Best Schools in Herne Bay

How many schools are there in Herne Bay?

Herne Bay has 9 open schools: 7 state primary, 1 state secondary or all-through and 1 special.

Source: DfE Get Information About Schools

Which schools in Herne Bay are rated Outstanding?

3 schools in Herne Bay were rated Outstanding at their most recent graded Ofsted inspection: Herne Church of England Infant and Nursery School, Reculver Church of England Primary School and Herne Church of England Junior School. Counting Good as well, 100% of the 8 graded schools here are rated Good or better. Ofsted stopped giving single-word overall grades in September 2024, so these are the grades from each school's last full inspection.

Herne Church of England Infant and Nursery SchoolReculver Church of England Primary SchoolHerne Church of England Junior School

Source: Ofsted

Which primary schools in Herne Bay have the best SATs results?

Of the 5 primary schools in Herne Bay with 2025 Key Stage 2 results, the highest shares of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading and maths were at Herne Church of England Junior School (88% in reading, 90% in maths); Thornden Wood Primary School (87% in reading, 84% in maths); and Reculver Church of England Primary School (79% in reading, 71% in maths). Small schools can swing a long way from one year to the next, because each pupil is a large share of the result.

Herne Church of England Junior SchoolThornden Wood Primary SchoolReculver Church of England Primary School

Source: DfE school performance data

Are there grammar schools in Herne Bay?

No. None of the state secondary schools in Herne Bay selects pupils by ability, so every state secondary here is comprehensive.

Source: DfE Get Information About Schools

Do schools in Herne Bay have catchment areas?

Most state schools in Herne Bay have no fixed catchment boundary. When a school is oversubscribed, Kent allocates places on its published criteria - usually looked-after children first, then siblings, then home-to-school distance - so the practical cut-off moves each year. Each school's page here shows an estimate of its catchment radius.

How do I apply for a school place in Herne Bay?

Apply to Kent through its coordinated admissions process, even for academies and faith schools. In England the closing date is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.