Cliffe Woods Primary School, Rochester
Cliffe Woods Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Rochester, part of Aletheia Academies Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 19th-highest of the 25 schools in Rochester with published results, and 11,486th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Medway (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Cliffe Woods Primary School in detail
Cliffe Woods Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "On behalf of the children, staff and governors, I would like to warmly welcome you to Cliffe Woods Primary School. I feel truly privileged to lead such a warm, inclusive and forward-thinking school community. There is something very special about Cliffe Woods, and we are incredibly proud of our unique children, supportive families, dedicated staff and committed governors."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 68% of Year 6 pupils at Cliffe Woods Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 65% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 72% in Medway and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 79% in reading and 72% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Cliffe Woods Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 62 families put Cliffe Woods Primary School as their first choice and 176 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 6 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Cliffe Woods Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Cliffe Woods Primary School are Chattenden Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 72% reading, 81% maths); St Helen's Church of England Primary School, Cliffe (1.6 miles, Good, 84% reading, 77% maths); Wainscott Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 62% reading, 53% maths); and Higham Primary School (2 miles, Good, 73% reading, 57% maths).
Cliffe Woods Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Chattenden Primary SchoolSt Helen's Church of England Primary School, CliffeWainscott Primary SchoolHigham Primary School
The trust
Cliffe Woods Primary School is one of 19 schools run by Aletheia Academies Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 64% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
106 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Cliffe Woods Primary School (as of September 2025): 97% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 73% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (98%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (73%).
Who goes there
5.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 4.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (85%) and Mixed (5%).
In 2026, 30 pupils (7.1%) received SEN support and 15 (3.6%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Higham Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Primary School (adjacent), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 14 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Medway (250).
Suspensions and exclusions
Cliffe Woods Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Cliffe Woods creates an exceptionally happy school environment where children are kind to one another and take pride in their learning. Reading is a particular strength, with expert teaching and a genuine love of books fostered through activities like the reading vending machine and regular library visits. The school excels at developing responsible, well-rounded pupils through leadership roles, trips, clubs and meaningful experiences that help them understand the wider world.
Key Strengths
- Behaviour and attitudes are outstanding - pupils demonstrate kindness, respect and are 'upstanders not bystanders'
- Reading is taught expertly with well-trained staff and pupils develop a genuine love of books
- Personal development is exceptional with extensive clubs, trips, roles of responsibility and meaningful experiences
- Strong sense of community with high attendance and positive interactions between all pupils
- Effective leadership at all levels with staff feeling valued and supported
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment information is not used consistently effectively to adjust learning activities, meaning some pupils don't progress as quickly as they could
- The range of adaptations in response to pupils' differing needs is not fully developed
- Sometimes pupils' learning doesn't build well on what has been learned previously
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with leaders conveying unwavering ethical principles and keeping pupils' interests at the heart of their thinking.
Extracurricular Activities
Reading ambassadors, playground leaders, prefects, World Book Day events, Holocaust memorial events, school trips and visits, extensive clubs and competitive events
Cliffe Woods Primary School is a welcoming community where pupils thrive with high expectations for behaviour and learning. The school provides a broad, engaging curriculum with strong reading instruction and exceptional support for personal development.
At a Glance
5.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
106 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 79% to 68% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 72% to 65% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 75% to 87% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.1
Avg class size
29.8
Infant (KS1)
30.3
KS2
11
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Cliffe Woods Primary School
Kicking Our Way to Second Place! 🥈
1 Jun 2026
Finding Our Voice: Mike Dodsworth’s Oracy Day
2 Apr 2026
Trust Choir Concert - Cliffe Woods Shines on Stage 🎭✨
26 Mar 2026
Celebrating Tag Rugby Excellence Across Our Trust!
18 Mar 2026
Dribble, Dunk, and Dominate: Round 3 Highlights!
23 Jan 2026
Dodgeball Drama: The Trust Games Heat Up!
14 Nov 2025
From Cliffe Woods Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Cliffe Woods Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Cliffe Woods Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Cliffe Woods Primary School is in Medway; for families living there:
Apply to Medway for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Medway is 25 (the median across 117 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Cliffe Woods Primary School
Will you get a place at Cliffe Woods Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Cliffe Woods Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Cliffe Woods Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Cliffe Woods Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Medway, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Cliffe Woods Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Medway got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
101%
Over capacity
421 pupils
420 places
1 pupil over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Rochester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rochester
Across Medway council
Places available
3,675
Applications
3,130
Got 1st preference
93.9%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Medway council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
30
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
10.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
421
Total Pupils
213
Boys
208
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
23.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,380
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£2239k
Total funding
£38k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.1%
Overall absence
6.0%
Persistent absence
364
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Cliffe Woods Primary School
What are SATs results like at Cliffe Woods Primary School?
Of the pupils at Cliffe Woods Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 68% reached the expected standard in reading and 65% did so in maths.
What is Cliffe Woods Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Cliffe Woods Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Cliffe Woods Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Cliffe Woods Primary School is oversubscribed, Medway allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Cliffe Woods Primary School?
Cliffe Woods Primary School was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Cliffe Woods Primary School?
Classes at Cliffe Woods Primary School average 30.1 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Cliffe Woods Primary School?
Cliffe Woods Primary School has around 421 pupils on roll. 6% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Cliffe Woods Primary School?
4.1% of sessions were missed at Cliffe Woods Primary School in 2024/25. 6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Cliffe Woods Primary School?
Apply through Medway's coordinated admissions process, naming Cliffe Woods Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Cliffe Woods Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Medway is 25 (the median across 117 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Cliffe Woods Primary School?
Cliffe Woods Primary School is at View Road, Cliffe Woods, Rochester, Kent, ME3 8UJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)