Welcome by the CEO
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 secondary Free School, Barton Manor School, since opening in September 2022 with 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 with 47% Pupil Premium. 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 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). 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.
In 2024, the School’s P8 score, was above average, and placed the school in the top 34% in the country. In 2024 and 2025, the School’s A8 score was 1st in Thanet and 1st in East Kent and 14th and 17th respectively in the whole of Kent, when compared to Kent non-selective schools. This demonstrates high sustained performance when compared to the rest of the county and similar schools.
Barton Manor (Free) School, is an 11-18 years non-selective mixed school in the heart of Canterbury with 46% Pupil Premium. The School opened to Year 7 in September 2022 and from September 2026, we will be in our fifth year of opening with students in Y7-11, and will receive our first set of examinations results in the summer of 2027. The School has an excellent reputation in the local community and is very popular and over-subscribed. From September 2026, we will be in our fifth year of opening with students in Y7-11, and will receive our first set of examinations results in the summer of 2027. The school received its first Ofsted inspection in May 2025 and was graded Good overall, with “Outstanding” for Leadership & Management and Personal Development. 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
In July 2026, the DfE approved for BCAT to sponsor the Sandwich Technology School which went into special measures in June 2024. We expect the School to join BCAT on 1 November 2026.
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, trustclerk@bartoncourt.org
Ms K Cardus
CEO
