Best schools in Kent
Kent's school story is strong enough to influence moves, but it still needs to be matched with the right postcode fundamentals. This ranking covers 94 schools across 13 local authority districts. Postcode area ME3 has the highest average school score (67.8 across 8 schools), while ME7 sits at the lower end (26.8). 91% of ranked Kent schools hold an Ofsted Outstanding or Good rating.
Top 10 schools in Kent on the LocaleIQ model
Ordered by composite score within the Kent comparison pool. Rankings reflect published data, not editorial opinion.
More schools in Kent
Positions 11–30 in the Kent ranking.
| # | School | LocaleIQ | Ofsted | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Rainham Mark Grammar School | 83.3 | Good | Secondary |
| 12 | Holcombe Grammar School | 83 | Good | Secondary |
| 13 | Leigh Academy Hundred of Hoo | 83 | Good | All-through |
| 14 | Napier Community Primary and Nursery Academy | 82.3 | Good | Primary |
| 15 | Chatham Grammar | 82 | Good | Secondary |
| 16 | Halling Primary School | 78.9 | Good | Primary |
| 17 | St Benedict's Catholic Primary School | 78.6 | Good | Primary |
| 18 | Fairview Community Primary School | 77.3 | Good | Primary |
| 19 | Walderslade Primary School | 77.1 | Good | Primary |
| 20 | St Margaret's at Troy Town CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School | 74.8 | Good | Primary |
| 21 | Chattenden Primary School | 73.3 | Good | Primary |
| 22 | Swingate Primary School | 71.8 | Good | Primary |
| 23 | Horsted Infant School | 70.7 | Good | Primary |
| 24 | Riverside Primary School | 70.3 | Good | Primary |
| 25 | All Faiths Children's Academy | 69.9 | Good | Primary |
| 26 | Bligh Primary School (Infants) | 66.8 | Good | Primary |
| 27 | Balfour Junior School | 66.2 | Good | Primary |
| 28 | St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School | 66 | Good | Primary |
| 29 | Thames View Primary School | 65.6 | Good | Primary |
| 30 | St Helen's Church of England Primary School, Cliffe | 64.2 | Good | Primary |
Keep exploring Kent
Questions about schools in Kent
What is the best school in Kent?
The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) is the top-ranked school in Kent overall (LocaleIQ score 97.6 out of 100). Ofsted: Outstanding. KS2 expected 83% · higher 10%. Primary and secondary schools are scored on separate metrics and peer pools — use the phase tabs above to compare like for like.
What is the best primary school in Kent?
The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) leads the Kent primary school ranking (LocaleIQ 97.6). Ofsted: Outstanding. KS2 expected 83% · higher 10%. The Primary tab above shows the full ranked list of Kent primary schools.
What is the best secondary school in Kent?
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School leads the Kent secondary school ranking (LocaleIQ 97.5). Ofsted: Outstanding. Attainment 8 69.5. The Secondary tab above shows the full ranked list of Kent secondary schools.
Which schools in Kent are rated Outstanding by Ofsted?
5 schools in the Kent ranking hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating: The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery), Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, Fort Pitt Grammar School, Leigh Academy High Halstow, Lordswood School. Outstanding means Ofsted judged the school exceptional in all inspection areas. LocaleIQ weighs DfE performance data alongside Ofsted, so a Good-rated school can still rank highly.
Which area of Kent has the best schools?
By average LocaleIQ score across postcode areas, ME3 has the strongest cluster — 67.8 average across 8 ranked schools. ME7 sits at the lower end (26.8 average). Kent's school story is strong enough to influence moves, but it still needs to be matched with the right postcode fundamentals. Postcode averages mask individual variation — always review each school's full profile.
How many schools are ranked in Kent?
This ranking covers 94 schools (primary and secondary) in the Kent comparison pool, across 13 local authority districts. Use the Primary or Secondary tabs for phase-specific rankings. Schools without sufficient published data are excluded but may appear in the LocaleIQ directory.
Ranking data last computed 29 March 2026.