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OpenSecondaryOfsted: OutstandingURN 144716

School of Science and Technology Maidstone

Free schools · Maidstone · ME14 5GQ

Ages 11–19 · 1,056 pupils · Kent

School website

Ofsted

Outstanding

Overall absence

6.5%

Admissions demand

1.93 · Competitive

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Outstanding

Inspection date

2023-01-24

Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence6.5%
Persistent absence (10%+)16.3%
Unauthorised1.9%
Authorised absence
4.6%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.8%
Enrolments in measure
783

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.93 · Competitive

1st preferences

354

Places offered

183

1st-preference offers

169

Total preferences (any rank)
1,142
Preferred offers (top 3)
183
Applications from outside LA
28
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill88%

1,056 pupils · 1,200 places

Pupils on roll
1,056
Boys / girls
673 / 383
School capacity
1,200
Capacity fill
1,056 / 1,200 (88%)
Free school meals
14%
FSM pupils
134
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Free schools

Age range

Ages 11–19

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: VALLEY INVICTA ACADEMIES TRUST
Academy trust
VALLEY INVICTA ACADEMIES TRUST
Sponsor
Valley Invicta Academies Trust
Headteacher
Mr Ryan Royston

Location

Address
New Cut Road
Postcode
ME14 5GQ
Town
Maidstone
County
Kent
Local authority
Kent
District
Maidstone
Constituency
Faversham and Mid Kent
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed free schools (secondary), Ages 11–19, in Maidstone, Kent, 1,056 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 14%.

Open schools in Maidstone
68
Secondary schools in Maidstone
12
Academies among open schools in Maidstone
32% (22)
Open schools in ME14
14
Secondary in ME14
3
Open schools in Kent LA
713
Secondary in Kent LA
100

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in MaidstoneNear ME14

  • Valley Park School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Maidstone · ME14 5DT · Kent

    Ages 11–18

    • Att839.2
    • P8-0.6
    • EM5+28%
    • Absence8.1%

    0.2 miles away

  • Invicta Grammar School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Maidstone · ME14 5DS · Kent

    Ages 11–18

    • Att871.1
    • P80.8
    • EM5+93%
    • Absence4.4%

    0.4 miles away

  • Maidstone Grammar School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Foundation school · Secondary

    Maidstone · ME15 7BT · Kent

    Ages 11–18

    • Att866.6
    • P80.5
    • EM5+88%
    • Absence5.6%

    0.8 miles away

  • Maidstone Grammar School for Girls

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Foundation school · Secondary

    Maidstone · ME16 0SF · Kent

    Ages 11–18

    • Att866.3
    • P80.6
    • EM5+86%
    • Absence6.0%

    1.5 miles away

  • The Maplesden Noakes School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Maidstone · ME16 0TJ · Kent

    Ages 11–18

    • Att836.7
    • P8-0.6
    • EM5+18%
    • Absence10.1%

    1.6 miles away

  • New Line Learning Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Maidstone · ME15 9QL · Kent

    Ages 11–16

    • Att833.9
    • P8-0.8
    • EM5+22%
    • Absence14.6%

    1.8 miles away

  • St Augustine Academy

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Maidstone · ME16 8AE · Kent

    Ages 11–16

    • Att836.2
    • P8-0.8
    • EM5+27%
    • Absence9.8%

    2.0 miles away

  • Oakwood Park Grammar School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Maidstone · ME16 8AH · Kent

    Ages 11–18

    • Att864.9
    • P80.6
    • EM5+96%
    • Absence5.2%

    2.0 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Ryan Royston
Telephone
01622938444
Website
https://www.sstmaidstone.viat.org.uk/

Official links