The Beacon Folkestone

The Beacon Folkestone is confirmed to remain an outstanding school, providing exceptional care and support for all pupils, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The staff's deep understanding of each child's individual requirements creates an environment where pupils thrive both academically and personally. The school is highly ambitious for its students, fostering independence and preparing them for life beyond the school premises through a carefully designed curriculum that supports individual learning needs.

Strengths

• Exceptional care and support for pupils with SEND
• Expert staff who know how to engage and motivate all pupils
• Effective curriculum that prepares pupils for life beyond school
• Strong emphasis on promoting independence
• Carefully planned phonics programme to enhance reading skills
• Well-structured personal, social, and health education curriculum
• Excellent support for social, emotional, and mental health needs
• Clear and effective careers program for post-school pathways

In 2024–25 pupils at The Beacon Folkestone attended 91.7% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 27.6% 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, 1.2% of pupils at The Beacon Folkestone 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 The Beacon Folkestone had 7.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 15.0% 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 The Beacon Folkestone had 469 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; speech, language and communication needs; physical disability; 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 The Beacon Folkestone received £26,050 and spent £26,650 for each of its 469 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £531,000 (£1,133 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 Folkestone · Kent local authority: places and applications

The Beacon Folkestone is part of Kent Special Educational Needs Trust (Ksent), which runs 11 schools. The nearest others:

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

What is The Beacon Folkestone's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Beacon Folkestone is Outstanding, from an inspection in July 2024.

When was The Beacon Folkestone last inspected by Ofsted?

The Beacon Folkestone was last inspected in July 2024.

How many pupils does The Beacon Folkestone have?

The Beacon Folkestone has 469 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Beacon Folkestone cover?

The Beacon Folkestone for pupils aged 3 to 19.

What are The Beacon Folkestone's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is The Beacon Folkestone?

The Beacon Folkestone is at Park Farm Road, Folkestone, Kent, CT19 5DN.