IN ASSOCIATION WITH
EDUCATION
2026 EDUCATION SPECIAL FEATURE
When it comes to education, Kent continues to stand out for one particularly valuable thing- choice. From village primaries and sprawling academies to faith schools, grammar schools, specialist provision and some of the country’ s bestknown independent names, the county offers families an extraordinarily varied educational landscape.
Kent is home to around 590 state schools, while pupils attending independent schools account for approximately 8 % of the county’ s total school population. Add one of the country’ s most established selective education systems into the mix and parents and carers have a breadth of options that few areas can match.
Academic performance remains an important part of the picture, too. The latest available data shows 63 % of Kent pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2, broadly in line with the national figure, while Kent’ s Attainment 8 score of 46.7
sits above the national average of 46.0 at secondary level. Yet in 2026, understanding what makes a good school is becoming less about just one headline statistic. Ofsted’ s new inspection system has replaced single-word overall judgements with more detailed report cards, grading different areas of school life separately and giving parents a fuller picture of a school’ s strengths and where improvements may be needed.
That feels particularly relevant in a county where no two children- or schools- are quite alike. Kent offers all-ability schools and academies, Church of England and Catholic education, free schools, specialist and SEND provision, independent schools and an extensive grammar system. The Kent Test itself remains a significant part of the secondary-school journey for many families, testing approximately 17,000 children each year.
Of course, education has never been solely about exam results, inspection reports or league tables. A great school is also where children discover what excites them, build confidence and independence, learn how to navigate the wider world and begin to understand who they want to become. It is about brilliant teachers, friendships, opportunities, pastoral support and belonging- and finding the environment in which an individual child can genuinely thrive.
That is why choosing a school can feel like such a huge decision. Do you stay close to home or travel for something special? Grammar or all-ability? State or independent? Big and bustling or small and nurturing? Academic powerhouse, creative hub, sporting specialist- or somewhere offering a little of everything?
Welcome to insideKENT’ s 2026 Education Special Feature. Whether you’ re choosing a primary school, navigating the Kent Test, considering independent education or looking ahead to secondary school, sixth form and beyond, read on as we explore the people, places and possibilities shaping education across the county today.
www. insidekent. co. uk • 193