Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Dover

In its own words: "St Mary's CEP is a vibrant learning hub, sitting just below the iconic Dover Castle, in the heart of Dover. We have been linked with St Mary's Church since the school opened in 1789. Pupils regularly visit the church and our very strongly held school ethos reflects this link and the Christian nature of the school."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, multi-sports, Lego, gardening and forest school.

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

In 2025, 45% of Year 6 pupils at Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 55% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 73% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 16 families put Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 42 named it as one of their preferences, for 20 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 Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School are St Richard's Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 77% reading, 67% maths); Charlton Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 55% reading, 55% maths); Barton Junior School (0.8 miles, Good, 83% reading, 79% maths); and Priory Fields School (0.9 miles, Good, 63% reading, 63% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School.

12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

60.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 43.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (45%), Mixed (13%) and other ethnic groups (11%).

Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School had 11 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Dover Priory Rail Station, about 870 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Canon's Gate (opposite), 150 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 4th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 319 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School issued 9 suspensions, 5.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School are Dover Grammar School for Girls (0.6 miles), St Edmund's Catholic School (0.7 miles), Duke of York's Royal Military School (1.1 miles) and Dover Grammar School for Boys (1.2 miles).