SecondaryState · Academy converter

Charles Darwin School

Jail Lane, Biggin Hill, Westerham, Kent, TN16 3AU ·

Ofsted:Good· 2023

At a glance

A state secondary academy for ages 11–18 in Westerham. Rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection (June 2023). GCSE results are below the England average (Attainment 8: 38.9 vs 46.1, 2024/25). 193 families put it first for 234 places (September 2026 entry).

Ages: 11–18
Pupils: 1,305
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: Yes
Admissions: Non-selective
Local authority: Bromley
Academy trust: LUMERO EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Headteacher: Mr Aston Smith
Opened: Apr 2011

School website 01959574043 Explore the area

Inspection

Ofsted (framework in use until November 2025)

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Graded inspection 15 Jun 2023

GoodOverall effectiveness

Quality of education: Good
Behaviour and attitudes: Good
Personal development: Good
Leadership and management: Good
Sixth form: Good

Safeguarding effective: Yes

Inspection reports describe the school on the day. Read the full report and visit the school before deciding.

Exam results

Department for Education performance tables

GCSE results, 2024/25 · 213 pupils

Attainment 8

38.9

England 46.1

Grade 5+ Eng & maths

24.4%

England 45.4%

Grade 4+ Eng & maths

50.7%

England 64.8%

Progress 8

-0.34

2023/24 · CI -0.53 to -0.15

This school

38.9

Bromley

50.4

England

46.1

Attainment 8 over time

Progress 8 isn't published for 2024/25 because those pupils had no KS2 test results (tests were cancelled in 2020). Exams were not held in 2019/20 or 2020/21.

Admissions

Demand for places and how places are allocated

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Year 7 entry, September 2026 (national offer day data)

Offers made

234

1st preferences

193

All applications

485

1st prefs per place

0.82

Fewer first choices than places

182 of 193 first-preference applicants were offered a place (94%). 56 offers went to families living in another council area.

Catchment area

We don't have an official catchment boundary for this school. Many schools don't have one, and few councils publish boundaries as open data. We don't estimate catchments. Check the school's admissions policy or the council's admissions booklet.

Last distance offered

Not published nationally. Many councils publish the furthest distance offered for each school in their annual allocation reports. Past distances vary year to year with demand and sibling numbers, so they are not a guarantee.

How places are allocated: you apply through your home council. When a school has more applicants than places, it applies its published oversubscription criteria in order. These usually start with looked-after children, then siblings, then catchment or distance; faith schools may prioritise church attendance. Children with an EHC plan naming the school are admitted first. Apply on GOV.UK

Pupils

School census 2024/25

Pupils

1,314

Capacity

1,356

96% full

Girls / boys

51/49

Mixed

Eligible for free school meals (last 6 years)24.9%
English as an additional language2.2%
SEN support19.1%
Education, Health and Care plan2.5%
The black tick shows the median for state-funded secondary schools in England.