Meopham School Review 2026: A growing 11 to 18 academy with a strong community focus

GCSE outcomes

Meopham’s GCSE profile sits in the broad middle of England in the FindMySchool ranking. Ranked 2,740th in England and 5th in Gravesend for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), performance aligns with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile).

The school’s Attainment 8 score is 41.1. The Progress 8 score is -0.4, which indicates that, on average, pupils make less progress than similar pupils nationally from their starting points. The EBacc average point score is 3.81.

Two practical implications follow for families. First, outcomes are not currently being lifted by above average progress, so the quality of teaching consistency, attendance, and targeted support matter even more. Second, students who are academically able but not self organising may need active routines at home to keep momentum, especially in Key Stage 4.

A level outcomes

The sixth form outcomes are more challenging. Ranked 2,503rd in England and 6th in Gravesend for A level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), this sits in the lower end of the England distribution.

The figures show 13.33% of entries at A level were graded A* to B, versus an England average of 47.2%. At the very top, 0% were graded A*, versus an England average of 23.6% for A* to A.

It is worth reading these figures alongside the sixth form’s size and mix. Meopham’s sixth form offers both academic and vocational pathways, and the results only captures A level outcomes, not the full picture of Level 3 study. The sensible parent take is to ask sharp questions at sixth form stage, about subject viability, teaching stability, and how the school supports students to move from GCSE habits to post 16 independence.

Curriculum thinking at Meopham has been moving towards clearer sequencing and stronger consistency. In the most recent inspection evidence, curriculum planning is described as carefully constructed in most subjects, including for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), but not yet fully embedded everywhere.

Classroom practice is described as generally clear and knowledgeable, with strong subject knowledge across staff and explanations that help pupils tackle increasingly complex ideas. A specific operational detail that matters is checking for understanding, the evidence suggests this happens well overall, but not consistently enough in every subject, which can leave some pupils moving on too quickly.

Reading is a visible priority. Sixth form reading leaders supporting younger pupils is a concrete example of how the school tries to make literacy support practical and routine, rather than an isolated intervention. The implication for parents is that students who arrive weaker readers should find structured support, but that sustained gains will still depend on attendance and follow through at home.

Meopham does not publish a detailed Russell Group or Oxbridge pipeline in its official materials, so the most reliable public picture here is the structured leaver destination results. For the 2023 to 2024 leaver cohort (cohort size 38), 24% progressed to university, 13% started apprenticeships, and 32% entered employment.

This mix suggests a sixth form that serves a genuinely broad set of next steps, not just a university focused minority. In practice, that places extra weight on careers guidance and on the quality of advice around apprenticeships, local employment pathways, and course selection, especially for students who are not set on university from the outset.

Year 7 entry

Meopham is a non selective state school, with admissions coordinated by Kent. For families applying for September 2026 entry, Kent’s published secondary timeline sets out a clear window: applications open 01 September 2025, close 31 October 2025, with offers released on 02 March 2026.

Demand and the shape of the local market can shift year to year. Kent County Council has previously treated Meopham as a popular school in the area, and the published admission number has been expanded historically to increase capacity.

If your shortlist depends on commuting time and transport reliability, it is worth using FindMySchoolMap Search to sanity check daily travel, particularly if you are balancing Meopham against alternatives in Gravesend, Northfleet, or further towards Sevenoaks.

Open events and how to assess fit

The school’s published pattern for Year 6 families includes open morning tours running from late September into mid October, with booking required. Those dates can change each year, so treat this as a typical seasonal pattern and confirm the current year’s schedule directly.

Sixth form entry

Sixth form admissions are handled through an application process, with published guidance showing applications opening in mid November and remaining open into late spring for the following September start. In the current cycle, the published window is from 17 November 2025 to May 2026. Entry requirements reference a baseline of GCSE passes including English and mathematics, with higher subject specific thresholds in some courses.

Safeguarding systems are described as embedded and effective, with staff training and timely referrals forming the operational backbone. The April 2023 Ofsted report confirmed safeguarding arrangements were effective.

Beyond formal safeguarding, the practical pastoral levers at Meopham are behaviour routines, attendance expectations, and visible adult support. Evidence points to strengthened behaviour systems that are working for most pupils, alongside a continuing need to improve consistency for a small minority. Attendance is flagged as a specific improvement area, including in the sixth form, which matters because attendance is strongly correlated with GCSE outcomes in mixed ability comprehensive settings.

SEND support is framed around mainstream inclusion with targeted adaptations, including a named internal provision model (The Windmill) for students who need a more differentiated programme at times. The implication for families is that support appears designed to keep pupils connected to mainstream learning wherever possible, rather than moving quickly to separate tracks.

Meopham’s enrichment offer is not presented as a generic list; it includes some distinctive, student friendly options. The school’s published clubs information references a termly changing programme, with examples including a STEM club, Dungeons and Dragons, a school magazine, choir, drama, and textiles and arts clubs.

That variety matters because it creates multiple on ramps into school life. For a confident performer, drama and choir provide visibility and belonging. For quieter students, structured interest groups like Dungeons and Dragons or STEM can be a lower pressure way to form friendships. For students who enjoy writing or media, the magazine role can become a meaningful responsibility rather than just a hobby.

Sport is framed around participation across abilities, with a broad menu of activities across the year, and with extra curricular options such as netball, football, dance, trampolining, rugby, badminton, fitness, basketball, athletics, cricket, volleyball, rounders, and tennis appearing in the published programme. The implication is a school that expects physical activity to be part of routine life, not only for elite teams.

Leadership is also part of the enrichment picture. School council participation and sixth form leadership roles, including reading leaders and sports leaders, give students structured ways to contribute, which often supports confidence and behaviour as much as it supports university applications.

The published school day runs 8:40 to 15:10, which sets a clear baseline for family logistics.

Transport is a practical strength for many families. The school publishes bus route information including a service between Gravesend Station and the school at the start and end of the day, with Kent travel passes accepted on relevant routes. Meopham Station is also referenced as the closest train station, but it is not a short walk for most students, so families typically pair rail with bus or lift share for reliability.

On site parking and drop off management have been part of the school’s expansion planning, and the school has described changes intended to reduce congestion and improve safety at peak times.

• Sixth form outcomes need scrutiny. The A level attainment indicators are low relative to England averages. Families considering sixth form should ask about subject level teaching strength, course viability, and how vocational pathways sit alongside A levels.

• Attendance remains a stated improvement priority. Published inspection evidence identifies attendance, including persistent absence and sixth form attendance, as an area to improve. If your child is prone to disengagement, ask what early interventions look like and how attendance is tracked and escalated.

• Consistency is still being embedded. Behaviour is described as improved for most pupils, but a small minority are not consistently meeting expectations, and curriculum consistency varies by subject. This may matter for students who need highly predictable routines.

• The site and timetable are busy. Investment and expansion have brought new specialist spaces, but a growing school can feel more crowded at transition points. Ask about movement times, supervision, and how the school manages corridors and social spaces.

Meopham School is a mainstream 11 to 18 academy that combines a clear community identity with visible investment in buildings and student experience. The strongest case for the school is for families seeking a structured, inclusive local secondary with a broad enrichment offer and established transport links. It suits students who benefit from clear expectations, who will engage with clubs and leadership opportunities, and whose families will partner the school on attendance and routines. The biggest decision point is post 16, sixth form applicants should look closely at course level outcomes and support before committing.