Welcome by the CEO/Executive Headteacher
Barton Court Academy Trust (BCAT) is a multi-academy Trust which was established in 2017.
We currently consist of 3 very successful secondary schools:
- Barton Court Grammar School
- The Charles Dickens School
- Barton Manor School
Barton Court Grammar School, is an 11-18yrs, mixed selective school in the heart of Canterbury. The School has an excellent reputation in the local community and was recognised by Ofsted, in November 2024 as maintaining the standards identified in February 2020, as a “Good” school with many “Outstanding” features in Leadership & Management, Personal Development and Behaviour & Attitudes. The School has excellent facilities and we opened a new multi-million-pound learning facility housing state of-the-art science laboratories, new canteen facilities and 6 brand new Mathematics classrooms just before the pandemic. The school has been supporting our newly opened secondary Free School, Barton Manor School, with a joint Sixth Form planned in time and many teachers / leaders working across both schools which has enhanced career opportunities for teaching and support staff alike.
The Charles Dickens School, is an 11-16yrs mixed non-selective school in Broadstairs. The school originally placed in in special measures by Ofsted in September 2014, joined BCAT in March 2017, and after a period of support by BCAT Trust the school came out of special measures in June 2019 and was recently rated as “Good” by Ofsted in March 2023. The School has an excellent reputation in the local community and is over subscribed. We have a vision and a determination to provide our community with an excellent school and we are making great strides towards this. Our results in 2022 identified us as the most improved school in Kent (out of 101 secondary schools) and one of the most improved schools in the country, and our results in 2023, 2024 and 2025 are strong and have continued to improve. Schools Week identified us as the 8th most improved school in the country between 2019 and 2023, for school with an above average proportion of Pupil Premium pupils.
Barton Manor (Free) School, is an 11-18 years non-selective mixed school in the heart of Canterbury which opened to Year 7 in September 2022. The School has an excellent reputation in the local community and is very popular and over-subscribed. We are now in our fourth year of opening with students in Y7-10 only, and when full we will have a shared Sixth Form provision with Barton Court Grammar School providing a wide-range of vocational and academic courses. We have a vision and a determination to provide our community with an excellent school and we are making great strides towards this. To work at Barton Manor is to embrace the challenges of an economically-diverse community and understand the influence education has in addressing social immobility. We’re looking for brilliant people to join us on our exciting journey with opportunities for staff to work and teach at both Barton Court and Barton Manor. The School’s brand new amazing state-of-the art design build is a definite “wow factor” along with the facilities on offer to pupils and staff. All rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art electronic interactive whiteboards and all staff across the Trust have their own laptop. There are excellent facilities for sport, hospitality, engineering, dance, drama, music and art. We offer and value a broad curriculum aimed at promoting talent beyond the traditional subjects.
I have been Headteacher of all 3 schools within the Trust and therefore I know the strengths and challenges each school faces. To lead three very different, highly successful schools with an amazing team of Headteachers and dedicated staff is a joy and a privilege. We are stronger when we work together, share ideas and collaborate and our small trust allows us to do that very effectively so all students have access to high quality outstanding educational provision. All staff have access to high quality training and the Trust offers a very supportive environment within which to work where teachers, leaders and support staff are challenged to develop and grow.
We are a small Trust on a very exciting journey, with a talented team of Trustees, Governors, Headteachers, Senior Leadership, teachers and support staff all determined to provide the highest quality of educational provision to all children across the Trust.
We believe schools are stronger when they work together and have a common purpose to provide the highest standards in teaching and pupil outcomes. We promote an individual identity for each of our schools so that they continue to respond to the needs of their pupils, their families and the wider community they serve.
We work together to “improve the life chances” of all our children and young people working together through strong partnerships between staff, students, parents and Trustees/Governors that share our core values of excellence and equity
If you are interested in joining our Trust, or wish to find out more, then please do not hesitate to contact the clerk to Trustees, clerk@bartoncourt.org
Ms K Cardus
CEO/Executive Headteacher
