Headcorn Primary School, Headcorn
Headcorn Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Headcorn. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 290th-highest of the 432 schools in Kent with published results, and 10,218th of 14,452 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2022)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- 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
Headcorn Primary School in detail
Headcorn Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are delighted to welcome you to our vibrant community. As a two-form entry school, we offer 60 admission places in our Reception (Early Years) classes. Currently, we have approximately 400 pupils across fourteen classes, spanning from Reception to Year 6."
The school runs after-school care.
Coming up: an open day on Sunday 8 November 2026, an open day on Wednesday 11 November 2026, an open day on Friday 13 November 2026 and an open day on Thursday 19 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils at Headcorn Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 65% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (77% in reading, 67% in maths).
Getting a place at Headcorn Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 64 families put Headcorn Primary School as their first choice and 98 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 6 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Headcorn Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Headcorn Primary School are Frittenden Church of England Primary School (2.5 miles, Requires improvement, 80% reading, 93% maths); Ulcombe Church of England Primary School (3 miles, Good, 31% reading, 23% maths); Staplehurst School (3.1 miles, Good, 52% reading, 48% maths); and Staplehurst School (3.1 miles).
Headcorn Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Frittenden Church of England Primary SchoolUlcombe Church of England Primary SchoolStaplehurst SchoolStaplehurst School
What parents say
91 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Headcorn Primary School (as of September 2025): 90% would recommend the school, 95% say their child is happy there and 70% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (95%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (70%).
Who goes there
6.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (78%) and Mixed (10%).
In 2026, 56 pupils (14%) received SEN support and 9 (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 Headcorn Rail Station, about 610 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bankfields (opposite), 210 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 36 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Headcorn Primary School issued 29 suspensions, 7.3 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; Ofsted Parent View; 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
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Headcorn Primary is a safe, happy place where children develop confidence and build respectful relationships with adults and each other. The school excels at teaching reading and has strong behaviour standards across the whole school. Teachers understand each child's needs well and provide effective support for pupils with SEND to help them achieve.
Key Strengths
- Reading is taught exceptionally well with strong phonics instruction and early identification of struggling readers
- High standards for behaviour and respectful, calm conduct throughout the school
- Strong pastoral support including worry boxes, calm corner club, and well-being expertise
- Ambitious and coherent curriculum that builds learning securely from Reception to Year 6
- Excellent leadership and governance with focus on staff well-being and professional development
Areas for Improvement
- In some foundation subjects, lesson activities do not closely match the intended curriculum, affecting pupil achievement
- Need to ensure appropriate activities are used consistently across all curriculum areas as the school continues to develop
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong safeguarding culture, accessible support systems, and quick identification of additional needs.
Extracurricular Activities
Reading ambassadors, Eco warriors, trips to local places of historical interest, London museum visits, visitors including dentist and police
Headcorn Primary School is a welcoming and friendly school where pupils are proud to learn and achieve well. The school has made significant improvement since its previous inspection, with ambitious goals for all pupils including those with SEND.
At a Glance
30.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
91 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 76% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 65% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 73% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.6
Avg class size
28.7
Infant (KS1)
28.6
KS2
14
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Headcorn Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Headcorn Primary School.
- Junior Adventures Group @ Headcorn TN27At the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Headcorn Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Headcorn 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)
- Collisions
- 12
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 12 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
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 Headcorn Primary School
Will you get a place at Headcorn Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Headcorn Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Headcorn Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Headcorn 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 Headcorn 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
95%
Near capacity
401 pupils
420 places
19 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Headcorn
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Headcorn
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: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
56
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
16.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
401
Total Pupils
206
Boys
195
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
22
Teachers
18.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£44,573
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,055
Per pupil
£2277k
Total funding
£144k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.5%
Overall absence
20.7%
Persistent absence
358
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Headcorn Primary School
What are SATs results like at Headcorn Primary School?
Of the pupils at Headcorn Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 76% reached the expected standard in reading and 65% did so in maths.
What is Headcorn Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Headcorn Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2022, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Headcorn Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Headcorn 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 Headcorn Primary School?
Headcorn Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Headcorn Primary School?
Classes at Headcorn Primary School average 28.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Headcorn Primary School?
Headcorn Primary School has around 401 pupils on roll. 30% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Headcorn Primary School?
6.5% of sessions were missed at Headcorn Primary School in 2024/25. 20.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Headcorn Primary School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Headcorn 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.
Does Headcorn Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Junior Adventures Group @ Headcorn TN27 (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Headcorn Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 12 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 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 Headcorn Primary School?
Headcorn Primary School is at Kings Road, Headcorn, Kent, TN27 9QT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)