Displaying items by tag: primary school
Primary School OFSTEDs in Kent and Medway since January: Better news overall, but still some black spots
Kent Primary schools have continued to produce a very high pattern of OFSTED outcomes above the national averages since my previous report in February, with 3 more schools ‘Outstanding’, and 12 Assessed ‘Good’ out of the 19 schools inspected, with none failing. Even more pleasing for the families concerned, 10 of these have improved their rating, as against just 4 declining. The three ‘Outstanding’ schools are: Chiddingstone, Sevenoaks; St Martin’s CofE, Folkestone; and Wickhambreux CofE, Canterbury.
Special mention to St Martin’s, together with Kemsley Primary Academy in Sittingbourne and St Francis Catholic in Maidstone, which have each leapt two categories, Kemsley and St Francis (see below) up from Special Measures to ‘Good.’
In Medway, things also look much better with its first two ‘Outstanding’ schools for two years out of the eight assessed - The Pilgrim Primary in Borstal, and Cliffe Woods Primary, an Academy so independent of Medway Council, both up from "Good" on their previous assessment. The other six were all assessed as ‘Good’ and, although one has slipped from Outstanding, two others have improved, so overall some improvement on previous results.
At the foot of this article, is a table of the relevant data for both Authorities in 2014/15, compared with the most recent national figures, and you can compare them with 2013/14 via the link here.
Whilst not a primary school, I am also happy to congratulate here Five Acre Wood Special School, Maidstone, on its recent Outstanding OFSTED Report, joining seven other Outstanding Kent Special Schools out of a total of 20, eleven of the others being graded 'Good'.......
Primary School Admission Decisions- more good news - and then there is Bishops Down
Parents of Kent primary aged children looking to enter school in September, or transfer from Infant to Junior schools have now received a letter informing them of the allocated school. All families who have not been offered their first choice school have also been told how to apply for waiting lists or submit an appeal.
The figures below show the outcome of a major planning operation by KCC following last year's primary school places crisis, producing the best figures for three years.At the time of writing, I am not aware of any local difficulties.
The headline is: the highest number and proportion of children being offered their first choice for three years; and the lowest number and proportion being allocated a place by Kent County Council after being offered no school of their choice - a fall of 20% over 2012. These very good figures are in spite of a steady rise in the number of primary aged children coming through the system. However there are still 661 children without a school of their choice. Kent and Medway parents who wish to seek my advice may like to consider using my Telephone Consultation to discuss options, so feel free to send me details of your situation and I will let you know if I have practical advice to offer. You will see from my Primary Appeals Information page, that sadly, for most schools chances of success at appeal are very unlikely.
Celebration for Kent Primary Schools: Kent on Sunday 24 Feb 2013
Article produced for Kent on Sunday: 24 February 2013, reproduced here (there are two items by me in this edition).
As this is the first article in a series, and I have tended to highlight the negative features of the education service in the past, I thought it would be appropriate to applaud a major achievement by teachers in Kent’s primary schools.
I have in the past been highly critical of the schools’ performance as measured by both OFSTED and Key Stage Two results at the end of children’s time in primary school, but recent statistics show a dramatic improvement in Kent’s OFSTED standard.
This follows a new strategy for improvement prepared by KCC last year, and I have now measured the change by comparing OFSTED Reports recorded since September with those of previous years. For the two and a half years until July 2012, there were 278 OFSTED Reports for Kent primary schools, of which just 41% were ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’, the majority being ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Inadequate’ (making up the four possible grades), with an unacceptable 36 schools failing their inspection. Contrast this with the more recent performance by 51 schools, achieving 63% ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’, an improvement of over half again on the previous figure.
This would have been even better were it not for the continuing dire performance of Maidstone’s schools, which have a record of being the worst performing district since I started keeping records, every one of the six schools being inspected since September graded ‘Requires Improvement’ the replacement grade for ‘Satisfactory’, not one of which improved its performance from the previous inspection.
Of the schools elsewhere in Kent, there is a massive improvement on each school’s previous inspection result, with 30 schools upping their rating and just four declining. Of course this has all been done at a cost, and the number of Kent primary headteachers leaving their posts mid-year appears anecdotally to be higher than last year.
This improvement could be partially down to the new OFSTED grading system being more generous than its predecessor, and we don’t yet have national statistics to compare but, given the uncompromising attitude of the Chief OFSTED Inspector, this would appear hardly likely. Instead, I believe it is because of a new positive attitude and higher expectations in Kent, which is bringing results. Congratulations to all concerned, but do spare a thought for the casualties, often school leaders who have given their very best for their schools, but have not been able to deliver for whatever reason.
For comparison, I also looked at the Medway figures. With just 12 schools inspected, this is a less reliable measure, but even here, there is a distinct upward movement, with 50% ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’, up from 34%. However, two schools failed the OFSTED since September, the same as in Kent, but with a quarter of the numbers. On the other hand, St Nicholas CofE Infant School in Strood deserves special mention, as the only Medway primary school to be awarded an ‘Outstanding’ OFSTED in four years, out of a total of 71 inspections. Kent has 20 in the same period, including Cobham Primary school and Sheldwich Primary school who achieved the same accolade since September. You will find a summary of each school’s OFSTED inspection result, together with further information on some individual schools, on my website, at www.kentadvice.co.uk.
Congratulations to Kent primary schools
I have in the past been highly critical of Kent primary schools performance as measured by both OFSTED and Key Stage Two results at the end of children’s time in primary school, but recent statistics show a dramatic improvement in Kent’s primary OFSTED standards.
This follows a new strategy for improvement prepared by KCC last year, and I have now measured the change by comparing OFSTED Reports recorded since September with those of previous years. For the three years until July 2012, there were 278 OFSTED Reports for Kent primary schools, of which just 41% were ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’, the majority being ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Inadequate’ (making up the four possible grades), with an unacceptable 36 schools failing their inspection. Contrast this with the more recent performance by 51 schools, achieving 63% ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’, an improvement of over half again on the previous figure. You will find a record of every Kent primary school OFSTED for the past four years here, with Medway here, along with further information on some schools.
This would have been even better were it not for the continuing dire performance of Maidstone’s primary schools, which have a record of being the worst performing district since I started keeping records,......
KCC hands over low performing schools to Academy Trusts
(UPDATED: 12 September)
Kent on Sunday published an abbreviated version of a prepared article last Sunday, on KCC's handing over of low performing primary schools to academy trusts; the full article being reproduced here.
What follows is an update and amplification of that article, carried out as time permits.
Kent County Council is quietly resolving the problem of low performing primary schools by handing them over to sponsors, mainly large academy trusts, in a dramatic change to the face of Kent education. Interestingly, in Kent on Sunday this week, in a comment on this article, a spokeswoman for KCC is reported as saying "school governors, through discussion with the Department for Education and KCC, make their own decisions to become an academy". Rubbish, as many governing bodies can testify. Government has made clear that low performing schools are required to become academies (no freedom for governor choice there, as made public by the case of Downhills Primary in London and many others); governors report that KCC has put pressure on them to convert; some headteachers who have resisted conversion have "left" their schools; some governing bodies have been removed - in any case conversion sees new governors appointed, sometimes with members who have nothing to do with the local community, usually with a reduction in the number of parent governors, sometimes to as few as one. All this too often without the knowledge of parents who have no right of consultation over the change.
A classic example is Dame Janet Community Infant School in Ramsgate, placed in Special Measures by OFSTED in January. A recent follow up OFSTED inspection is highly critical describing progress as inadequate. KCC ought to have.....
Primary School Admissions, 2012 pressures on places
I now have detailed information on Kent and Medway primary school admission offers for September 2012. On the surface, all looks well with a healthy 95% of children in Kent being offered one of their three choices, similar to last year. However, with rising rolls the number of children being allocated a school they hadn’t chosen has risen from 564 to 818 in two years, a worrying rise of 45%.
You will find more general information in a separate article below. I have started to provide more detailed information on difficult areas, via the links below.
Analysis of the figures shows a sharp contrast between most of West Kent and most of East Kent and between urban and rural areas. Maidstone town is the most difficult area, with over 100 children allocated to schools they did not apply for (you will find an earlier article on part of the problem here) and NO places free in any school in the town. Other problem areas include:........
Pressure on Kent Primary Reception Class Places
Medway Primary Schools
Updated May 2019
Entries on this page include the OFSTED Grade for each Primary School updated twice a year, also recording change from previous Inspection result, together with some other relevant information below. It is worth using the search engine on the Home Page to pick up other references to individual schools.
You will find advice on Primary school Admissions and Appeals here.
You can read the full Report on each Primary School at OFSTED. Each school is awarded a main Grade: Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement (previously Satisfactory), and Inadequate (two sub categories - A school that has serious weaknesses is inadequate overall and requires significant improvement but leadership and management are judged to be Grade 3 or better - A school that requires special measures is one where the school is failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education and the school’s leaders, managers or governors have not demonstrated that they have the capacity to secure the necessary improvement in the school). Each Report carries a brief description of the school before justifying its decision in more detail. If a school is in Special Measures or Serious Weaknesses, the results of further monitoring visits are noted.
A majority of the schools that have previously had a 'Good' or 'Outstanding' assessment are given a Short Inspection (known as Section 8). These are indicated by 'Good (S). These will be confirmed in their assessment grade. However for some of these schools, the Inspection Team may consider that there are concerns, or in the case of a Good school, grounds for raising the Grade and this can only be done by a full Section Five Grade. These are recorded for example as 'Outstanding (SC) or 'Good (SR).
You will find an analysis of oversubscription and vacancies for Medway Primary Places for September 2020 Admissions here, 2019 Admissions here, 2018 Admissions here, for 2017 here, and for 2016 here. These each contain considerable additional material on many of the Medway primary schools.
Reports on Inspections between between September 2019 and April 2020 are in the first table, followed by other tables containing older ones. With all schools closed by Coronavirus after Friday 20th March, any inspections not published by that date will be held over until the re-opening. Whether there are any further school inspections this school year, will be up to government, but I consider it unlikely, as even if they do it will be on a very different basis to normal.
(A) Indicates the school is an Academy (2017 onwards)
MEDWAY PRIMARY SCHOOL OFSTED REPORTS
Sep 2019 - Apr 2020
|
|||
School | OFSTED Grade | Date | Change |
CHATHAM | |||
All Faiths Children's Academy (A) | Good | Jan 20 | Up one |
Kingfisher (A) | Good | Sep 2019 | Up one |
Phoenix Junior (A) | Requires Improvement | Dec 19 | Down One |
St Michael's RC | Good (S) | Nov 19 | No change |
GILLINGHAM |
|||
Napier (A) | Good | Dec 19 | Up one |
Saxon Way (A) | Good | Jan 20 | No change |
Woodlands (A) | Good | Dec 19 | No change |
HOO | |||
Stoke (A) | Good | Jan 20 | Up one |
RAINHAM | |||
Riverside (A) | Good | Nov 19 | No change |
St Margaret's Infant | Good (S) | Feb 20 | No change |
Thames View (A) | Good (S) | Jan 20 | No change |
ROCHESTER | |||
Crest Infant | Good | Feb 20 | No change |
Warren Wood | Good | Oct 19 | Up one |
STROOD | |||
No Inspections in this period |
MEDWAY PRIMARY SCHOOL OFSTED REPORTS
Sep 2018 - Jul 2019
|
|||
School | OFSTED Grade | Date | Change |
CHATHAM | |||
All Saints CofE | Good (S) | Jul 19 | No change |
Luton Infant | Requires Improvement | Oct 18 | No change |
St Benedict's Catholic | Good (S) | May 19 | No change |
Swingate (A) | Good (S) | Nov 18 | No change |
Walderslade (A) | Good (S) | Nov 18 | No change |
Wayfield (A) | Good | May 19 | Up two |
GILLINGHAM |
|||
Balfour Junior (A) | Good (S) | Dec 18 | No change |
Brompton-Westbrook (A) | Good (S) | Jan 19 | No change |
Byron (A) | Requires Improvement | Sep 18 | Up one |
Deanwood (A) | Good (S) | Nov 18 | No change |
Fairview | Good (S | Apr 19 | No change |
Hempsted Infant | Good | Sep 18 | Up one |
Lordswood (A) | Good | Jan 19 | Up one |
Twydall (A) |
Effective Action After
Serious Weaknesses
|
Mar 19 | |
HOO | |||
Allhallows (A) | Good | Jun 2019 | No change |
Hoo St Werbergh (A) | Good (S) | Sep 18 | No change |
St Helen's CofE | Good (S) | Jun 19 | No change |
RAINHAM | |||
Parkwood Infant | Good (S) | Feb 19 | No change |
ROCHESTER | |||
Balfour Infant | Good (S) | Jun 19 | No change |
Balfour Junior (A) | Good (S) | Jan 19 | No change |
Chattenden (A) | Good (S) | Nov 18 | No change |
St Peter's Infant | Good | Dec 18 | No change |
STROOD | |||
Cedar Children's(A) | Good | Jun 2019 | Up one |
Temple Mill (A) | Good | Oct 18 | Up two |
MEDWAY
PRIMARY SCHOOL OFSTED REPORTS 2017-18
|
|||
School | OFSTED Grade | Date | Change |
CHATHAM | |||
All Saints CofE (A) | Good | Jun 18 | No change |
Horsted Junior | Good | Mar 18 | No change |
Luton Junior | Outstanding | Sep 17 | Up one |
Oaklands | Good | Feb 18 | Up one |
St John's CofE Infant (A) | Good | Jun 18 | No change |
St Mary's Island CofE (Aided) | Good | Mar 18 | No change |
GILLINGHAM |
|||
Burnt Oak | Requires Improvement | Jun 18 | Down One |
Hempstead Junior | Good | Jun 18 | No change |
Napier Community (A) | Requires Improvement | Oct 17 |
No change |
St Mary's Catholic | Good | Oct 17 | No change |
Twydall (A) | Serious Weaknesses | Jul 18 | No change |
HOO | |||
High Halstow (A) | Good | Jan 18 | No change |
St James CofE Primary (A) | Good | Jan 18 | No change |
Stoke Community (A) | Requires Improvement | Sep 17 | No change |
RAINHAM | |||
St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic (A) | Good | Jun 18 | No change |
St Margaret's CofE Junior (A) | Good | Jul 18 | No change |
St Thomas of Canterbury RC | Good | Jan 18 | No change |
ROCHESTER | |||
St William of Perth (A) | Good | May 18 | No change |
STROOD | |||
All Faith's Children's Community (A) | Requires Improvement | Nov 17 | Down One |
English Martys Catholic | Good | Feb 18 | No change |
MEDWAY
PRIMARY SCHOOL OFSTED REPORTS 2016-17
|
|||
School | OFSTED Grade | Date | Change |
CHATHAM | |||
Kingfisher Community | Requires Improvement | Jul 17 | No change |
Requires Improvement
|
Oct 16
|
No change | |
New Horizons Children's Academy | Good | May 17 | First inspection |
New Road Primary | Good | Jun 17 | Up one |
GILLINGHAM |
|||
Inadequate |
Mar 17
|
Down one
|
|
|
|
|
|
HOO | |||
Outstanding
|
Sept 16
|
No change
|
|
|
|
|
|
RAINHAM | |||
Park Wood Junior | Good |
Mar 17
|
No change
|
|
|
|
|
ROCHESTER | |||
Delce Junior | Requires Improvement | Mar 2017 | Down one |
Good
|
Feb 17
|
Up two
|
|
Good | Feb 17 | No change | |
Cuxton Community Infant | Good | Feb 17 | No change |
Cuxton Community Junior | Good | Jul 17 | Up two |
Warren Wood Primary Academy | Requires Improvement | Jun 17 | Up one |
Wainscott Primary | Good | Jun 17 | Up one |
STROOD | |||
No schools inspected |
|
|
|
MEDWAY PRIMARY OFSTED 2015-16 | |||
School | OFSTED Grade | Date | Change |
CHATHAM | |||
Balfour Infants | Good | Nov 15 | No Change |
Balfour Juniors | Good | Oct 15 | No Change |
Horsted Infant | Outstanding | Jun 16 | Up one |
Luton Infant | Requires Improvement | May 16 | No change |
Oaklands | Requires Improvement | Jan 16 | No change |
Phoenix Junior Academy | Good | May 16 | No change |
St Michael's RC | Good | Jan 16 | Up one |
Wayfield Primary (A) | Special Measures | May 16 | Down two |
GILLINGHAM |
|||
Barnsole | Outstanding | Mar 16 | Up two |
Hempstead Infant | Requires Improvement | May 16 | No change |
Hempstead Junior** | Section 8 Emergency Inspection | Jan 16 | |
Oasis Skinner Street (A)* | Effective Action to Remove SM | Dec 15 | |
Effective Action to Remove SM | Mar 16 | ||
Good | Jun 16 | Up two | |
Saxon Way Primary (A) | Good | Jun 16 | Up two |
Woodlands Academy | Good | Jan 16 | No change |
HOO | |||
Hoo St Werburgh | Good | Jan 16 | Up one |
St Helen's CofE, Cliffe | Good | Nov 15 | Up One |
RAINHAM | |||
St Margaret's Infants | Good | Mar 16 | No change |
ROCHESTER | |||
Delce Infant | Good | Jun 16 | Up one |
Hilltop, Frindsbury | Good | Feb 16 | Up one |
STROOD | |||
Elaine Primary Academy | Requires Improvement | Jun 16 | No change |
Temple Mill | Effective Action to Remove SM |
Sep 15 | |
* Oasis Skinner Street, see article here.
Hempstead Junior** See articles here,
MEDWAY PRIMARY OFSTEDS 2014-15 | |||
School | OFSTED Grade | Date | Change |
CHATHAM | |||
Greenvale Infants | Reasonable progress to removal of SW | Nov 14 | |
Requires Improvement | May 15 | Up one | |
Kingfisher (A) | Requires Improvement | Jun 15 | Up one |
New Road | Requires Improvement | Jun 15 | No change |
St John's CofE Infant | Good | Mar 15 | Up one |
St Benedict's RC |
Good | Jul 15 | No change |
Swingate |
Good | Nov 14 | Down one |
GILLINGHAM |
|||
Brompton-Westbrook (A) | Good | Feb 15 | No change |
Burnt Oak | Good | Mar 15 | Up one |
Byron** |
Reasonable progress to removal of SM | Feb 15 | |
Insufficient Progress to removal of SM | May 15 | ||
Fairview Community | Good | Jun 15 | Up one |
Featherby Junior | Requires Improvement | Jan 15 | No change |
Miers Court | Good | Mar 15 | No change |
Oasis Skinner Street (A)* | Special Measures | May 15 | Down one |
Park Wood Infant | Good | Mar 15 | No change |
Rivermead | Good | Sep 14 | No change |
Thamesview | Good | Jun 15 | Up one |
Twydall** |
School not enough progress to removal of SM.
School improvement plan remains unfit for purpose.
|
Oct 14 | |
Reasonable progress to Removal of SM | Jan 15 | ||
Reasonable progress to Removal of SM | Mar 15 | ||
Reasonable Progress to removal of SM | May 15 | ||
Walderslade | Good | May 15 | Up one |
HOO | |||
All Hallows (A) | Good | Jun 15 | Up two |
Cliffe Woods (A) | Outstanding | Mar 15 | |
RAINHAM | |||
ROCHESTER | |||
Bligh Infants | Outstanding | Jul 15 | Up one |
Chattenden | Good | Nov 14 | No change |
Pilgrim | Outstanding | Mar 15 | Up one |
St Peter's Infants | Good | Dec 14 | No change |
Temple Mill**** |
Special Measures | Oct 14 | Down one |
LA Statement of Action fit for purpose
School Action Plan not fit for purpose
|
Jan 15 | ||
Insufficient Progress to Remove SM | Apr 15 | ||
STROOD | |||
Cedar | Requires Improvement | Jun 15 | No change |
Wainscott | Good | Mar 15 | Down one |
* Oasis Skinner Street, see article here.
**Byron, see article here.
*** Twydall, most recent article here.
**** Temple Mill, most recent mention here.
MEDWAY PRIMARY OFSTEDS 2013-14 | |||
School | OFSTED Grade | Date | Change |
CHATHAM | |||
Balfour Junior | Requires Improvement | Sep 13 | Down One |
Greenvale Infants | Serious Weaknesses | Jan 14 | Down two |
Good progress since SW | July 14 | ||
Horsted Junior | Good | Apr 14 | Up one |
Luton Infant | Requires Improvement | Mar 14 | Down one |
Oaklands | Requires Improvement | Oct 13 | No Change |
St Mary's Island CofE (Aided) | Reasonable progress following SM | Nov 13 | |
Good | Mar 14 | Up two | |
St Michael's RC | Requires Improvement | Oct 13 | No change |
Walderslade | Insufficient Progress following RI | Sep 13 | |
GILLINGHAM | |||
Barnsole | Requires Improvement | Dec 13 | Down one |
Byron | Special Measures | Jan 14 | Down two |
local authority statement of action is fit for purpose. |
May 14 | ||
Featherby Infant | Good | Feb 14 | No change |
Hempstead Junior | Good | Oct 13 | No change |
Hempstead Infant | Requires Improvement | Feb 14 | Down one |
Napier Community |
failure to make required improvements
from previous OFSTED (see below)
|
Oct 13 | |
repeated failure to make required improvements | Jan 14 | ||
Twydall Primary (see below) | Special Measures | Mar 14 | Down two |
LA Statement of Action fit for purpose following SM
School Action Plan not fit for purpose
|
Jun 14 | ||
|
|||
HOO | |||
High Halstow | Good | Jul 14 | Up one |
Hoo St Werburgh | Requires Improvement | Oct 13 | No change |
St Helen's CofE | Requires Improvement | Oct 13 | No change |
St James' CofE Primary Academy | Good | May 14 | Up two |
RAINHAM | |||
St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic | Good | Nov 13 | No change |
St Margaret's CofE VC | Good | Dec 13 | No change |
ROCHESTER | |||
Cuxton Junior
|
Special Measures | Oct 13 | Down one |
Local Authority Statement of Action not fit for purpose
School Improvement Plan not fit for purpose
|
Dec 13 | ||
Local Authority Statement of Action not fit for purpose
School Improvement Plan not fit for purpose
|
Mar 14 | ||
Reasonable Progress in removing SM | Jul 14 | ||
Hilltop | Requires Improvement | Nov 13 | Down one |
St Margaret's at Troy Town CofE | Good | Sep 13 | Up one |
St William of Perth RC | Good | Mar 14 | Up one |
Warren Wood Community | Special Measures | Dec 13 | Down one |
local authority statement of action fit for purpose. |
Apr 14 |
||
STROOD | |||
Elaine Primary Academy | Requires Improvement | May 14 | No change |
English Martyr's Catholic | Good | Nov 13 | No change |
Gordon Infant Good | Good | Dec 13 | No change |
Gordon Junior | Reasonable prog in Removing SW | Nov 13 | |
You will find my views on Medway Council's oversight of its primary schools and their poor performance at OFSTED here.
MEDWAY PRIMARY OFSTEDS 2012-13 | |||
School | OFSTED Grade | Date | Change |
CHATHAM | |||
Kingfisher
(see below)
|
Special Measures | Mar 13 | Down one |
Satisfactory progress from SM | Jun 13 | ||
Luton Junior | Good | Jan 13 | Up one |
Maundene | Good | Sep 12 | No change |
New Road | Satisfactory progress from SM | Sep 12 | |
Good progress from SM | Jan 13 | ||
Requires Improvement | Jun 13 | Up one | |
St John's CofE VC Infant | Requires Improvement | Mar 13 | No change |
St Mary's Island | Special Measures | Nov 12 | Down one |
Satisfactory progress from SM | May 13 | ||
St Thomas More Catholic | Outstanding | Feb 13 | Up one |
Wayfield Community |
Good | Jan 13 | Up one |
Walderslade | Requires Improvement | Jun 13 | No change |
GILLINGHAM |
|||
Barnsole
|
Monitoring Insp: Not enough progress
|
Feb 13
|
|
Brompton-Westbrook
|
Good
|
Nov 12
|
Up one
|
Burnt Oak | Requires Improvement | Feb 13 | No change |
Deanwood | Good | Sep 12 | Up one |
Fairview Community | Requires Improvement | Jun 13 | Down one |
Featherby Junior | Requires Improvement | Mar 13 | No change |
Napier Community | Requires Improvement | Jun 13 | No change |
Riverside | Good | Nov 12 | Up one |
Saxon Way
(see below)
|
Satisfactory progress from SM
|
Dec 12
|
|
Satisfactory progress from SM | Mar 13 | ||
Not enough progress from SM | Jun 13 | ||
Skinner Street | Requires Improvement | Feb 13 | No change |
St Mary's Catholic | Good | Jan 13 | No change |
St Thomas of Canterbury | Good | Mar 13 | No change |
Twydall | Good | Oct 12 | 1st inspection Academy |
HOO | |||
All Hallows
(see below)
|
Special Measures | Mar 13 | Down one |
Satisfactory progress from SM | Jun 13 | ||
High Halstow | Requires Improvement | Oct 12 | 1st Inspection Academy |
Stoke Community | Requires Improvement | Jun 13 | No change |
RAINHAM | |||
Park Wood Junior | Good | Jan 13 | Good |
Thames View | Requires Improvement | Jun 13 | No change |
Walderslade | Requires Improvement | Jun 13 | No change |
ROCHESTER | |||
Bligh Junior | Good | Feb 13 | Up one |
Halling | Satisf progr from NtoI | Oct 12 | |
Requires Improvement | May 13 | Up one | |
St William of Perth RC | Requires Improvement | Nov 12 | No change |
STROOD | |||
All Faith's Children's Community | Good | Jun 13 | No change |
Gordon Junior | Serious Weaknesses | Jan 13 | Down one |
Satisfactory progress from SW | Jun 13 | ||
St Nicholas CofE Infant | Outstanding | Jan 13 | Up one |
Sherwin Knight Infant | Requires Improvement | Dec 12 | No change |
Sherwin Knight Junior | Serious Weaknesses | Nov 12 | Down One |
Reasonable progress to remove SW | May 13 (see note below) | ||
Temple Mill | Requires Improvement | Feb 13 | No change |
Sherwin Knight Junior School is about to close and be absorbed into the Infant School which is extending its age range. Medway Council was criticised in the latest OFSTED Inspection for not monitoring or challenging the school sufficiently through a period of change. For instance, it has not asked leaders how pupils’ learning is going to be protected while the process of improving teaching takes place (quite important I would have thought).
Saxon Way Primary School, Kingfisher Community Primary School and Lordswood School are all to be taken over by the Griffin Schools Trust as sponsored academies in September 2013.
All Hallows Primary is becoming an academy as part of the Williamson Trust in September 2013, joining High Halstow and Elaine Primary Academy.
Twydall Primary School has been the subject of controversy following a proposal for it to become a Sponsored Academy (July 14)
School | OFSTED Grade | Date | |
All Hallows Primary, Hoo | Satisfactory | Jun 2011 | |
Balfour Junior | Good | Sep 2010 | |
Barnsole Junior, Gillingham | Notice to Improve | Nov 2011 | Good Progress Jul 2012 |
Brompton-Westbrook Primary | Satisfactory | Dec 2010 | |
Burnt Oak Primary, Gillingham | Inadequate progress | Jun 2011 | Monitoring inspection of Grade 3 schools |
Byron Primary, Gillingham | Good | Mar 2011 | |
Chattenden Primary | Good | Jul 2010 | |
Cuxton Community Infant | Good | Jan 2012 | |
Cuxton Community Junior | Satisfactory | Feb 2011 | |
Deanwood Primary, Gillingham | Satisfactory | Mar 2011 | |
Delce Junior | Good | Jul 2010 | |
Elaine Primary, Rochester | Satisfactory | Jan 2011 | |
Fairview Community Primary | Good | May 2010 | |
Featherby Infant |
Good | Sep 2010 | |
Featherby Junior, Gillingham | Satisfactory | Jan 2011 | |
Glencoe Junior, Chatham | Inadequate progress | Mar 2011 | Not an inspection, but an Interim monitoring of Grade 3 schools |
Gordon Junior | Special Measures | Jun 2009 | Good Progress Jun 2010 |
Gordon Junior | Satisfactory | Nov 2010 | Removed from Special Measures |
Greenvale Infant, Chatham | Good | Jun 2011 | |
Halling Primary | Notices to Improve | Feb 2012 | |
Hempstead Infant, Gillingham | Good | Jun 2011 | |
Horsted Infant, Chatham | Good | Feb 2012 | |
Horsted Junior, Chatham | Satisfactory | Feb 2012 | |
Lordswood School | Satisfactory | May 2012 | |
Luton Infant and Nursery, Chatham | Good | May 2011 | |
Luton Junior | Good | Nov 2010 | |
Miers Court Primary, Gillingham | Good | Nov 2011 | |
Oaklands Infant Chatham | Notice to Improve | Nov 2010 | see below |
Oaklands Infant Chatham | Satisfactory | Dec 11 | |
Oaklands Junior | Satisfactory | Nov 2010 | |
Napier Community Infant & Nursery, Gillingham | Satisfactory | Feb 2011 | |
New Road School & Nursery Unit, Chatham | Special Measures | Oct 2011 | Satisfactory progress, Feb 2012, good progress May 2012 |
Saxon Way Primary, Gillingham | Special Measures | Jun 2012 | |
St Benedict's RC Primary | Good | Jun 2010 | |
St Helen's CofE Primary, Cliffe | Satisfactory | Feb 2012 | |
St James CofE VA Primary, Grain | Special Measures | Dec 2010 | Satisf Progress May 2011, See below |
St James CofE VA Primary, Grain | Satisfactory | Jul 2012 | see above |
St Margaret's CofE Junior, Rainham |
Notice to Improve | Sep 2009 | Inadequate Progress Feb 2009 (see below) |
St Margaret's CofE Junior, Rainham | Good | Nov 2010 | Removed from Special Measures |
St Margaret's Infant School, Rainham | Good | Jun 2011 | |
St Margaret's at Troy Town CofE VC, Rochester | Satisfactory | Jan 2012 | |
St Mary's Island CofE (Aided) Primary | Satisfactory | Jan 2011 | |
St Michael's RC Primary, Chatham | Satisfactory | Nove 2011 | |
St Peter's Infant, Rochester | Good | Mar 2011 | |
St William of Perth RC Primary | Satisfactory | Jul 2010 | |
Sherwin Knight Infant, Strood | Satisfactory | Jun 2010 | |
Sherwin Knight Infant, | Inadequate Progress | Sep 2011 | Monitoring Inspection of Grade 3 schools |
Skinner Street Junior | Special Measures | Jun 2009 | Good progress July 2010 |
Skinner Street Junior, Gillingham | Satisfactory | Jan 2011 | Removed from Special Measures |
Spinnens Acre Community Junior | Notice to Improve | Sep 2009 | Inadequate Progress May 2010 |
Spinnens Acre Community Junior, Chatham | Special Measures | Oct 2010 | Satisfactory Progress Mar 2011. Good progress Dec 2011, see below |
Spinnens Acre Community Junior, Chatham | Satisfactory | Mar 2012 | see above |
Temple Mill Junior | Satisfactory | Nov 2010 | |
Thames View Junior , Rainham | Satisfactory | Feb 2011 | |
Twydall Junior, Gillingham | Good | Mar 2011 | |
Walderslade Primary | Satisfactory | Sep 2010 | |
Wainscott Primary | Good | Mar 2012 | |
Warren Wood Community Primary, Rochester |
Special Measures | Jul 2009 | Inadequate Progress Jul 2010 & Sep 2010, Satisfactory Progress Mar 2011 |
Warren Wood Community Primary, Rochester | Satisfactory | Jun 2011 | |
Wayfield Primary, Chatham | Satisfactory | Sep 2010 | Inadequate progress, Monitoring Inspection, Mar 2012 |
Woodlands Infant | Good | Nov 2010 |
Admission Comments for September 2012 entry (Written March 2012)
The general Medway picture on Infant Class admissions for the last three years is as follows.
2012 | 2011 | 2010 | ||||
No of Medway Pupils | % |
No of Medway pupils |
% | No of pupils | % | |
Offered a named Medway school | 2980 | 97.0 | 2842 | 97.4 | 2873 | 96.0 |
Offered first preference | 2731 | 88.9 | 2678 | 91.8 | 2775 | 92.7 |
Offered second preference | 184 | 6.0 | 127 | 4.3 | 98 | 3.3 |
Offered third preference | 52 | 1.7 | 31 | 1.1 | ||
Offered fourth pref | 13 | 0.4 | 6 | 0.2 | ||
Allocated by Medway | 90 | 3.0 | 75 | 2.5 | 107 |
3.6 |
Total of applications | 3071 | 2917 | 2980 |
The number of Medway children offered a place at a non-Medway school is 73, with 42 non-Medway children offered places in Medway primary schools, all of these were a preference expressed by the parent/carer. Most of these will have been in the Walderslade area, where the county boundary crosses the M2.
The percentage of Medway reception aged children being offered one of their four named schools is 97.0% slightly down from 97.4% last year. These figures will always be higher than those of Kent, who only allow parents to name three schools. However, the number who were not offered their first choice has risen significantly from 7.3% in 2010, to 8.2% in 2011, to 11.1% this year. This year's increase will be down to the 5% rise in pupil numbers for 2012 Year R.
Pupil rolls at Year R in Medway have been falling for many years, bottoming out in 2011, and figures are reported to show increases each year from now on for the next three years (all years that children have been born and can be counted). In 2010, Ridge View Primary School in Chatham was controversially closed and many parents have expressed unhappiness at the lack of provision this year, as revealed by the fall in proportion of first choices offered. As a result of the closure, the number of places has fallen by 60 to 3336, whilst the Medway Reception age group has risen by 154 children, an effective reduction in 217 places.
This still leaves just 3% of Medway children being allocated a school not of their choice, 33 of the 90 concerned being in Chatham, to Luton Infants School, the only school in Chatham left with any vacancies, and where the key pressure can be seen . This suggests that the closure of Ridge View was a mistake, with St John's Infants, which also came close to being closed, being full. No other school in Medway received more than 7 allocations. What is clear from the parental preferences is their quite understandable wish to avoid their children attending the 30% of Medway primary schools that are, or have been, failed by OFSTED.
Most oversubscribed school was Balfour Infants, with 41 first choices turned away, followed by All Saints CofE Primary with 34, then: Fairview Community Primary; The Pilgrim; Miers Court Primary; and Twydall Primary, all with more than 15 first choices rejected.
The Hoo Peninsula primary schools have the highest vacancy rate between them, with 18% of places empty, compared with 3% in Chatham and 9% overall across Medway. Four schools, all with a Satisfactory OFSTED are at least half empty.
Primary School Statistics
All data on this page is provided by Kent County or Medway Council, often under the Freedom of Information Act
Admission September 2020 Statistics
Kent Primary Schools: allocation of Kent children to Reception Classes April 2020 | ||||||||
Offers to Kent Pupils | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||
No of
pupils
|
% |
No of
pupils
|
% |
No of
pupils
|
%
|
No of
pupils
|
%
|
|
Offered a school on the application form |
16954 | 97.4% | 16839 | 97.4% | 16843 | 97.7% | 16855 | 97.4% |
Offered a first preference |
15372 | 88.3% | 15540 | 89.4% | 15426 | 89.5% | 15429 | 89.0% |
Offered a second preference | 1192 | 6.9% | 1057 | 6.1% | 1093 | 6.3% | 1077 | 6.2% |
Offered a third preference | 390 | 2.2% | 332 | 1.9% | 324 | 1.9% | 379 | 2.2% |
Allocated by local authority | 457 | 2.6% | 447 | 2.6% | 390 | 2.3% | 444 | 2.6% |
Total number of offers | 17411 | 17286 | 17233 | 17329 |
Medway Primary Schools: allocation of Medway children to Reception Classes April 2020 | ||||||||
Offers to Medway Pupils | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||
2018 figures to follow. | No of
pupils
|
% | No of
pupils
|
% | No of
pupils
|
% |
No of
pupils
|
% |
Offered a school on the appln form |
3417 | 97.9% | 3338* | 97.8%* | 3167 | 97.6% | 3245 | 97.4% |
Offered a first preference |
>3072 | >88%* | 3035 | 89.0% | 2888 | 89.1% | 2978 | 89.4% |
Offered a second preference | 228 | 6.7% | 220 | 6.7% | 209 | 6.3% | ||
Offered a third preference | 59 | 1.7% | 48 | 1.4% | 49 | 1.5% | ||
Offered a fourth preference | 16 | 0.5% | 10 | 0.3% | 7 | 0.1% | ||
Allocated by Council | 74 | 2.1% | 75 | 2.2%* | 79 | 2.4% | 85 | 2.6% |
Total number of offers | 3491 | 3413 | 3246 | 3330 |
You will find more detail on initial applications for Kent and Medway here.
Kent and Medway Primary School Appeals 2019 | |||||
School |
Appeals
Submitted
|
Appeals
Heard
|
Upheld |
Not
Upheld
|
Place
Offered/Withdrawn
|
Kent Reception
Infant Legislation
|
246 | 161 | 2 | 159 | 74 |
Kent Reception
other
|
6 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Kent Junior (2017) | 8 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
Medway Reception | 57 | 32 | 1 | 16 | 15 |
Admission September 2018 Statistics
Kent Primary Schools: allocation of Kent children to Reception Classes April 2018 | ||||||||
Offers to Kent Pupils | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||
No of
pupils
|
%
|
No of
pupils
|
%
|
No of
pupils
|
%
|
No of
pupils
|
%
|
|
Offered a school on the application form |
16843 | 97.7% | 16855 | 97.4% |
17400 |
96.6% |
16691 |
95.8% |
Offered a first preference |
15426 | 89.5% | 15429 | 89.0% |
15705 |
87.2% | 14943 |
85.8% |
Offered a second preference | 1093 | 6.3% | 1077 | 6.2% | 1229 | 6.8% | 1272 | 7.3% |
Offered a third preference | 324 | 1.9% | 379 | 2.2% | 466 | 2.58% | 476 | 2.7% |
Allocated by local authority | 390 | 2.3% | 444 | 2.6% | 606 | 3.4% | 724 | 4.2% |
Total number of offers | 17233 | 17329 | 18006 |
17415 |
Medway Primary Schools: allocation of Medway children to Reception Classes April 2018 | ||||||||
Offers to Medway Pupils | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||
2018 figures to follow. | No of
pupils
|
% |
No of
pupils
|
% |
No of
pupils
|
% |
No of
pupils
|
% |
Offered a school on the appln form |
3167 | 97.6% | 3245 | 97.4% | 3360 | 96.2% |
3396 |
96.4% |
Offered a first preference |
2888 | 89.1% | 2978 | 89.4% | 3039 | 87.1% |
3067 |
87.1% |
Offered a second preference | 220 | 6.7% | 209 | 6.3% | 220 | 6.3% | 256 | 7.3% |
Offered a third preference | 48 | 1.4% | 49 | 1.5% | 61 | 1.8% | 55 | 1.5% |
Offered a fourth preference | 10 | 0.3% | 7 | 0.1% | 27 | 0.8% | 20 | 0.6% |
Allocated by Council | 79 | 2.4% | 85 | 2.6% | 134 | 4.0% | 126 | 3.6% |
Total number of offers | 3246* | 3330 | 3490 | 3522 |
*In addition 102 Medway children were offered places at non-Medway schools
You will find more detail on initial applications for Kent and Medway here.
Kent and Medway Primary School Appeals 2017 | ||||||
School |
Appeals
Submitted
|
Appeals
Heard
|
Upheld |
Not
Upheld
|
Place
Offered
|
Withdrawn |
Kent Reception
Infant Legislation
|
272 | 196 | 1 | 195 | 23 | 53 |
Kent Reception
other
|
38 | 36 | 14 | 22 | 0 | 2 |
Kent Junior | 8 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Medway Reception | 60 | 31 | 1 | 30 | 8 | 21 |
Medway Junior | 106 |
1 |
0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Admission September 2016 Statistics
Kent Primary Schools: allocation of Kent children to Reception Classes April 2016 | ||||||||
Offers to Kent Pupils | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||
No of pupils | % | No of pupils | % | No of pupils | % | No of pupils | % | |
Offered a school on the application form |
17400 |
96.6% |
16691 |
95.8% |
16301 |
95.3% |
15,838 | 96.0% |
Offered a first preference |
15705 |
87.2% | 14943 |
85.8% |
14516 |
84.9% |
14,264 | 86.5% |
Offered a second preference | 1229 | 6.8% | 1272 | 7.3% | 1239 | 7.3% | 1,127 | 6.8% |
Offered a third preference | 466 | 2.58% | 476 | 2.7% | 546 | 3.2% | 447 | 2.7% |
Allocated by local authority | 606 | 3.4% | 724 | 4.2% | 796 | 4.7% | 661 | 4.0% |
Total number of offers | 18006 | 17415 | 17097 | 16,499 |
Medway Primary Schools: allocation of Medway children and 121 from ooc to Reception classes April 2016 | ||||||||
Offers made by Medway Primary schools | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||
No of pupils | % | No of pupils | % | No of pupils | % | No of pupils | % | |
Offered a school named on the appln form |
3360 | 96.2% |
3396 |
96.4% |
3171 | 95.5% | 3058 | 96.0% |
Offered a first preference |
3039 | 87.1% |
3067 |
87.1% |
2847 | 85.7% | 2803 | 88.0% |
Offered a second preference | 220 | 6.3% | 256 | 7.3% | 231 | 7.0% | 189 | 5.9% |
Offered a third preference | 61 | 1.8% | 55 | 1.5% | 78 | 2.4% | 48 | 1.5% |
Offered a fourth preference* | 27 | 0.8% | 20 | 0.6% | 15 | 0.5% | 18 | 0.6% |
Medway children allocated by Council | 134 | 4.0% | 126 | 3.6% | 151 | 4.6% | 129 | 4.1% |
Total number of offers | 3490 | 3522 | 3322 | 3187 |
Kent and Medway Primary School Appeals 2016 | ||||||
School |
Appeals
Submitted
|
Appeals
Heard
|
Upheld |
Not
Upheld
|
Place
Offered
|
Withdrawn |
Kent Reception
Infant Legislation
|
426 | 292 | 2 | 290 | 103 | 31 |
Kent Reception
other
|
25 | 24 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
Kent Junior | 23 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 4 |
Medway Reception | 106 | 63 | 1 | 62 | 20 | 23 |
Medway Junior | 10 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
This table is for appeal Panels organised by KCC. A small number of primary appeals are managed by other organisations. Commentary here. You will find further information here.
Admission September 2015 Statistics
You will find more detail on initial applications for Kent and Medway here.
Kent Primary Schools: allocation to Reception classes April 2015 | ||||||||
Offers to Kent Pupils | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||
No of pupils | % | No of pupils | % | No of pupils | % | No of pupils | % | |
Offered a school on the application form |
16691 |
95.84% |
16301 |
95.34% |
15,838 | 95.99% | 15,476 | 94.98% |
Offered a first preference |
14943 |
85.81% |
14516 |
84.90% |
14,264 | 86.45% | 13,879 | 85.18% |
Offered a second preference | 1272 | 7.30% | 1239 | 7.25% | 1,127 | 6.83% | 1,145 | 7.03% |
Offered a third preference | 476 | 2.73% | 546 | 3.19% | 447 | 2.71% | 452 | 2.77% |
Allocated by local authority | 724 | 4.16% | 796 | 4.65% | 661 | 4.01% | 818 | 5.02% |
Total number of offers | 17415 | 17097 | 16,499 | 16,249 |
Further Information on Oversubscription and Vacancies for Kent here.
Medway Primary Schools: allocation to Reception classes April 2015 | ||||||||
Offers made by Medway Primary schools | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||
No of pupils | % | No of pupils | % | No of pupils | % | No of pupils | % | |
Offered a school named on the application form |
3396 |
96.43% |
3171 | 95.45% | 3058 | 95.95% | 2949 | 97.00% |
Offered a first preference |
3067 |
87.08% |
2847 | 85.7% | 2803 | 88.00% | 2707 | 89.05% |
Offered a second preference | 256 | 7.27% | 231 | 6.95% | 189 | 5.93% | 176 | 5.79% |
Offered a third preference | 55 | 1.5% | 78 | 2.35% | 48 | 1.51% | 55 | 1.81% |
Offered a fourth preference* | 20 | 0.58% | 15 | 0.45% | 18 | 0.56% | 11 | 0.36% |
Allocated by local authority | 126 | 151 | 4.55% | 129 | 4.05% | 91 | 2.99% | |
Total number of offers | 3522 | 3322 | 3187 | 3040 |
*Note: this entry is given as third preference on the Medway statement, with no fourth preference provided, but given the size of the figures, I suspect my interpretation is correct.
Further Information on Oversubscription and Vacancies for Medway here.
Kent and Medway School Primary Appeals Heard Outcomes 2015 | ||||
2015 | 2014 | |||
Appeals Held | Number | % Upheld | Number | % Upheld |
Kent Primary
Infant Class Legislation
|
292 | 0.7% | 340 | 1.5% |
Kent Primary other | 36 | 61% | 30 | 63% |
Medway Primary ICL | 63 | 1.6% | 65 | 0% |
Medway Primary Other | 6 | 50% |
Further details here.
Kent Primary School Appeal Outcomes 2014 | ||||||
Appeals
Registered
|
Upheld | Turned down |
%
upheld
|
place offered
before appeal
|
withdrawn | |
Primary Schools:
Infant Class Legislation
|
537 | 5 | 355 | 1.4% | 30 | 147 |
Other Primary schools | 43 | 19 | 11 | 63% | 8 | 5 |
Primary Total | 580 | 24 | 366 | 6% | 38 | 152 |
This table is for appeal Panels organised by KCC. A small number of primary appeals are managed by other organisations. Commentary here. You will find further information here.
I did not collect the 2015 figures for Medway Appeals, but you will find the 2013 data here.
Kent Reception Year Admissions 2013
I have provided commentary to these statistics here.
Offers to Kent Reception Year Pupils | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |||
No of pupils | % | No of pupils | % | No of pupils | % | |
Offered a school named on the application form |
15,838 | 95.99% | 15,476 | 94.98% | 15,151 | 95.18% |
Offered a first preference |
14,264 | 86.45% | 13,879 | 85.18% | 13,682 | 85.95% |
Offered a second preference | 1,127 | 6.83% | 1,145 | 7.03% | 1,062 | 6.67% |
Offered a third preference | 447 | 2.71% | 452 | 2.77% | 407 | 2.56% |
Allocated by local authority | 661 | 4.01% | 818 | 5.02% | 768 | 4.82% |
Total number of offers | 16,499 | 16,249 | 15919 |
IKent and Medway Primary School Appeals 2013.
Kent Primary School Appeal Outcomes 2013 | |||||
Number of
Appeals
|
Upheld | Rejected |
Appeal
Withdrawn
|
Place offered
before Appeal
|
|
Appeals where Infant
Class Legislation Applies
|
546 | 18 | 364 | 132 | 30 |
No ICL | 86 | 22 | 48 | 12 | 4 |
Junior Schools | 33 | 10 | 20 | 2 | 1 |
Medway Primary School Appeal Outcomes 2013 | |||||
Number of
Appeals
|
Upheld | Rejected |
Appeal
Withdrawn
|
Place offered
before Appeal
|
|
Reception Class Appeals | 157 | 6 | 98 | 28 | 25 |
Junior Schools | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
I now have details of KCC primary admission data for 2011 entry as below
Pupils | 2011 | 2010 | ||
No of pupils | % | No of pupils | % | |
Offered a named school | 15,299 | 94.2% | 14,298 | 95.8% |
Offered first preference | 13,801 | 84.9% | 13,118 | 88% |
Offered second preference | 1,080 | 6.7% | 842 | 5.6% |
Offered third preference | 414 | 2.6% | 329 | 2.2% |
ooc offered fourth pref | 4 | 0.02% | N/A | N/A |
Allocated by KCC | 768 | 4.7% | 564 | 3.8% |
ooc not offered a place | 182 | 1.1% | 67 | 0.4% |
Total of applications | 16,249 | 14,920 |
Early thoughts: These are very disappointing results given that KCC itself warned of pressures on Kent Primary places in 2011. In fact the percentage of children not offered one of their choices and hence have been allocated places by KCC has increased steadily from 1.6% in 2006 to the 4.7% of this year, a 25% increase in the past year. This is not because parents are chasing the very popular schools, but overwhelmingly because parents want a reasonable school in their own area. The increase in numbers of 1,329 (which conceals an increase of well over 100 out of county applicants not offered places) was entirely predictable two years ago, yet KCC has had to put in 345 temporary (emergency) places since January. Where is the planning? Biggest problem is likely to be once again in Gravesham and other parts of West and North West Kent, as I warned last summer in Kent on Sunday and Gravesend Reporter. See below for further information on primary admissions.
For Medway the infant class position is much more positive given the continued fall in numbers. However, their statistics differ slightly from the Kent method of analysis. Also the 2010 system of admission was not coordinated with other Local Authorities and so is not directly comparable.
Pupils | 2011 | 2010 | ||
No of Medway pupils |
% | No of pupils | % | |
Offered a named Medway school | 2842 | 97.4 | 2873 | 96.0 |
Offered first preference | 2678 | 91.8 | 2775 | 92.7 |
Offered second preference | 127 | 4.3 | 98 | 3.3 |
Offered third preference | 31 | 1.1 | ||
ooc offered fourth pref | 6 | 0.2 | ||
Allocated by Medway | 75 | 2.5 | 107 |
3.6 |
Total of applications | 2917 | 2980 |
44 out of Medway children (nearly all Kent) were offered places in Medway Primary Schools and 63 Medway children were offered places outside Medway (nearly all Kent).
2010 Statistics
Infant class allocations for entry in September 2010 or January 2011 were made in March. The pattern countywide is almost identical to 2009, with 96% of all children being offered a school on there form and 88% being offered their first choice. although of course there may be regional variations.
Pupils |
2010 |
2009 |
||
|
No. of pupils |
% |
No. of pupils |
% |
Offered a school named on the application form |
14,289 |
96% |
14,105 |
96% |
Offered a first preference |
13,118 |
88% |
12,998 |
88% |
Offered a second preference |
842 |
6% |
810 |
6% |
Offered a third preference |
329 |
2% |
297 |
2% |
Allocated by Local Authority |
564 |
3.8% |
527 |
3.6% |
Out of County pupils not offered a place |
67 |
0.4% |
98 |
0.6% |
Total number of applications |
14,920 |
14,730 |
Kent Primary School Appeals for entry in September 2010 or January 2011
Number | Successful | Not Successful | |
Reception Class Appeals | 541 | 69 | 472 |
Infant Class Legislation | 463 | 22 | 441 |
Other Infant Appeals (Yrs 1& 2) |
46 |
13 | 33 |
Infant Class Legislation (Years 1&2) |
28 |
3 | 25 |
Junior Class Appeals | 71 | 40 | 31 |
Some Reception class appeals are not subject to Infant Class Appeals where the Planned Admission Number does not easily allow classes of 30 to be formed. 15, 20, 45 PANs are all used for split age classes to be put together, comprising 30 children.
Primary School Appeals

















































































































Updated December 2020
Infant Class Legislation means that success rates are very low (see figures below), and as explained in my most recent appeal survey for 2020 Appeal outcomes. I am afraid I no longer give individual advice.
For all problems, first piece of advice is don't panic. If you are going to appeal it is better to reflect what you are going to write in your appeal statement rather than dash something off in the hope it will be looked at early, or you will get priority in an appeal because you got in first. You won't. If you have been given none of your choices and have been allocated a school that does not make any sense, it may be worthwhile contacting KCC admissions to see if there is a better alternative that has vacancies. This will not include one of your choices as these will all be full.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
- First piece of advice on Primary School appeals is – don’t panic. You will not get an earlier appeal or a better hearing by sending in your case early. If you are not ready, make sure you record your appeal by the closing date, using such words as “I am appealing for….... I will send in my detailed case when it is ready”. This enables you to take advice or plan your appeal without additional pressure (it is already stressful enough!). Following several queries on this - the rule is: "Parents should also be informed that there is no statutory time limit for submitting information about their appeal".
- Appeals for places at primary school are very difficult because of a government ruling that no infant class should have more than 30 pupils. Whilst I no longer prepare appeals one of my clients in the recent past won an appeal for his son to an infant class in a catholic primary school. His twin sister had already been offered a place initially. Another won a place after fraud by another parent was demonstrated. A third won a case after we demonstrated doubt over the distance measurement. Another was taken to the Local Government Ombudsman where we secured a place after demonstrating that the Local Authority had made mistakes in applying the oversubscription criteria. Another won a place after we demonstrated that the Admission Criteria were unfair.
- Of the 243 appeals for Reception Classes for entry to Kent Primary Schools for September 2020, where Infant Class Legislation Applied, just one was successful where there were class sizes of 30 children or a multiple of this, 15 or 20 in the Planned Admission Number. Another 11 places were won on appeal out of 18, where the Planned Admission Number is not a multiple of 30, with five out of eight successes into Junior Schools. . Remember, if you wish to appeal, all you need to do initially is to use a form of words similar to "I am appealing for a place for my child.... in the Reception Class at ..... School. A more detailed letter will follow", and then submit your detailed case later.
- I am sorry to be so negative, but Infant Class Legislation is very tough. Parents often ask me what the point of an appeal is in such circumstances; quite simply it is your legal right. Sadly, for nearly all of the 457 Kent children who were offered none of their choices in 2020, your only chance is through the waiting list process. Schools should be in a position to advise you of this at the appropriate time; also of the distance from the school to the home of the furthest child accepted the previous year and the distance from the school to your own home, to enable you to understand your chances.