Hadlow Rural Community School
Tonbridge Road, Hadlow, TN11 0AUOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Hadlow Rural Community School is a secondary school in Hadlow for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 692 schools in Kent. It ranks 94th of 99 secondary schools in Kent. Its latest Ofsted rating is Requires improvement, from an inspection in June 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 18 June 2024, report published 17 September 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Requires improvement
- Quality of education
- Requires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Requires improvement
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 18 June 2024
This is a unique school with a land-based curriculum covering agriculture, horticulture and animal care. The school aims to develop pupils' love of learning as well as their ability to be kind, caring, courteous and considerate. There are high expectations for pupils' academic achievement. However, pupils' performance in recent public examinations has been disappointing. In particular, the gap between the performance of disadvantaged pupils and their peers remains too large. Pupils are safe in this school. A well-considered personal, social and health education programme helps pupils to understand how to stay safe and well. However, not all areas of the curriculum are as well planned or implemented. Pupils confirm that they have adults that they can talk to if needed. Bullying is rare and staff deal with any incidents swiftly. Relationships between staff and pupils are respectful. However, there are a small number of lessons where behaviour falls below leaders' high expectations and is not managed consistently. Leaders have thought carefully about enrichment opportunities, including sports, arts and public speaking. Pupils enjoy trips and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. They are proud to take on positions of responsibility, including prefects, sports leaders and anti-bullying ambassadors.
What the school should improve
- The curriculum is not consistently planned and implemented across all subjects. This means that pupils do not build well enough on their prior learning to achieve the success they are capable of. Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is planned and delivered consistently well, so that pupils, particularly the disadvantaged, achieve the standards they are capable of.
- Some pupils who struggle to read are not always sufficiently supported to read confidently and fluently. This means that these pupils have difficulty accessing the learning intended in lessons. Leaders should ensure that support for these pupils is matched to their individual needs, so that pupils' fluency, accuracy and confidence in reading improve.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
69 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
377 pupils on roll, with places for 375
Schools near Hadlow Rural Community School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leigh Academy Hugh Christie | 2 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | Attainment 8: 40.5 |
| Tonbridge School | 3 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 7.8 |
| Hillview School for Girls | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 48.0 |
| Weald of Kent Grammar School | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | Attainment 8: 70.0 |
| Tonbridge Grammar School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 77.2 |
School details
- School type
- Free schools
- Sector
- Free school
- Trust
- HADLOW RURAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL LIMITED
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Paul Boxall
- Phone
- 01732498120
- Address
- Tonbridge Road, Hadlow, TN11 0AU
- Local authority
- Kent
- URN
- 139697
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.