Cliftonville Primary School, Margate

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are delighted that you are interested in our wonderful school. The school is led by Claire Whichcord and, on December 1st 2013, became an Academy working with Dane Court Grammar School, King Ethelbert School, Hartsdown Academy, Royal Harbour Academy and Newington Community Primary School. These schools are formally joined to make a group known as the Coastal Academies Trust."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care, from £2.50 per day.

Coming up: an open day on Monday 2 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 63% of Year 6 pupils at Cliftonville Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 59% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 66% in reading and 62% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 108 families put Cliftonville Primary School as their first choice and 220 named it as one of their preferences, for 120 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 Cliftonville Primary School are Northdown Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 64% reading, 60% maths); Palm Bay Primary School (0.6 miles, 81% reading, 78% maths); Drapers Mills Primary Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 57% reading, 51% maths); and Margate, Holy Trinity and St John's Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 44% reading, 44% maths).

Cliftonville Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Cliftonville Primary School is one of 6 schools run by Coastal Academies Trust, an academy trust.

49.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 26.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (63%), Mixed (9%) and Asian (6%).

In 2026, 121 pupils (14.3%) received SEN support and 25 (3%) 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.

Cliftonville Primary School had 51 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Margate Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Laleham Corner (e-bound), 210 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 388 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Cliftonville Primary School issued 52 suspensions, 6.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.