Downs View Infant School has closed (Monday 31 August 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now Downs View Infant School.
Downs View Infant School, Ashford
Downs View Infant School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 7 in Ashford. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2023. It was 80% full in 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Kent (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
Downs View Infant School in detail
Getting a place at Downs View Infant School
For September 2026 entry, 48 families put Downs View Infant School as their first choice and 104 named it as one of their preferences, for 54 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Downs View Infant School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Downs View Infant School are Downs View Infant School (under 0.1 miles); Kennington Church of England Academy (under 0.1 miles, Good, 76% reading, 74% maths); Phoenix Community Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 59% reading, 52% maths); and Goat Lees Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 47% reading, 57% maths).
Downs View Infant SchoolKennington Church of England AcademyPhoenix Community Primary SchoolGoat Lees Primary School
Who goes there
10.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (73%), Black (7%) and Mixed (7%).
In 2026, 26 pupils (14.1%) received SEN support and 4 (2.2%) 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 Ashford International Rail Station, about 1.9 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Upper Vicarage Road Post Office (adjacent), 200 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Downs View Infant School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Downs View Infant School issued 9 suspensions, 4.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; 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
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its October 2023 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Early years.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
21.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
26.8
Avg class size
26.8
Infant (KS1)
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Downs View Infant School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Downs View Infant School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Downs View Infant School is in Kent; for families living there:
Apply to Kent for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Downs View Infant School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
80%
Available places
217 pupils
270 places
53 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Ashford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Ashford
Across Kent council
Places available
18,893
Applications
16,593
Got 1st preference
89.7%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All primary applications across Kent council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
26
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
16.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
184
Total Pupils
91
Boys
93
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
16.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,967
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,468
Per pupil
£1365k
Total funding
£70k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.8%
Overall absence
19.3%
Persistent absence
161
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Downs View Infant School
What is Downs View Infant School's Ofsted rating?
Downs View Infant School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2011 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Downs View Infant School?
No fixed boundary. When Downs View Infant School is oversubscribed, Kent allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Downs View Infant School?
Downs View Infant School was not full in 2025: it ran at 80% of its 270 places.
How big are the classes at Downs View Infant School?
Classes at Downs View Infant School average 26.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Downs View Infant School?
Downs View Infant School has around 184 pupils on roll. 21% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Downs View Infant School?
6.8% of sessions were missed at Downs View Infant School in 2024/25. 19.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Downs View Infant School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Downs View Infant 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.
Where is Downs View Infant School?
Downs View Infant School is at Ball Lane, Kennington, Ashford, Kent, TN25 4PJ.