Goodnestone Church of England Primary School, Canterbury
Goodnestone Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Canterbury. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 28th-highest of the 28 schools in Canterbury with published results, and 14,394th of 14,452 across England. It was 68% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- 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 27 Oct 2026
Goodnestone Church of England Primary School in detail
Goodnestone Church of England Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "On behalf of the children, staff and Governors, we would like to warmly welcome you to our school. Our school is an inclusive place of learning where everyone is valued and respected. We recognise every child as an individual and give them every opportunity to achieve across our whole curriculum."
The school runs a breakfast club.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 33% of Year 6 pupils at Goodnestone Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 33% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Goodnestone Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 5 families put Goodnestone Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 19 named it as one of their preferences, for 6 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 Goodnestone Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Goodnestone Church of England Primary School are Nonington Church of England Primary School (1.6 miles, Requires improvement, 17% reading, 17% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Aylesham (1.7 miles, Good, 86% reading, 86% maths); Wingham Primary School (1.8 miles, Good, 81% reading, 84% maths); and Adisham Church of England Primary School (1.8 miles, Outstanding, 75% reading, 81% maths).
Goodnestone Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Nonington Church of England Primary SchoolSt Joseph's Catholic Primary School, AyleshamWingham Primary SchoolAdisham Church of England Primary School
Who goes there
10.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 9 pupils (18.8%) received SEN support and 7 (14.6%) 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 autism.
Staffing
Goodnestone Church of England Primary School had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 10 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Adisham Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Goodnestone Church of England Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 3.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Goodnestone is a happy, friendly little school. It has a strong sense of togetherness. Staff are warm and friendly. Pupils are understanding and accepting of others' differences. They learn to work and play together, treating each other with care and respect. In this very small community, close relationships lead to both tight bonds and occasionally fractious friendships. The school works patiently to try to resolve any issues. As one parent aptly put it, 'It is a real community and everyone supports each other.'
The school wants the best for all pupils. Staff sensitively adapt their approach using their excellent knowledge of each individual. Pupils are motivated to do well. Classrooms are calm places of focus and concentration. Pupils find learning fun, from regular lessons at the farm to messy activities recreating representations of the digestive system. Pupils learn well across subjects, but the school could help them make the quality of work in their books even better.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Pupils learn and develop well academically, personally, socially and emotionally. Staff are ambitious for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). From early years onwards, children develop a real confidence in their surroundings. Pupils respond well to the nurturing relationships that adults foster. Pupils' conduct frequently shows their kindness and compassion.
SEND is always a high priority here. It is an area of expertise and a focus of ongoing staff development. Early years children with SEND are helped to feel secure in the predictable routines. The school works closely with other professionals, parents and carers, relentlessly pursuing what is in each pupil's best interests. There is a clear commitment to making an extra effort to meet a range of complex needs, including through developing highly individualised bespoke approaches.
From Ofsted's June 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its June 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
10.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2024/25 academic year
Class Sizes
16.0
Avg class size
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Goodnestone Church of England Primary School
Free school transport
Check free transport to Goodnestone Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Goodnestone Church of England Primary School 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)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
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 Goodnestone Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at Goodnestone Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Goodnestone Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Goodnestone Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Goodnestone Church of England Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Kent, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Goodnestone Church of England Primary School for 2014 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
68%
Available places
51 pupils
75 places
24 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Canterbury
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Canterbury
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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
9
SEN Support
7
EHC Plans
33.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
48
Total Pupils
19
Boys
29
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
9.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£44,076
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,039
Per pupil
£507k
Total funding
£6k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.0%
Overall absence
12.2%
Persistent absence
49
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Goodnestone Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at Goodnestone Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at Goodnestone Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 33% reached the expected standard in reading and 33% did so in maths.
What is Goodnestone Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Goodnestone Church of England Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024.
What is the catchment area for Goodnestone Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Goodnestone Church of England Primary 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 Goodnestone Church of England Primary School?
Goodnestone Church of England Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 68% of its 75 places.
How big are the classes at Goodnestone Church of England Primary School?
Classes at Goodnestone Church of England Primary School average 16 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Goodnestone Church of England Primary School?
Goodnestone Church of England Primary School has around 48 pupils on roll. 10% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Goodnestone Church of England Primary School?
7% of sessions were missed at Goodnestone Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 12.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Goodnestone Church of England Primary School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Goodnestone Church of England Primary 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.
How many road collisions happen near Goodnestone Church of England Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Kent is 11 (the median across 711 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Goodnestone Church of England Primary School?
Goodnestone Church of England Primary School is at The Street, Goodnestone, Canterbury, Kent, CT3 1PQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)