The Canterbury Academy

Based in Canterbury, The Canterbury Academy is a secondary school for children aged 11 to 19 and takes boys and girls. The school currently has about 1984 pupils. On our figures that is above the typical size for a secondary school in Canterbury. It is an academy, so its governing trust sets its own admission arrangements within the national code, and Kent coordinates offers. The school has its own sixth form for post-16 study. The headteacher is Mr Jon Watson.

Inspection at a glance

Ofsted rated The Canterbury Academy Requires Improvement at its inspection on 6 January 2026. The full inspection report is linked from this page so you can read the inspectors' own words.

How the school is performing

At A level the published average grade is C- (2024/25). Attendance works out at roughly 89.1% (absence 10.9%) (2024/25). Around 33.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Figures come from the Department for Education's published school performance data and are shown in full further down this page.

Getting a place at The Canterbury Academy

You apply for a place at The Canterbury Academy on the secondary common application form through Kent, with the national deadline of 31 October. If the school is oversubscribed, places are allocated on its published admissions criteria, which usually give priority to looked-after children, siblings and distance from home to school. There is no separate entrance assessment. Always check the current admissions policy on the school's own website before you apply, because criteria can change year to year.

SEND at a glance

The Canterbury Academy is described in the published data as a mainstream school with resourced provision. Named areas of need it supports include Autism, Speech, language and communication, Hearing impairment. Recorded provision: Resourced provision: resourced provision capacity 62; HI - Hearing Impairment; SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The school's SEN information report is the authoritative source and is linked in the SEND section below.

The Canterbury Academy contact details and location

The Canterbury Academy is at Knight Avenue, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 8QA. The school office can be reached on 01227 463971. A map, directions and the school's own website link are on this page.