109 1.42
Cornwallis Academy 201 283 1.41
Dane Court Grammar School 165 230 1.39
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys 145 194 1.34
Bennett Memorial Diocesan School 293 384 1.31
Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School 174 228 1.31
The Folkestone School for Girls 180 233 1.29
The Harvey Grammar School 147 190 1.29
Highsted Grammar School 109 139 1.28
Dover Grammar School for Girls 140 178 1.27
The Charles Dickens School 227 288 1.27
Highworth Grammar School 214 267 1.25
Sir Roger Manwood's School 120 147 1.23
Gravesend Grammar School 209 254 1.22
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School 180 220 1.22
St Anselm's Catholic School, Canterbury 166 202 1.22
The Canterbury Academy 203 248 1.22
Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School 166 199 1.20
St George's Church of England Foundation School 207 248 1.20
Dover Grammar School for Boys 157 183 1.17
The Norton Knatchbull School 192 225 1.17
Barton Court Grammar School 125 145 1.16
Dartford Science & Technology College 148 172 1.16
Maidstone Grammar School 205 235 1.15
Invicta Grammar School 255 290 1.14
Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend 210 238 1.13
Borden Grammar School 123 138 1.12
Leigh Academy Minster 203 223 1.10
The Royal Harbour Academy 212 233 1.10
Saint George's Church of England School 208 226 1.09
Wilmington Grammar School for Girls 180 193 1.07
Dover Christ Church Academy 131 137 1.05
Duke of York's Royal Military School 28 29 1.04
EKC Sheppey Secondary 142 148 1.04
Turner Free School 168 174 1.04
Westlands School 282 294 1.04
Oakwood Park Grammar School 160 163 1.02
Towers School and Sixth Form Centre 240 242 1.01
Wye School 131 132 1.01
Barton Manor School 147 147 1
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls 133 132 0.99
St Edmund's Catholic School 138 136 0.99
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 300 297 0.99
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys 180 179 0.99
Fulston Manor School 204 196 0.96
King Ethelbert School 150 144 0.96
Skinners' Kent Academy 173 166 0.96
The North School 206 197 0.96
Hillview School for Girls 235 222 0.94
The Lenham School 158 149 0.94
Valley Park School 237 223 0.94
Brockhill Park Performing Arts College 230 213 0.93
The Maplesden Noakes School 236 219 0.93
Northfleet School for Girls 219 202 0.92
Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School 133 121 0.91
Herne Bay High School 274 249 0.91
Chilmington Green School 184 164 0.89
St Simon Stock Catholic School 187 163 0.87
Knole Academy 237 199 0.84
Weald of Kent Grammar School 300 234 0.78
Leigh Academy Tonbridge 179 137 0.77
Stone Lodge School 148 100 0.68
The Sittingbourne School 275 187 0.68
Northfleet Technology College 169 107 0.63
Aylesford School 166 88 0.53
St Augustine Academy 170 59 0.35

Primary schools (202)

Primary schools are listed here as figures rather than pages. Most refusals at the Reception intake are infant class size cases, where a panel can only act on three narrow grounds and fewer than one in ten appeals succeeds — so the honest thing to publish is the data, not a page inviting an appeal.

Contested primary schools in Kent, 2026/27
School Places First choices Per place
Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard 59 132 2.24
St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School 14 30 2.14
Brabourne Church of England Primary School 15 30 2
Palmarsh Primary School 20 39 1.95
Istead Rise Primary School 30 57 1.90
Cobham Primary School 30 56 1.87
Valley Invicta Primary School at Holborough Lakes 30 54 1.80
St Peter's Church of England Primary School 30 53 1.77
Lady Boswell's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Sevenoaks 60 105 1.75
Chilton Primary School 60 103 1.72
Rodmersham School 10 17 —
Hoath Primary School 15 25 1.67
Shipbourne School 9 15 —
Trottiscliffe Church of England Primary School 12 20 1.67
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Northfleet 30 48 1.60
Valley Invicta Primary School At East Borough 60 95 1.58
Hernhill Church of England Primary School 30 47 1.57
Ightham Primary School 30 47 1.57
St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School 30 47 1.57
Greenfields Community Primary School 45 70 1.56
High Halden Church of England Primary School 15 23 1.53
Mereworth Community Primary School 30 46 1.53
Stowting Church of England Primary School 15 23 1.53
Tunstall Church of England (Aided) Primary School 60 90 1.50
Brenchley and Matfield Church of England Primary School 30 44 1.47
Speldhurst Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 30 44 1.47
Maidstone, St John's Church of England Primary School 59 86 1.46
Ryarsh Primary School 30 43 1.43
St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Margate 30 43 1.43
Benenden Church of England Primary School 30 42 1.40
Herne Church of England Infant and Nursery School 90 126 1.40
Milton Court Primary Academy 30 42 1.40
Morehall Primary School and Nursery 30 42 1.40
Smarden Primary School 15 21 1.40
Great Chart Primary School 60 83 1.38
Goudhurst and Kilndown Church of England Primary School 30 41 1.37
Horton Kirby Church of England Primary School 30 41 1.37
Lady Joanna Thornhill Endowed Primary School 60 82 1.37
Sheldwich Primary School 30 41 1.37
St George's Church of England Foundation School 60 82 1.37
Blean Primary School 60 80 1.33
Holywell Primary School 30 40 1.33
Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, Dartford 30 40 1.33
Skinners' Kent Primary School 30 40 1.33
Allington Primary School 60 79 1.32
Lawn Primary School 30 39 1.30
Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School 30 39 1.30
Westcourt Primary School 30 39 1.30
Claremont Primary School 60 77 1.28
Leigh Academy Dartford 90 115 1.28
Selsted Church of England Primary School 15 19 —
Shepherdswell Church of England Primary School 30 38 1.27
St Nicholas At Wade Church of England Primary School 30 38 1.27
St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, Canterbury 30 38 1.27
Cecil Road Primary and Nursery School 54 68 1.26
Canterbury Road Primary School 30 37 1.23
Lenham Primary School 30 37 1.23
Ramsgate, Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School 30 37 1.23
Senacre Wood Primary School 30 37 1.23
Sussex Road Community Primary School 60 74 1.23
Valley Invicta Primary School At Aylesford 60 74 1.23
Woodchurch Church of England Primary School 26 32 1.23
Culverstone Green Primary School 28 34 1.21
Slade Primary School and Attached Unit for Children with Hearing Impairment 58 70 1.21
Valley Invicta Primary School At Kings Hill 29 35 1.21
Hunton Church of England Primary School 15 18 —
Kings Hill School Primary and Nursery 60 72 1.20
Leigh Academy Langley Park 60 72 1.20
Northbourne Church of England Primary School 20 24 1.20
Palm Bay Primary School 60 72 1.20
Preston Primary School 20 24 1.20
St Augustine's Catholic Primary School 30 36 1.20
Stocks Green Primary School 30 36 1.20
Stone St Mary's CofE Primary School 89 107 1.20
White Cliffs Primary and Nursery School 30 36 1.20
The Oaks Infant School 89 106 1.19
Saint George's Church of England School 60 71 1.18
Whitfield Aspen School 78 92 1.18
Coxheath Primary School 59 69 1.17
Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School 30 35 1.17
Leigh Academy Oaks 29 34 1.17
Springhead Park Primary School 60 70 1.17
Wingham Primary School 30 35 1.17
Chiddingstone Church of England School 30 34 1.13
Kingsnorth Church of England Primary School 60 68 1.13
Langdon Primary School 15 17 —
Sellindge Primary School 30 34 1.13
St Peter's Church of England Primary School 30 34 1.13
St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, Sevenoaks 30 34 1.13
Valley Invicta Primary School At Leybourne Chase 30 34 1.13
Jubilee Primary School 60 67 1.12
Lansdowne Primary School 60 67 1.12
Aldington Primary School 30 33 1.10
Chevening, St Botolph's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 30 33 1.10
Dartford Bridge Community Primary School 60 66 1.10
Lamberhurst St Mary's CofE (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 30 33 1.10
Our Lady of Hartley Catholic Primary School, Hartley, Longfield 30 33 1.10
South Borough Primary School 60 66 1.10
St Ethelbert's Catholic Primary School 30 33 1.10
St Mary's Catholic Primary School 30 33 1.10
Temple Ewell Church of England Primary School 20 22 1.10
Victoria Road Primary School 30 33 1.10
Wincheap Foundation Primary School 60 66 1.10
Worth Primary School 10 11 —
St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 88 95 1.08
Adisham Church of England Primary School 15 16 —
Brookland Church of England Primary School 15 16 —
Challock Primary School 30 32 1.07
Fawkham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School 15 16 —
Headcorn Primary School 60 64 1.07
Hever Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 30 32 1.07
John Mayne Church of England Primary School 15 16 —
Littlebourne Church of England Primary School 15 16 —
Rosherville Church of England Academy 30 32 1.07
St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 29 31 1.07
St Michael's Church of England Infant School Maidstone 40 43 1.07
Sunny Bank Primary School 29 31 1.07
Westmeads Community Infant School 59 63 1.07
Cheriton Primary School 60 63 1.05
Sandgate Primary School 60 63 1.05
Tunbury Primary School 60 63 1.05
Bean Primary School 30 31 1.03
Charlton Church of England Primary School 30 31 1.03
Hampton Primary School 90 93 1.03
High Firs Primary School 30 31 1.03
Newington Church of England Primary School 30 31 1.03
Newington Community Primary School 90 93 1.03
St Anselm's Catholic Primary School 30 31 1.03
The Gateway Primary Academy 30 31 1.03
St Bartholomew's Catholic Primary School, Swanley 45 46 1.02
Hextable Primary School 90 91 1.01
Bredhurst Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School 20 20 1
Goat Lees Primary School 30 30 1
Hildenborough Church of England Primary School 30 30 1
Laddingford St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School 13 13 —
Queenborough School and Nursery 56 56 1
Seabrook Church of England Primary School 15 15 —
Wentworth Primary School 87 87 1
Westgate Primary School 30 30 1
Riverhead Infants' School 90 89 0.99
Archbishop Courtenay Primary School 48 47 0.98
Ebbsfleet Green Primary School 59 58 0.98
Hawkinge Primary School 60 59 0.98
Sevenoaks Primary School 60 59 0.98
St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy 44 43 0.98
The John Wesley Church of England Methodist Voluntary Aided Primary School 60 59 0.98
Barham Church of England Primary School 30 29 0.97
East Farleigh Primary School 30 29 0.97
Ramsgate Arts Primary School 60 58 0.97
River Mill Primary School 60 58 0.97
St Peter's Methodist Primary School 30 29 0.97
East Peckham Primary School 24 23 0.96
Joy Lane Primary Foundation School 89 85 0.96
Kemsing Primary School 28 27 0.96
Godinton Primary School 59 56 0.95
New Ash Green Primary School 56 53 0.95
Repton Manor Primary School 56 53 0.95
The Craylands School 60 57 0.95
Colliers Green Church of England Primary School 16 15 —
St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend 105 99 0.94
Warden House Primary School 35 33 0.94
Ethelbert Road Primary School 30 28 0.93
Leigh Academy Horsmonden 30 28 0.93
Margate, Holy Trinity and St John's Church of England Primary School 56 52 0.93
Ospringe Church of England Primary School 30 28 0.93
The Wells Free School 30 28 0.93
Ashford Oaks Community Primary School 49 45 0.92
Eastling Primary School 13 12 —
Langton Green Primary School 60 55 0.92
Leigh Academy Hartley 53 49 0.92
Leigh Academy Paddock Wood 88 81 0.92
Stella Maris Catholic Primary School 25 23 0.92
King's Farm Primary School 51 46 0.90
Burham Church of England Primary School 27 24 0.89
St John's Church of England Primary School 89 79 0.89
St Eanswythe's Church of England Primary School 25 22 0.88
Wittersham Church of England Primary School 17 15 —
Shorne Church of England Primary School 30 26 0.87
The Canterbury Primary School 60 52 0.87
Capel Primary School 28 24 0.86
Higham Primary School 21 18 —
Rolvenden Primary School 7 6 —
Shoreham Village School 13 11 —
St Botolph's Church of England Primary School 60 51 0.85
Wouldham, All Saints Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School 55 47 0.85
Crockham Hill Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School 18 15 —
Goodnestone Church of England Primary School 6 5 —
Lower Halstow Primary School 24 20 0.83
Sholden Church of England Primary School 12 10 —
Singlewell Primary School 48 40 0.83
Bobbing Village School 22 18 —
Kemsley Primary Academy 21 17 —
Otford Primary School 30 24 0.80
Frittenden Church of England Primary School 14 11 —
The Brent Primary School 90 71 0.79
St Peter's Catholic Primary School 27 21 0.78
Cranbrook Church of England Primary School 26 20 0.77
Sutton Valence Primary School 30 23 0.77
St Lawrence Church of England Primary School 12 9 —
Bapchild and Tonge Church of England Primary School and Nursery 30 22 0.73
Boughton Monchelsea Primary School 28 20 0.71
St John's Church of England Primary School, Sevenoaks 30 12 —

Department for Education, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, school-level file, 2026/27. Appeal outcomes are not published for individual schools — how we source and calculate the figures.