St Simon Stock Catholic School Review 2026: Catholic Secondary with Sixth Form, Maidstone

Faith and formation sit side by side here. The school’s Carmelite identity shapes daily routines, pastoral language, and the way students are encouraged to serve others, while the curriculum remains broad and mainstream for a large, mixed 11 to 18 intake. The motto, Labora Cum Amore (Work with Love), is used as a practical lens for conduct, leadership and community contribution.

The school is part of the Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership multi academy trust, and leadership has recently entered a new chapter under Mrs A Denny, appointed headteacher on 01 September 2023. The 12 and 13 October 2021 Ofsted inspection confirmed the school continues to be Good and that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

The most distinctive feature is the combination of Catholic life with a comprehensive intake. That matters because it tends to produce a school culture where belonging and routine are prioritised, rather than a narrowly academic tone. The school explicitly links its ethos to Carmelite tradition, which shows up in how it frames values, house identity and worship. For families who want faith to be visible but not separated from mainstream school life, that is the core proposition.

The house system has been refreshed recently and is now explicitly Carmelite in its naming and symbolism. Six houses, St John of the Cross, St Titus Brandsma, Prophet Elijah, St Teresa of Avila, St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, and St Therese of Lisieux, provide the organising structure for competitions, recognition, and community events. This can be a useful social anchor for Year 7s joining a large school, because it creates a smaller identity group early on, and it also gives sixth formers a ready-made leadership ladder through mentoring, student voice, and house responsibilities.

Pastoral structures are designed to create multiple routes for students to ask for help, including formal services and low-friction options. The school references a counselling service and uses physical reporting points around the site for students to flag concerns. Combined with a well-developed mental health offer, including Place2Be and the Kent Emotional Wellbeing Team, the message to students is consistent: support is normal and accessible, not a last resort.

At GCSE, outcomes sit broadly in the mid-range nationally, with some clear strengths and a couple of watch points for parents who care about curriculum breadth.

Ranked 2,102nd in England and 6th in Maidstone for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the school’s results align with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile). The Attainment 8 score is 47.9, and Progress 8 is +0.21, which indicates students, on average, make above-average progress from their starting points. The average EBacc points score is 4.14.

A key nuance is the EBacc profile. The school has historically had a relatively low share of students studying languages at Key Stage 4, and increasing EBacc breadth has been an identified improvement priority. For families who strongly value languages and the full EBacc suite, it is worth asking how the current options structure and staffing support that ambition, and how the school encourages uptake beyond the keen minority.

Post 16 results are more challenging. Ranked 2,181st in England and 6th in Maidstone for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the sixth form sits below England average overall. In the most recent data, 28.09% of A-level grades were A* to B, compared with an England average of 47.2%. At the very top end, 1.28% of grades were A*, and 11.06% were A.

That said, it is a mixed sixth form rather than an academically selective one, and it offers both A-level and applied pathways. Parents should interpret the data through that lens. The practical question is fit: does your child need an exclusively A-level environment with consistently high top grades, or a broader offer with a strong pastoral structure, clear entry requirements, and multiple progression routes.

Parents comparing local outcomes can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page to view GCSE and A-level results side by side using the Comparison Tool, then shortlist based on both performance and practicalities such as travel time.

The curriculum is deliberately structured and sequenced, with an emphasis on knowledge building over time. Subject leaders have refined what is taught and when, and classroom practice is described as purposeful, with teachers using precise questioning to check understanding and strengthen recall. For students, that typically translates into lessons that feel tightly guided rather than open-ended, which suits those who thrive on clarity and routine.

Reading has a visible priority across year groups. The school describes targeted support for students who are behind, alongside a culture of encouraging broader reading through curriculum text choices and tutor time routines. This matters for parents because it signals that literacy is treated as everyone’s responsibility, not confined to the English department. Over time, this can support improved outcomes across humanities and extended writing subjects.

The sixth form has explicit expectations around independent study, with an academic tone that is closer to a college model than a relaxed sixth form common room culture. The published guidance frames sixth form success as dependent on self-discipline, organisation and motivation, with independent study expectations that extend well beyond lesson time. That is a good fit for students who want structure and accountability, and a weaker fit for those who need heavy external prompting to stay on track.

Where Students Go Next

The school is set up to retain a meaningful share of students into Year 12, and it positions the sixth form as a bridge to university, apprenticeships and employment rather than a single-track university pipeline. The curriculum offer for sixth form includes a wide range of A-level subjects alongside applied qualifications, and it also makes space for an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) for students who want to build research and writing skills.

Oxbridge outcomes exist but are small scale, which is normal for a non-selective school. In the measured period, four students applied to Oxford or Cambridge, one received an offer, and one accepted a place. The significance for parents is less about the absolute number and more about what it implies: there is at least some experience in the system with admissions testing, interviews and personal statement coaching, which can benefit high-attaining students pursuing competitive courses.

For the 2023 to 2024 leavers cohort, 47% progressed to university, 10% started apprenticeships, 26% entered employment, and 2% progressed to further education. The remaining proportion is in other destinations not itemised here. This distribution suggests a sixth form focused on multiple credible routes, including employment and apprenticeships, rather than measuring success solely through university progression.

The school also publishes examples of universities students have progressed to, including Bristol, Queen Mary University of London, Manchester, York and Loughborough. These are presented as illustrative destinations rather than a full statistical breakdown.

Entry is through Kent’s coordinated admissions process, with the school’s Catholic criteria shaping prioritisation when oversubscribed. Families should plan for a two-part application process: the local authority application, plus a school supplementary information form if applying under faith or related categories.

For Year 7 entry in September 2026, the supplementary information form deadline is 31 October 2025. The school advises that failing to submit the supplementary form can lead to an application being placed in the wrong category, which matters in an oversubscribed context. The school also references the need for supporting evidence where relevant, such as baptismal documentation or an other-faith reference.

The criteria structure is important to understand. Priority is higher for baptised Catholic children, with additional categories including siblings, Catholic partner primaries, children of staff, and other Christian or other faith applicants who attend their place of worship regularly. For families without a Catholic connection, the practical question is how frequently places reach non-Catholic categories, which varies year to year and depends on the applicant pool.

Demand is high. For the main entry point, the dataset records 558 applications for 178 offers, around 3.13 applications per place. There is no published “last distance offered” figure here, so families should avoid assuming that proximity alone is a reliable strategy. If you are making a housing decision, use the FindMySchool Map Search to estimate travel options and realistic alternatives, then confirm the school’s current admissions pattern through official criteria and the local authority process.

For sixth form entry, applications open on 07 November 2025 and close on 30 January 2026. Both internal and external applicants apply via Kent Choices, with the process including a group interview and conditional offers based on predicted grades. Entry to the Level 3 pathway is set at five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including Mathematics and or English, plus subject-specific requirements. Final enrolment takes place after GCSE results in August 2026.

Open events operate on an annual rhythm. For example, an open evening is published in early October in the current calendar cycle. Families should use the school’s open events listings for the most up to date dates, as timings can shift year to year.

Pastoral provision is a visible strength, and it is unusually layered for a large mainstream secondary. Support spans universal culture, targeted services, and specialist provision.

The school works with Place2Be, describing one-to-one and group counselling support in school. Alongside this, it references the Kent Emotional Wellbeing Team, with workshops and targeted support for students experiencing mild to moderate mental health challenges. This matters because it offers different entry points, some students will engage with counselling, others prefer group-based tools for anxiety, stress or low mood, and some will simply benefit from a culture where wellbeing is discussed openly.

SEND support includes a named base, described as a hub that supports students and provides a home for the SEND team. The wider message is inclusion within the mainstream curriculum, with adaptations rather than parallel tracks. Parents of students with additional needs should ask practical questions about how support is timetabled, how interventions avoid repeated lesson withdrawal, and how transition is managed from Year 6, particularly for students who benefit from early familiarisation.

Safeguarding information is presented as a whole-school responsibility, with a particular emphasis on online safety and student reporting routes. The school also signposts external support services and guidance for families, which is useful for parents looking for one place to start when concerns arise.

Enrichment is not treated as a generic add-on. The club timetable is published and specific, which is helpful for parents because it shows what is actually running, when, and for which year groups.

There is a clear STEM and academic extension strand. Computer Clinic and Robotic Club run at lunchtime, and Axiom Maths Circles operates by invitation for strong mathematicians. For a student who enjoys challenge, that combination matters: it creates a route from interest to structured extension without requiring external tutoring or expensive private programmes.

Arts and performance have defined outlets rather than vague promises. Vox and Stocky Band and a regular band rehearsal space support students who want to perform, and there is a dedicated drama studio used for activities such as Street Dance. Music practice sessions at break and lunch are a practical detail that often signals whether a school’s music offer is performative or genuinely embedded in the weekly rhythm.

Sport is present both through seasonal clubs and through fixture organisation. Football and netball are scheduled with named staff leads, and there are paid options including fencing and taekwondo. The practical implication is choice: students can participate casually or pursue a more specialist activity, with parents able to see which clubs require payment and which do not.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a significant pillar. The school runs Bronze and Silver, with published ambitions to grow participation and develop progression towards Gold. That is a strong fit for students who respond well to structured challenges and enjoy combining volunteering, physical activity and expeditions with school life. Eco Club, including work in an eco garden, adds a service-oriented option that aligns well with the school’s Catholic social teaching.

The compulsory school day runs from 08:45 to 15:15, with gates open from 08:30. Dismissal is staggered, with Years 10 to 13 released at 15:15 and Years 7 to 9 at 15:17, using the brief time difference to reduce congestion and build in reading time. Optional extracurricular activities are scheduled after school until 16:00.

Travel is straightforward by road, with the school describing access via the A26, the A20 and the M20. Public transport is realistic for older students: bus stops on Tonbridge Road and London Road are described as around a 12-minute walk away, and Queen’s Road around a 5-minute walk. Maidstone West station is described as about 1 mile away, around a 20-minute walk. Cycling is supported via on-site bike racks, while on-site parking for visitors is limited and generally requires prior arrangement.

• GCSE curriculum breadth. The proportion of students studying languages has been relatively low, and increasing take-up of the full EBacc suite has been identified as an improvement priority. Families who value languages highly should ask how options, staffing and encouragement have changed in recent years.

• Sixth form outcomes. The sixth form offers multiple pathways, but A-level grades sit below England averages in the most recent dataset. Students aiming for very high A-level grades across the board should discuss subject-specific performance and support structures, not just the overall offer.

• Faith criteria and application discipline. Admissions are shaped by Catholic criteria, and the supplementary form process has hard deadlines. If you are applying under a faith category, treat documentation and dates as non-negotiable.

• Competition for places. Demand is high, with around 3.13 applications per place in the recorded cycle. Families should shortlist realistic alternatives early, particularly if they do not meet higher-priority categories.

A large Catholic secondary that puts formation, wellbeing and community contribution at the centre, while still offering a mainstream, structured curriculum and a broad sixth form menu of courses. It suits families who want a clear faith ethos, consistent routines, and a pastoral system with multiple support routes, including formal mental health provision. Admission is shaped by Catholic criteria and deadlines, and the sixth form is best for students who value structure and clear expectations, especially those open to both academic and applied routes.