Grove Park Primary School, Sittingbourne

Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades Grove Park Primary School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard, 5 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have designed a comprehensive, coherent and well-sequenced programme of personal development."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils are polite and well mannered."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have a secure understanding of the quality of curriculum and teaching."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in the early years get off to a positive start at school."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders place inclusion at the centre of their work."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders are focused on continuous improvement."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Attainment over time is below where it needs to be, including in national tests."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to raise aspirations for what pupils can and should achieve so that pupils' achievement, including in published outcomes, improves further"; "Leaders should sharpen staff expertise in the use of assessment to identify and address misconceptions and gaps in learning swiftly, enabling teachers to adjust learning so that pupils build their knowledge securely across subjects and achieve well"; "Leaders should continue to tackle weak attendance systematically and build on improving trends so that all pupils attend school regularly".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Grove Park Primary School is a thriving and popular primary school in Sittingbourne with an excellent reputation in the community we serve. We all share a common belief in creating a school where children can thrive and grow into the people they wish to be; in a safe and happy environment that is inclusive of all."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care until 4:45pm.

Coming up: an open day on Thursday 5 November 2026 at 9am and an open day on Wednesday 11 November 2026 at 8.30am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 59% of Year 6 pupils at Grove Park Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 46% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 60% in reading and 52% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 36 families put Grove Park Primary School as their first choice and 108 named it as one of their preferences, for 47 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 Grove Park Primary School are Bobbing Village School (0.3 miles, Requires improvement, 82% reading, 79% maths); Westlands Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 78% reading, 70% maths); Regis Manor Primary School (1 mile, Good, 71% reading, 63% maths); and Borden Church of England Primary School (1 mile, Outstanding, 100% reading, 94% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Grove Park Primary School.

Grove Park Primary School is one of 4 schools run by Bourne Alliance Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 53% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

63 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Grove Park Primary School (as of September 2026): 68% would recommend the school, 76% say their child is happy there and 25% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (78%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (25%).

In 2026, 62 pupils (15.8%) received SEN support and 11 (2.8%) 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.

Grove Park Primary School had 27 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 Sittingbourne Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Meads (n-bound), 390 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 152 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Grove Park Primary School issued 5 suspensions, 1.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Grove Park Primary School are Westlands School (0.5 miles), Borden Grammar School (1.3 miles), Highsted Grammar School (1.6 miles) and Fulston Manor School (1.6 miles).