Bodsham Church of England Primary School, Ashford

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades Bodsham Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard, 3 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "Children in the Reception Year get off to a successful start at the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's personal development and wellbeing programme is established, extensive and delivered through many aspects of the curriculum."

Achievement - Expected standard. "This school prepares pupils well for the next stage of their education."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a coherent and carefully sequenced curriculum that sets out clearly the knowledge, skills and vocabulary pupils are expected to learn."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "There is a clear, well-established and inclusive culture across the school."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leadership of attendance is not currently effective."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Governors' monitoring does not enable them to have a clear understanding of the effectiveness of the school's safeguarding arrangements, including safer recruitment, or to ensure that identified actions are followed through consistently."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Governors should strengthen their oversight of safeguarding by monitoring systematically and using effective challenge so they have a secure and accurate understanding of the impact of leaders' work"; "Leaders should establish a more rigorous and systematic approach to monitoring the impact of their work, including in attendance and inclusion, ensuring that analysis is regular, precise and focused on evaluating actions, progress and impact over time"; "Leaders should ensure that staff embed consistently high expectations for handwriting, so that pupils routinely produce high-quality work across the curriculum".

In 2025, 86% of Year 6 pupils at Bodsham Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 86% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 100% in reading and 80% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 6 families put Bodsham Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 23 named it as one of their preferences, for 9 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Bodsham Church of England Primary School are Stowting Church of England Primary School (2.2 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths); Brabourne Church of England Primary School (2.7 miles, Good, 87% reading, 93% maths); Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School (3 miles, Good, 71% reading, 71% maths); and Brook Community Primary School (3.4 miles, Good, 69% reading, 62% maths).

Bodsham Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

10% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 10% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (80%) and Black (6%).

In 2026, 9 pupils (12.9%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.

Bodsham Church of England Primary School had 6 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Bodsham Church of England Primary School.

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Timber Batts (opposite), 50 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).

Bodsham Church of England Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.