The Beacon Folkestone
Park Farm Road, Folkestone, CT19 5DN
Age range
3 to 19
Gender
Mixed
Pupils
431
Headteacher
Mr Ady Young
Type
Specialist
Ofsted
Outstanding
Local authority
Kent
Sixth form
Yes
About The Beacon Folkestone
The Beacon Folkestone is a special school in Folkestone for children aged 3 to 19, teaching boys and girls. Around 431 pupils are on roll. It is a maintained school within the Kent local authority area. The school has its own sixth form for post-16 study. The headteacher is Mr Ady Young.
Inspection at a glance
Ofsted rated The Beacon Folkestone Outstanding at its inspection on 6 June 2024. The full inspection report is linked from this page so you can read the inspectors' own words.
How the school is performing
Attendance works out at roughly 91.7% (absence 8.3%) (2024/25). Around 53.1% 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 Beacon Folkestone
The Beacon Folkestone is a special school, so places are arranged through the education, health and care plan process rather than the normal application round. Kent names the school in a child's EHCP after consulting it. 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 Beacon Folkestone is a specialist SEND setting, so every pupil on roll has identified additional needs. Named areas of need it supports include Autism, Speech, language and communication, Moderate learning difficulties, Severe learning difficulties, Profound and multiple learning difficulties, Physical disability. Recorded provision: Specialist school: SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; PD - Physical Disability; MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty. The school's SEN information report is the authoritative source and is linked in the SEND section below.
The Beacon Folkestone contact details and location
The Beacon Folkestone is at Park Farm Road, Folkestone, Kent, CT19 5DN. The school office can be reached on 01303 847 555. A map, directions and the school's own website link are on this page.
Ofsted inspection
Overall effectiveness
Ofsted's most recent visit confirmed the overall rating. It did not re-grade the individual areas.
The Beacon Folkestone admissions and catchment area
No entrance test - you apply on the common application form
The Beacon Folkestone does not run its own entrance test. Places are allocated by Kent County Council using published oversubscription criteria. Oversubscription criteria usually cover looked-after children, siblings, distance from the school, and (for faith schools) faith criteria.
Official links
Dates and criteria change each year - always confirm with the school and Kent County Council. KCC school admissions →
How to apply
1. Apply on the common application form (autumn term before Reception)
Complete the Primary Common Application Form on the Kent County Council website by mid-January - for September 2026 entry the window ran from Friday 7 November 2025 to Thursday 15 January 2026, and offers were emailed on Thursday 16 April 2026.
2. National Offer Day (mid-April)
You'll be told your allocated school by email - for 2026 entry KCC emailed offers on Thursday 16 April 2026 after 4pm, with offers visible online from 5pm.
3. Accept and, if needed, appeal
Accept your place by the given date. If you didn't get your preferred school, you have the right to appeal.
4. In-year admissions
Moving mid-year? Apply directly through Kent County Council's in-year admissions team, or in some cases direct to the school.
Didn't get a place? You can appeal
If The Beacon Folkestone is not offered on National Offer Day, you can appeal the decision. The appeal is heard by an independent panel and is free to submit.
How to appeal a school offerThe Beacon Folkestone results and attendance
KS2 results
A-Level results
Not published
Attendance
Free school meals
SEND support at The Beacon Folkestone
SEND setting
Specialist school
SEND provision
Specialist school: SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; PD - Physical Disability; MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Specialisms
- Autism
- Speech
- language and communication
- Moderate learning difficulties
- Severe learning difficulties
- Profound and multiple learning difficulties
- Physical disability
For full details, visit the school's SEND information page.
Wraparound care and nursery at The Beacon Folkestone
Nursery
No
Breakfast club
Please check with the school
After-school club
Please check with the school
The Beacon Folkestone term dates: Kent standard term dates for 2026/27
These are Kent County Council's standard term dates. Your school may use different dates and INSET days, so check the school's website before making plans.
Autumn 1 · 2026
1 Sep-23 Oct
Autumn 2 · 2026
2 Nov-18 Dec
Spring 1 · 2027
4 Jan-12 Feb
Spring 2 · 2027
22 Feb-25 Mar
Summer 1 · 2027
12 Apr-28 May
Summer 2 · 2027
7 Jun-21 Jul
The Beacon Folkestone: frequently asked questions
How do I apply for a place at The Beacon Folkestone?
Places at The Beacon Folkestone are arranged through the education, health and care plan (EHCP) process. Ask your SEN casework team at Kent to consult the school as part of your child's plan.
What is The Beacon Folkestone's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated The Beacon Folkestone Outstanding at its inspection on 6 June 2024. You can open the full report from the inspection section of this page.
What SEND support does The Beacon Folkestone offer?
The Beacon Folkestone is recorded as a specialist school. Named areas of need include Autism, Speech, language and communication, Moderate learning difficulties, Severe learning difficulties, Profound and multiple learning difficulties, Physical disability. The school's SEN information report has the current detail and is linked in the SEND section of this page.
What are The Beacon Folkestone's term dates and INSET days?
The Beacon Folkestone follows the standard Kent pattern for 2026/27, set out term by term on this page. INSET days are set by the school itself, so confirm them on the school's own calendar.
Where is The Beacon Folkestone and how do I contact the school?
The Beacon Folkestone is at Park Farm Road, Folkestone, Kent, CT19 5DN. The office number is 01303 847 555. A map and directions are on this page.
How big is The Beacon Folkestone and what ages does it take?
The Beacon Folkestone has around 431 pupils on roll and covers ages 3 to 19. It is a mixed school taking boys and girls.
About this information. Compiled from published sources including the Department for Education, Ofsted and the school's own website. Last reviewed Summer 2026.
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Get my profile builtSchools near The Beacon Folkestone
The closest schools to CT19 5DN, measured from each school's own location.
Folkestone · Independent · 0.4 miles
Ferndearle
Dover · Specialist · 5.1 miles
Elms School
Temple Ewell · Independent · 5.9 miles
The Sallygate School
Dover · Specialist · 9.7 miles
Portal House School
Ashford · Specialist · 9.8 miles
Caldecott Foundation School
Deal · Specialist · 11.0 miles
Learning Opportunities Centre Secondary
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