Capel-le-Ferne Primary School, Folkestone

Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades Capel-le-Ferne Primary School on 7 areas: 5 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.

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure the curriculum is generally taught well."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that children access high-quality provision in Reception through a carefully mapped and sequenced curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders use effective systems to quickly identify and successfully reduce many of the barriers that pupils face."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have high ambitions for all pupils and staff."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "There is a well-considered and coherent personal development programme for pupils across the school."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Most pupils are now making progress from starting points across the curriculum and year groups."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders have established clear systems and priorities to improve attendance, and there are signs of improvement as a result of their work."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to ensure assessment is used more consistently and effectively to address misconceptions promptly, so that pupils build understanding securely and leave school well prepared for the next stage of their education"; "Leaders should continue to embed their systems for promoting regular attendance so that pupils' attendance rates continue to rise and the proportion of pupils who are persistently absent reduces".

In its own words: "At Capel-le-Ferne we believe that learning should take place through our core values. We aim to build strong foundations so that our children can lead happy and successful lives in the 21 st century world. We aim to ensure that our children will acquire strong basic skills in reading, writing and numeracy at an early age."

From the headteacher's welcome: "As Headteacher it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Capel-le-Ferne Primary School. Our school is a one-form entry from Reception to Year 6. We are extremely proud of our school and believe that we offer a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment rooted in our school values of Respect, Independence, Creativity and Respect."

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at Capel-le-Ferne Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (59% in reading, 73% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 15 families put Capel-le-Ferne Primary School as their first choice and 37 named it as one of their preferences, for 18 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 Capel-le-Ferne Primary School are Martello Primary (1.4 miles, Good, 70% reading, 78% maths); Folkestone St. Mary's Church of England Primary Academy (1.7 miles, Good, 69% reading, 72% maths); Castle Hill Community Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 65% reading, 57% maths); and Mundella Primary School (2 miles, Good, 70% reading, 70% maths).

Capel-le-Ferne Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

1.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 38 pupils (22.4%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Folkestone Central Rail Station, about 2.5 miles away in a straight line.

In August 2026, police recorded 6 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and drug offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).

Capel-le-Ferne Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.