Folkestone Primary, Folkestone
Folkestone Primary is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Folkestone, part of Turner Schools. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 9th-highest of the 19 schools in Folkestone with published results, and 6,288th of 14,452 across England. It was 93% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
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 27 Oct 2026
Folkestone Primary in detail
Folkestone Primary in its own words
In its own words: "Ofsted said 'pupils at Folkestone Primary love the school and feel loved by the school'. At Folkestone Primary, our priority is for children to develop a love of learning, inspired by quality first teaching. We work tirelessly to ensure that our children enjoy a stimulating and diverse education; learning is irresistible, children are happy, feel safe and valued."
The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils at Folkestone Primary reached the expected standard in reading and 80% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 83% in reading and 82% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Folkestone Primary
For September 2026 entry, 44 families put Folkestone Primary as their first choice and 104 named it as one of their preferences, for 46 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Folkestone Primary are Stella Maris Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 79% reading, 68% maths); Mundella Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 70% reading, 70% maths); Christ Church Cep Academy, Folkestone (0.8 miles, Good, 84% reading, 83% maths); and Morehall Primary School and Nursery (0.8 miles, Good, 85% reading, 80% maths).
Folkestone Primary's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Stella Maris Catholic Primary SchoolMundella Primary SchoolChrist Church Cep Academy, FolkestoneMorehall Primary School and Nursery
The trust
Folkestone Primary is one of 8 schools run by Turner Schools, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 65% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
11.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (77%) and Mixed (7%).
In 2026, 89 pupils (19.3%) received SEN support and 7 (1.5%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Folkestone Central Rail Station, about 1080 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Folkestone Academy (adjacent), 60 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 321 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.
Suspensions and exclusions
Folkestone Primary recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Folkestone Primary are Folkestone Academy (under 0.1 miles), The Harvey Grammar School (0.6 miles), Turner Free School (0.8 miles) and The Folkestone School for Girls (1.3 miles).
Folkestone AcademyThe Harvey Grammar SchoolTurner Free SchoolThe Folkestone School for Girls
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; 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 June 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Early years.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
25.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 83% to 78% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 80% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 83% to 78% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.1
Avg class size
26.7
Infant (KS1)
29.4
KS2
17
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Folkestone Primary
Before and after school care
Folkestone Primary is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Kent
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Folkestone Primary.
- The Sports Trust Holiday Club810m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Folkestone Primary from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Folkestone Primary is in Kent; for families living there:
Apply to Kent for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 22
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 18 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
3 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 Kent is 11 (the median across 711 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 Folkestone Primary
Will you get a place at Folkestone Primary? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Folkestone Primary's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Folkestone Primary:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Folkestone Primary.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Kent, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Folkestone Primary for 2021 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Kent 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
93%
Near capacity
391 pupils
420 places
29 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Folkestone
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Folkestone
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
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
89
SEN Support
7
EHC Plans
20.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
460
Total Pupils
223
Boys
237
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
19
Teachers
24.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,582
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,159
Per pupil
£2253k
Total funding
£167k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.4%
Overall absence
10.5%
Persistent absence
351
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Questions parents ask about Folkestone Primary
What are SATs results like at Folkestone Primary?
Of the pupils at Folkestone Primary who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 78% reached the expected standard in reading and 80% did so in maths.
What is Folkestone Primary's Ofsted rating?
Folkestone Primary was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2023.
What is the catchment area for Folkestone Primary?
No fixed boundary. When Folkestone Primary is oversubscribed, Kent allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Folkestone Primary?
Folkestone Primary was not full in 2025: it ran at 93% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Folkestone Primary?
Classes at Folkestone Primary average 27.1 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Folkestone Primary?
Folkestone Primary has around 460 pupils on roll. 25% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Folkestone Primary?
4.4% of sessions were missed at Folkestone Primary in 2024/25. 10.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Folkestone Primary?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Folkestone Primary 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.
Does Folkestone Primary have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Folkestone Primary is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Folkestone Primary: The Sports Trust Holiday Club (810m away, registered, not yet graded).
How many road collisions happen near Folkestone Primary?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 18 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 3 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 Kent is 11 (the median across 711 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Folkestone Primary?
Folkestone Primary is at Academy Lane, Folkestone, CT19 5FP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)