Trinity School, Sevenoaks Review 2026: A Modern Christian School with Strong Foundations

When a group of local churchgoers envisioned a secondary school for their community a decade ago, they could not have anticipated just how rapidly Trinity would become one of Sevenoaks' most sought-after institutions. Opened in 2013 as a Free School, the school has since relocated to a purpose-built campus designed by Bond Bryan architects and built by Willmott Dixon at a cost of £22 million. Today, Trinity School serves 1,140 students across Years 7 to 13, with an oversubscribed intake drawing families who value its non-selective admissions and Christian ethos. With consistently Good ratings from Ofsted across three inspections (2015, 2018, and March 2024), Trinity combines genuine pastoral care with solid academic outcomes that place it squarely within the national middle ground for performance.

Trinity occupies a modern, spacious campus on Seal Hollow Road featuring a three-storey, 6,550-square-metre facility with flexible design and elevated foundations for environmental impact minimisation. The building houses a four-court sports hall, fully equipped auditorium and activities hall for drama and dance, comprehensive science laboratories, design and technology rooms, and large dining areas alongside specialist art and drama studios added during a Phase 2 expansion worth £4 million.

The school's Christian character is woven throughout without being didactic. The core values — Truth, Excellence, Love, Leadership, and Service, collectively known as the Trinity Way — appear not as slogans but as genuinely embedded expectations within pastoral care structures. Half the annual intake has a faith reference, though the school welcomes families of all backgrounds. Approximately 80% of students participate in co-curricular clubs and activities, indicating strong engagement beyond the classroom.

Dr Matthew Pawson has led the school since September 2016, bringing a first-class honours degree in Physical Education, a master's in education, and a doctorate from the University of Reading. Under his leadership, the sixth form was established in 2018 and has grown steadily, while the overall school expanded from an initial four forms of entry to the current six-form entry structure. The school operates as a single academy trust, independently governed but accountable to the Department for Education.

GCSE Performance

At GCSE, Trinity reports solid outcomes. In the most recent data, 74% of entries were awarded grade 4 or above, with 56% achieving the higher standard of grade 5 or above. High attainment is evident in 22% of entries scoring grade 7 or above, while 11% achieved top marks at grades 8 or 9. Nearly one in four grades were awarded 7 or better across the cohort. In English and Mathematics combined, 69% of pupils achieved standard passes (grades 9-4).

The school's Attainment 8 score of 50 places it slightly above the England average of 46. Progress 8 stands at +0.26, indicating pupils make above-average progress from their starting points. For three consecutive years, the DfE has ranked Trinity as "above average" for the progress students achieve at GCSE. Trinity ranks 1,384th in England for GCSE results (FindMySchool ranking), placing it within the middle 35% of schools nationally and 3rd among secondary schools in Sevenoaks.

22% of pupils achieved grades 5 or above in the English Baccalaureate, with an average EBacc score of 4.42, above the England average of 4.08.

A-Level Performance

At A-level, 34% of entries are awarded A* or A grades, with nearly 60% achieving B or above and over three-quarters attaining at least a C grade. These figures place A-level performance among the higher-performing sixth forms, though lower than the school's GCSE position would suggest.

In 2024, just one student secured a Cambridge place out of two applications. The school ranks 830th in England for combined Oxbridge applications and acceptances (FindMySchool ranking).

The curriculum is broad and deliberately structured. Key Stage 3 follows the National Curriculum with enrichment elements: French or Spanish begins in Year 7, taught by specialists; setting in mathematics commences in Year 4; additional morning sessions in spring support consolidation before assessments. All students study core English, Mathematics, Science, Religious Education, History, Geography, Design and Technology, Art, Computing, Drama, Music, and PSHE. Key Stage 4 offers personalised pathways, with students required to take English language and literature, Mathematics, combined or triple science, Religious Education, and PE, alongside optional choices including Business Studies, Food Technology, Photography, Dance, Product Design, and Information Technology.

At sixth form, students study a minimum of three and a maximum of four subjects. Seventeen A-level subjects are offered, including nine "facilitating subjects" commonly required for Russell Group university entry. The curriculum includes the three sciences, mathematics, further mathematics, geography, history, and English literature, plus languages and creative options.

Teaching appears characterised by clear structures and high expectations. Staff development is supported through a comprehensive continuing professional development programme, and classroom resources are explicitly designed with accessibility in mind, particularly for students with identified special educational needs.

In 2024, 59% of sixth form leavers progressed to university, with 22% entering employment and just 1% beginning apprenticeships. This profile aligns with a school serving a mixed demographic with genuine pathways beyond higher education.

Cambridge recorded one acceptance from two applications in the measurement period. Beyond Oxbridge, specific university destinations are not published on the school website, though the breadth of A-level offering suggests students access a range of institutions.

The school operates a robust co-curricular programme every Wednesday afternoon, with students selecting from over 60 clubs and activities across nine-week cycles. This commitment translates to over 3,000 hours of co-curricular provision annually.

Music: A Central Pillar

Music receives substantial investment and integration. The Trinity Beginners Academy of Music serves Year 7 entrants, feeding into intermediate and advanced ensembles including the Trinity Orchestra and Schola Cantorum. The school has earned Music Mark accreditation and maintains a partnership with Kent Music, offering additional lessons and ensembles after school at the Sevenoaks Music Centre.

A-level Music students perform full recitals to a high standard and analyse musical traditions spanning Western classical repertoire through to stage and screen composition. GCSE cohorts study the Western classical tradition, world music fusions, and music for stage and screen using the Sibelius notation software.

Drama and Performing Arts

Drama clubs operate across multiple year groups, culminating in whole-school productions. Students take on roles across performance, lighting, sound design, and costume creation. Notably, the school staged a physical theatre adaptation of "War Horse" in July 2023 and produced a large-scale musical of "Les Misérables" (2023), both of which engaged significant numbers of students in creative roles beyond traditional acting.

The drama studio, added during the Phase 2 expansion, provides dedicated performance space. A-level drama focuses on practical exploration and theatrical processes, with students studying performance texts in their social, cultural, and historical contexts.

Sports and Athletic Achievement

Facilities include a four-court sports hall with markings for 5-a-side football, badminton, basketball, handball, hockey, and netball, along with an all-weather pitch and outdoor grass pitches. Equipment includes gymnastics apparatus, cricket nets, and badminton, basketball, and netball posts. Trinity fields multiple rugby union teams, and works closely with local sports clubs to create pathways into grassroots competition and player academies.

Sports leadership is embedded from Year 7 through Year 13, with a dedicated sixth-form sports leadership team supporting inter-house events, core PE lessons, and co-curricular clubs. GCSE PE students develop competence in at least two team sports and one individual sport. An adapted Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme allows all students access to personal development through outdoor pursuits.

STEM and Innovation

The school operates over 60 named clubs overall, though specific STEM club titles are not individually detailed in accessible sources. Computing and Information Technology feature prominently, with design and technology fostering practical problem-solving. The school's facilities include well-resourced design and technology rooms and modern science laboratories supporting separate sciences teaching.

Chaplaincy and Service

A dedicated chaplaincy team oversees a structured service programme in the local community. The Growing Hope Garden, established in collaboration with Sevenoaks Town Council's "Give it a Grow" initiative, engages students in environmental stewardship and education about climate change through organic vegetable cultivation. A dedicated Christian Union, Creative Intervention Programme, and SHINE GIRL programme (alongside a parallel STRENGTH Boys initiative) provide structured opportunities for faith exploration and personal development. Sixth form students engage in mentoring, prefect leadership roles, and community service placements within school and external charities, with one student leading a mother and toddler group at a local church.

Houses and Community

The school operates a house system providing social connection and inter-house competitions, particularly in sports. This structure supports a sense of belonging within a school of 1,140 students.

Trinity operates as a non-selective secondary school accepting applications through the local authority coordinated admissions process. In September 2024, the school received 691 applications for 180 Year 7 places, representing approximately 3.8 applications per place. This oversubscription reflects genuine local demand for places.

Sixth form admission requires minimum grades of 4 in English and Mathematics at GCSE, though most courses demand significantly higher subject-specific grades. External students (those not progressing from the main school) apply separately through the Trinity portal. The school accommodates approximately 240 sixth form students across both years.

Last distance offered data is not published for this school.

Pastoral structure places each student with a dedicated tutor, supported by Raising Standards Leaders, Heads of Year, and pastoral leaders who address both academic and pastoral concerns. Additional specialist support includes a school counsellor. All students receive tuition in the Trinity LifeBites programme, which covers personal, social, health, and relationships education alongside emotional wellbeing, anxiety management, and online safeguarding.

Students with special educational needs receive tailored support coordinated through the school's Special Educational Needs and Disability coordinator (SENDCo). Disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND receive individually adapted provision to ensure curriculum access.

Bullying is reported as rare and incidents are addressed promptly. The behaviour policy references the core values explicitly, and students use this language naturally in daily interaction.

School hours: 8:50am to 3:20pm. A typical week amounts to 33 hours and 20 minutes of instruction.

Trinity is well served by public transport. Sevenoaks train station and Bat & Ball train station are both close by, with various bus routes serving the school directly. The school has on-site parking available for parent drop-off and collection. The local authority issues Kent Young Person's Travel Cards (Years 7-11) and 16+ Travel Cards for use on public services. Car-sharing is encouraged, and the school offers a parent car park with specific safety protocols to protect students at entry and exit points.

All students are expected to wear school uniform. Orders may be placed online through Horncastles, which operates a shop in Sevenoaks town centre.

Uniform and trip costs are not covered by the school budget. Some families may be eligible for free school meals depending on circumstances. The school offers information on cost-of-living support available through local pathways.

Oversubscription challenge. With nearly four applications per place in 2024, securing entry is competitive. Families should verify their proximity to the school early and confirm expectations with the school directly about admission likelihood.

Mixed GCSE-to-A-level transition. While GCSE results place the school above national average, A-level outcomes are notably lower proportionally. This gap may reflect a more comprehensive sixth form intake (accepting external students and lower-attaining internal candidates) compared to more selective peers, or different teaching intensity at Key Stage 5. Families ambitious for prestigious university entry should examine A-level outcomes carefully.

Christian ethos integration. While the school welcomes families of all backgrounds, Christian values and practice are woven throughout: Religious Education is compulsory at GCSE, chaplaincy is active in pastoral support, and whole-school worship occurs regularly. Families uncomfortable with explicit Christian integration should discuss this carefully during visits.

Limited published university destination data. The school does not detail which specific universities sixth form leavers attend beyond the single-digit Oxbridge numbers. Families seeking evidence of Russell Group progression or specific university placements should request this directly from the school.

Trinity School delivers solid secondary education within a genuinely supportive Christian community framework. The combination of modern facilities, engaged staff, and deliberate pastoral structures creates an environment where most students feel known and valued. Academic outcomes are dependable without being exceptional: GCSE results exceed England average, A-level outcomes are respectable, and progress measures indicate pupils benefit from teaching that challenges them appropriately from their starting points. The breadth of co-curricular engagement (particularly in music, drama, and sports) and the explicit integration of service and leadership opportunities align well with families valuing character development alongside academic achievement.

Best suited to families seeking a non-selective secondary where Christian values are genuinely lived rather than merely stated, and where pastoral relationships matter as much as exam results. Those prioritising entrance to the most academically selective universities should verify sixth form outcomes carefully, though the school clearly supports ambitious learners across a range of pathways. The main practical hurdle is securing a place given oversubscription, but for families within reasonable distance and comfortable with the school's Christian character, Trinity offers genuine value as a state-funded option.