King Ethelbert is a mixed non-selective school of approximately 900 students. In the context of Thanet (Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate), it is one of the most popular non-selective schools each year filled with first-choice students and long waiting lists for each year group. We have a wide range of abilities studying with us including some students who have passed the Kent Test but want to be at their local school where they can be equally successful; such is our reputation. We were last visited by Ofsted in June 2024 and were again rated Good with the school receiving some extremely positive feedback. Particular strengths identified by Ofsted were; the positive relationships between staff and students, the school’s high expectations for pupils’ behaviour and the broad and ambitious curriculum delivered to all pupils.

The school’s outcomes compare favourably with other non-selective schools in Kent on a yearly basis. We are also, however, determined to ensure that we do not compromise the curriculum or the breadth of educational experience that we offer, in order to achieve a positive Progress 8 score. Our students are given as many opportunities as possible and we are a lead school in the country with the Royal Shakespeare Company and also the Turner Contemporary. We believe in preparing young people for their next steps in education or employment through mastering and developing a broad range of employability skills and learning behaviours. These are practised and embedded across the school in a number of ways both through and beyond the curriculum. Our aim is for all KES students to be ambitious for the future, globally diverse and inquisitive learners.

King Ethelbert was one of the first schools in the country to offer the International Baccalaureate Careers-Related Programme in the sixth form because it is the best post-16 educational offer in the world. We are a lead school for the IBCP and support many other schools in Kent, as well as welcome visitors from across the world to see what the IBCP does for our students and how we can share good practice internationally as well as locally.

The commitment to work together lies at the heart of Coastal Academies Trust. The trust began as a federation between King Ethelbert and Dane Court Grammar School in 2009 and these two schools still share a governing body. Over the last few years we have been joined by Cliftonville Primary School, an outstanding school, Hartsdown Academy, Royal Harbour Academy and Newington Primary School As a trust our commitment to all schools is non-negotiable. All students who attend any one of our schools are valued and important and we have a collective responsibility to all. We are committed to making Thanet the centre of excellence for education. The trust is fully invested in the continuous professional development of all its staff. We deliver bespoke leadership training to complement the new, revised NPQ programmes and give hands-on, practical experience and training to our aspiring and existing leaders at all levels.