Largest Schools in Canterbury (2025)

Schools with the most pupils on roll. Ranked by the Success Index (England) from official English data; 40 schools in Canterbury, South East. Rank positions shown on each profile are within England and South East.

1
27
The Canterbury AcademyCanterbury · Academy SecondaryPupils: 1,984
2
94
Simon Langton Girls' Grammar SchoolCanterbury · Local authority SecondaryPupils: 1,258
3
93
Simon Langton Grammar School for BoysCanterbury · Local authority SecondaryPupils: 1,226
4
32
St Anselm's Catholic School, CanterburyCanterbury · Academy SecondaryPupils: 1,116
5
91
Barton Court Grammar SchoolCanterbury · Academy SecondaryPupils: 995
6
21
The King's School CanterburyCanterbury · Independent SecondaryPupils: 985
7
12
The Archbishop's SchoolCanterbury · Local authority SecondaryPupils: 770
8
17
Orion SpiresCanterbury · Academy SecondaryPupils: 620
9
21
Barton Manor SchoolCanterbury · Academy SecondaryPupils: 596
10
28
St Edmund's School CanterburyCanterbury · Independent All-throughPupils: 523
11
24
Kent College (Canterbury)Canterbury · Independent SecondaryPupils: 507
12
89
Blean Primary SchoolCanterbury · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 449
13
52
Wincheap Foundation Primary SchoolCanterbury · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 429
14
20
St Johns Church of England Primary SchoolCanterbury · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 427
15
21
The Canterbury Primary SchoolCanterbury · Academy PrimaryPupils: 421
16
83
Bridge and Patrixbourne Church of England Primary SchoolCanterbury · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 416
17
62
Sturry Church of England Primary SchoolCanterbury · Academy PrimaryPupils: 414
18
10
Pilgrims' Way Primary SchoolCanterbury · Academy PrimaryPupils: 404
19
26
St Stephen's Junior SchoolCanterbury · Academy PrimaryPupils: 400
20
21
Aylesham Primary SchoolCanterbury · Academy PrimaryPupils: 382
21
46
Chartham Primary SchoolCanterbury · Academy PrimaryPupils: 380
22
11
The Worthgate SchoolCanterbury · Independent SecondaryPupils: 270
23
27
St Stephen's Infant SchoolCanterbury · Academy PrimaryPupils: 263
24
83
St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, CanterburyCanterbury · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 210
25
54
Barham Church of England Primary SchoolCANTERBURY · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 210
26
56
St Peter's Methodist Primary SchoolCanterbury · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 208
27
77
Wingham Primary SchoolCanterbury · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 204
28
65
Water Meadows Primary SchoolCanterbury · Academy PrimaryPupils: 188
29
46
Ash Cartwright and Kelsey Church of England Primary SchoolCanterbury · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 183
30
4
Parkside Community Foundation Primary SchoolCanterbury · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 161
31
42
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, AyleshamCanterbury · Academy PrimaryPupils: 140
32
58
Preston Primary SchoolCanterbury · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 129
33
57
Hoath Primary SchoolCanterbury · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 106
34
17
Chislet Church of England Primary SchoolCanterbury · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 104
35
35
Littlebourne Church of England Primary SchoolCanterbury · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 102
36
74
Adisham Church of England Primary SchoolCanterbury · Academy PrimaryPupils: 101
37
64
Petham Primary SchoolCanterbury · Academy PrimaryPupils: 99
38
40
Elham Church of England Primary SchoolCanterbury · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 82
39
17
Chilham, St Mary's Church of England Primary SchoolCanterbury · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 81
40
69
Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary SchoolCanterbury · Local authority PrimaryPupils: 79

#	School	Sector	Pupils	Success Index (England)	Key result	Students
1	The Canterbury Academy Canterbury · Secondary · Ages 11–19	Academy	1,984	26.8 Lower 50%	39.0 Attainment 8	1,984
2	Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School Canterbury · Secondary · Ages 11–18	Local authority	1,258	93.5 Top 5%	67.7 Attainment 8	1,258
3	Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys Canterbury · Secondary · Ages 11–18	Local authority	1,226	93.2 Top 5%	66.8 Attainment 8	1,226
4	St Anselm's Catholic School, Canterbury Canterbury · Secondary · Ages 11–18	Academy	1,116	32.2 Lower 50%	39.4 Attainment 8	1,116
5	Barton Court Grammar School Canterbury · Secondary · Ages 11–18	Academy	995	90.9 Top 10%	66.4 Attainment 8	995
6	The King's School Canterbury Canterbury · Secondary · Ages 13–19	Independent	985	20.8 Lower 50%	17.6 Attainment 8	985
7	The Archbishop's School Canterbury · Secondary · Ages 11–18	Local authority	770	11.6 Lower 50%	35.2 Attainment 8	770
8	Orion Spires Canterbury · Secondary · Ages 11–16	Academy	620	16.9 Lower 50%	36.1 Attainment 8	620
9	Barton Manor School Canterbury · Secondary · Ages 11–19	Academy	596	21.4 Lower 50%	41.6% Free school meals	596
10	St Edmund's School Canterbury Canterbury · All-through · Ages 3–19	Independent	523	27.6 Lower 50%	39.4 Attainment 8	523
11	Kent College (Canterbury) Canterbury · Secondary · Ages 11–19	Independent	507	24.4 Lower 50%	38.1 Attainment 8	507
12	Blean Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 3–11	Local authority	449	89.2 Top 10%	80% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	449
13	Wincheap Foundation Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Local authority	429	52.1 Top 50%	66% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	429
14	St Johns Church of England Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 2–11	Local authority	427	19.9 Lower 50%	38% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	427
15	The Canterbury Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Academy	421	21.1 Lower 50%	51% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	421
16	Bridge and Patrixbourne Church of England Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Local authority	416	82.6 Top 25%	74% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	416
17	Sturry Church of England Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Academy	414	61.8 Top 50%	78% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	414
18	Pilgrims' Way Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 3–11	Academy	404	10.2 Lower 50%	44% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	404
19	St Stephen's Junior School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 7–11	Academy	400	25.5 Lower 50%	44% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	400
20	Aylesham Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Academy	382	21.0 Lower 50%	–	382
21	Chartham Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 5–11	Academy	380	46.3 Lower 50%	63% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	380
22	The Worthgate School Canterbury · Secondary · Ages 13–22	Independent	270	11.4 Lower 50%	1.9 Attainment 8	270
23	St Stephen's Infant School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 5–7	Academy	263	27.4 Lower 50%	–	263
24	St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, Canterbury Canterbury · Primary · Ages 5–11	Local authority	210	82.8 Top 25%	80% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	210
25	Barham Church of England Primary School CANTERBURY · Primary · Ages 4–11	Local authority	210	54.3 Top 50%	58% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	210
26	St Peter's Methodist Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Local authority	208	55.5 Top 50%	63% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	208
27	Wingham Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Local authority	204	77.4 Top 25%	77% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	204
28	Water Meadows Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Academy	188	65.0 Top 50%	71% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	188
29	Ash Cartwright and Kelsey Church of England Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 3–11	Local authority	183	45.5 Lower 50%	54% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	183
30	Parkside Community Foundation Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Local authority	161	3.8 Lower 50%	23% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	161
31	St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Aylesham Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Academy	140	42.1 Lower 50%	71% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	140
32	Preston Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Local authority	129	58.3 Top 50%	63% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	129
33	Hoath Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Local authority	106	56.6 Top 50%	71% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	106
34	Chislet Church of England Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Local authority	104	16.6 Lower 50%	47% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	104
35	Littlebourne Church of England Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Local authority	102	34.8 Lower 50%	47% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	102
36	Adisham Church of England Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Academy	101	73.8 Top 25%	75% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	101
37	Petham Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Academy	99	63.7 Top 50%	67% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	99
38	Elham Church of England Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Local authority	82	39.7 Lower 50%	60% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	82
39	Chilham, St Mary's Church of England Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 4–11	Local authority	81	17.0 Lower 50%	46% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	81
40	Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School Canterbury · Primary · Ages 5–11	Local authority	79	68.7 Top 50%	71% KS2 expected standard (RWM)	79

The Canterbury Academy in Canterbury leads the 2025 list of largest schools in Canterbury with Pupils 1,984. Of the 40 schools shown, 20 are local authority, 16 are academy, 4 are independent.

For the full picture see the wider South East largest schools league table, every school on the Canterbury page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best largest school in Canterbury?

The Canterbury Academy in Canterbury, South East ranks first among largest schools in Canterbury with Pupils 1,984 (Pupils on roll: 1,984).

How are largest schools in Canterbury ranked?

Schools with the most pupils on roll. Only schools eligible for the Success Index (England) are included; the index is shown alongside for context.

Are these 2025 rankings official?

No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official English data (DfE – Get Information About Schools; DfE – Compare school and college performance). Independent schools rarely appear in the performance tables, so most receive no attainment components and no score.