Folkestone St. Mary's Church of England Primary Academy, Folkestone
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 10 months agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
This is a happy, caring school where every child feels they belong. Staff know pupils well and provide thoughtful support for those who need it most, particularly vulnerable learners and those with special educational needs. The school brings the world into the classroom through international partnerships and enrichment activities that help pupils learn about diversity and become responsible citizens.
Key Strengths
- Strong pastoral care and support for vulnerable pupils, including those with special educational needs
- Positive behaviour and warm relationships between staff and pupils throughout the school
- Well-designed curriculum with precise knowledge and skills
- Effective early years provision with children achieving well by end of Reception
- New leadership making tangible improvements to pupil attendance
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching does not consistently help pupils recall and retain key knowledge across subjects
- Writing standards are not high enough and do not reflect pupils' understanding
- Catch-up support for pupils falling behind in reading is not precise enough
- Too many pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils, miss school regularly
- Quality of pupils' work varies too much between classes
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have created an open and positive culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Dance club, crochet club, art club, football club, finger skateboarding club, girls' futsal tournament, national choir, beach trips, library visits, church visits, author visits
Folkestone St. Mary's Church of England Primary Academy is a warm, nurturing school where pupils feel safe and valued. However, pupils are not learning as well as they should, with inconsistent teaching quality and gaps in foundational knowledge affecting their progress.
At a Glance
31.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 69%. Maths has improved from 61% to 72%. Writing has remained stable at around 72%.
Class Sizes
25.2
Avg class size
24.0
Infant (KS1)
25.3
KS2
15
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
97%
Near capacity
406 pupils
420 capacity
14 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Folkestone
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Folkestone
Admissions Demand - Kent
Places available
19,144
Applications
16,524
Got 1st preference
90.6%
Got preferred school
98.5%
Primary admissions across Kent (2025/26)
Inspection History(6)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.37323%
Overall absence
20.59701%
Persistent absence
335
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Folkestone St. Mary's Church of England Primary Academy
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