St Anthony's School

St Anthony’s School is performing well overall, successfully maintaining the effective standards noted in its previous inspection. The school provides a supportive environment where pupils, many with special educational needs, can thrive academically and personally. Staff have cultivated positive relationships with pupils, promoting engagement and a sense of safety. The well-designed curriculum aids pupils in acquiring essential skills and knowledge, preparing them for their future pathways in education and employment. Despite these strengths, the school faces challenges, particularly concerning pupil attendance, which remains low.

Strengths

• Strong relationships between staff and pupils foster a supportive environment.
• A bespoke curriculum tailored to meet the diverse needs of pupils.
• Effective pastoral support that addresses students' emotional and behavioral needs.
• High-quality careers education and guidance for further education and employment.
• Engaging and well-planned extracurricular activities enhancing pupil experience.

Areas for Improvement

• Some lesson activities lack ambition and do not deepen understanding.
• Pupil attendance is low, with high rates of persistent absence.

In 2024–25 pupils at St Anthony's School attended 75.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 61.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 41.7% of pupils at St Anthony's School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 St Anthony's School had 5.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 9.1% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 St Anthony's School had 110 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: moderate learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; autistic spectrum disorder.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 St Anthony's School received £29,212 and spent £29,199 for each of its 110 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £247,000 (£2,245 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Margate · Kent local authority: places and applications

St Anthony's School is part of Kent Special Educational Needs Trust (Ksent), which runs 11 schools. The nearest others:

• Stone Bay School Broadstairs
• Foreland Fields School Ramsgate
• Laleham Gap School Ramsgate
• The Orchard School Canterbury
• Elms School Dover
• The Beacon Folkestone Folkestone
• Five Acre Wood School Maidstone
• Ifield School Gravesend
• Nexus Foundation Special School Tonbridge
• Broomhill Bank School Tunbridge Wells

What is St Anthony's School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Anthony's School is Good, from an inspection in June 2025.

When was St Anthony's School last inspected by Ofsted?

St Anthony's School was last inspected in June 2025.

How many pupils does St Anthony's School have?

St Anthony's School has 110 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Anthony's School cover?

St Anthony's School for pupils aged 7 to 16.

What are St Anthony's School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St Anthony's School?

St Anthony's School is at St Anthony's Way, Margate, Kent, CT9 3RA.