The Norton Knatchbull School
Academy converter secondary school in Ashford (Kent).
Attainment 8
64.2
▲ 18.0 England 2025/26 provisional: 46.2
2025/26 provisional
English & maths 5+
82.7%
▲ 36pp England 2025/26 provisional: 46.3%
2025/26 provisional
Attendance rate
96.0%
▲ 4pp England 2024/25: 91.6%
2024/25 academic year
Pupil : Teacher
18.7
▲ 2.0 England 2025/26: 16.7
2025/26
Eligible for free school meals
7.7%
▼ 20pp England 2025/26: 27.3%
school census 15/01/2026
Teacher turnover
8.4%
▼ 6pp England 2024/25: 14.2% (secondary schools)
2024/25
Capacity
102%
1,348 / 1,316 pupils
register figure (GIAS)
Ofsted
Good
last graded, 2023
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
The Norton Knatchbull School has proudly served the local community of Ashford in Kent since the 17th century. We combine traditional values with a forward-looking and vibrant learning environment where young people are nurtured to become considerate, confident and well-rounded individuals. Our History Norton Knatchbull has a long and storied history, tracing back to the 1600s.
Learn more about it here. At NKS, we offer a rich curriculum underpinned by academic rigour and breadth.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Key facts
- URN
- 138019
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Boys
- Admissions
- Selective
- Sixth form
- Has a sixth form
- Nursery
- No Nursery Classes
- Local authority
- Kent
- Constituency
- Ashford
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 2012
Governing body (31 current, 7 former)
iAcademy trust: local governing body and trust board.25 governors are linked to a profile (all confirmed).
Governors marked “Confirmed same person” have exactly the same forename and surname as the only officer of that name at the school’s own academy trust company on the Companies House register, so we treat them as the same person. The governance record itself comes from DfE.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Jamie MacLean Confirmed same person | Accounting OfficerTrust officer | since 2026 | |
| Mr Jamie MacLean Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2026 |
| Mrs Jane Burnett Confirmed same person | MemberTrust members | Appointed by academy members | since 2026 |
| Mr Johnny Holland Confirmed same person | MemberTrust members | Appointed by academy members | since 2026 |
| Dr Marianne Highwood Confirmed same person | MemberTrust members | Any additional members appointed by the members of the academy trust | since 2026 |
| Dr Marianne Highwood Confirmed same person | Chair of TrusteesTrust board | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Dr Stephen Miller Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mr Gregory Steel Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Ms Eleuthera du Breuil Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Ex-officio foundation governor (appointed by foundation by virtue of the office they hold) | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Rt Hon Michael-John Knatchbull | MemberTrust members | Appointed by academy members | since 2026 |
| Mrs Anna lawrence Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Ivana Scott Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Elected by parents | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Monna Hussain Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Elected by parents | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mr David Gordon-Young Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by trustees | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mr Huw Gronow Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Janette Makin Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Elected by school staff | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mr Matthew Dickenson Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Elected by school staff | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mr Andrew Judd Confirmed same person | MemberTrust members | Appointed by academy members | since 2024 |
| Mr James Dearden Confirmed same person | MemberTrust members | Appointed by academy members | since 2024 |
| Miss Joyti Patel | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Ms Daisy Maud Chao | MemberTrust members | Appointed by academy members | since 2023 |
| Mrs Val Martin | Chief Financial OfficerTrust officer | since 2023 | |
| Mr James Dearden Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Ms Salena Hirons Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Elected by parents | since 2022 · until 2026 ends 2026 |
| Mrs Charlotte Jane Ransome Burke Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Elected by parents | since 2022 · until 2026 ends 2026 |
| Mr Thomas William Saville Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by GB/board | since 2022 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mr David Race Confirmed same person | MemberTrust members | Appointed by academy members | since 2021 |
| Mr Simon Hallam Confirmed same person | MemberTrust members | Any additional members appointed by the members of the academy trust | since 2021 |
| Dr Marianne Highwood Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by GB/board | since 2019 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mr Richard Fraser Confirmed same person | MemberTrust members | Appointed by academy members | since 2019 |
| Mrs Jane Burnett Confirmed same person Former | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr Alex Evans-Addy Confirmed same person Former | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · term ended 2026 |
| Mrs Jane Burnett Confirmed same person Former | Chair of TrusteesTrust board | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr Philip Sibbald Confirmed same person Former | TrusteeTrust board | Ex-officio foundation governor (appointed by foundation by virtue of the office they hold) | since 2022 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr Ben Greene Confirmed same person Former | TrusteeTrust board | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2019 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr Johnny Holland Confirmed same person Former | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by GB/board | since 2014 · term ended 2026 |
| Rt Hon Michael-John Knatchbull Former | TrusteeTrust board | Ex-officio foundation governor (appointed by foundation by virtue of the office they hold) | since 2000 · term ended 2026 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Lena Elisabeth Wassard Seed | Governance Professional - Single-Academy Trust (SAT)Governance professional | since 2019 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 25 October 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record