Towers School and Sixth Form Centre is a secondary school in Ashford, serving pupils aged 11 to 19. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.
Towers School and Sixth Form Centre currently has around 1559 pupils on roll, which is about 96% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 46.2% boys and 53.8% girls. Around 28.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. Pupil backgrounds are varied across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 9.6%. Persistent absence is recorded at 33%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (75.9%).
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 98% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (87%) , including 59% who stay in school sixth forms and 28% progressing to further education , while 7% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Faversham Road, Ashford, TN24 9AL |
| Website: | www.towers.kent.sch.uk |
| Telephone: | 01233634171 |
| School Type: | Academy converter |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Kent |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mr Richard Billings |
| Religious character: | Does not apply |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 136583 |
Ofsted inspection date: 15/10/2024
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 19 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 1625 |
| Number of Pupils: | 1559 |
| Number of Boys: | 720 |
| Number of Girls: | 839 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 9.6% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 33% | 8.2% |
| White British | 75.90% | 1183 |
| Other White | 4.60% | 71 |
| African | 3.80% | 59 |
| Other Asian | 2.10% | 32 |
| Other Mixed | 1.80% | 28 |
| Unclassified | 1.70% | 26 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 1.60% | 25 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 1.50% | 24 |
| White and Black African | 1.30% | 20 |
| White and Asian | 1.10% | 17 |
| Other Black | 1.10% | 17 |
| Caribbean | 0.80% | 13 |
| Indian | 0.80% | 13 |
| Chinese | 0.60% | 10 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.60% | 9 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.40% | 6 |
| Pakistani | 0.30% | 4 |
| Irish | 0.10% | 1 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.10% | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennington Church of England Academy Upper Vicarage Road , Kennington TN24 9AG | 3out of 4 | 610 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kennington Church of England Junior School Upper Vicarage Road , Kennington TN24 9AG | - not rated | 610 yd | Voluntary controlled school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Downs View Infant School Ball Lane , Kennington TN25 4PJ | 3out of 4 | 612 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Goat Lees Primary School Hurst Road , Kennington TN24 9RR | 3out of 4 | 886 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Phoenix Community Primary School Belmont Road , Kennington TN24 9LS | 3out of 4 | 1,197 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Towers School and Sixth Form Centre Faversham Road , Kennington TN24 9AL | - not rated | 0 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Towers School and Sixth Form Centre Faversham Road , Kennington TN24 9AL | - not rated | 0 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Highworth Grammar School for Girls Quantock Drive , TN24 8UD | - not rated | 2,866 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| Highworth Grammar School Maidstone Road , TN24 8UD | - not rated | 2,866 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollington School Hollington Place , TN24 8UN | - not rated | 2,899 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Spring Grove School 2003 Ltd Harville Road , Wye TN25 5EZ | - not rated | 2,997 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ashford School East Hill , TN24 8PB | - not rated | 3,003 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.