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Higham Primary School, Rochester

Good
Primary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 4–11

Higham Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Rochester. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 20th-highest of the 25 schools in Rochester with published results, and 11,866th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.

SATs results
Below England average
Ofsted
Good (2024)
Demand
Every first choice offered
Attendance
In line with England
New inspections, open days and news, by email.

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

Higham Primary School in detail

Higham Primary School in its own words

From the headteacher's welcome: "Our aim at Higham is to ensure children make excellent progress, have belief in their own abilities, and feel safe, secure and happy while they are here. We are a friendly and approachable school, and want you and your child to have an enjoyable and successful time with us."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)

Source: The school's own website

Results

In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at Higham Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 57% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 69% in reading and 72% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

Getting a place at Higham Primary School

For September 2026 entry, 18 families put Higham Primary School as their first choice and 62 named it as one of their preferences, for 21 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 Higham Primary School

Compared with nearby schools

The nearest other state primary schools to Higham Primary School are Shorne Church of England Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 79% reading, 76% maths); Temple Mill Primary School (1.8 miles, Good, 81% reading, 78% maths); Cliffe Woods Primary School (2 miles, Outstanding, 68% reading, 65% maths); and Bligh Primary School (Juniors) (2 miles, Good, 71% reading, 64% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Higham Primary School.

Shorne Church of England Primary SchoolTemple Mill Primary SchoolCliffe Woods Primary SchoolBligh Primary School (Juniors)

Who goes there

11.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 5.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (84%) and Mixed (7%).

In 2026, 15 pupils (7.1%) received SEN support and 5 (2.4%) 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 Higham Rail Station, about 410 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School Lane Telephone Box (opposite), 110 metres away.

The area around the school

In August 2026, police recorded 13 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).

Suspensions and exclusions

In 2024/25, Higham Primary School issued 6 suspensions, 2.8 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; 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 GIAS
Head:Mrs Catherine Grattan
Pupils:210
LA:Kent
Phone:01474822535
Address:School Lane, Higham, Rochester, ME3 7JL
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 3 years ago
Good

Overall

Good

Quality of Education

Good

Behaviour & Attitudes

Good

Personal Development

Good

Leadership & Management

Good

Early Years

Inspected 24 January 2024View full report
URN:118262
UKPRN:10073365
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Gravesham
Urban/Rural:Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

Ofsted rated this school Good at its January 2024 inspection.

Rated Good for

Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.

At a Glance

11.9%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2024/25

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+4ppMaths-15ppWriting+1pp

Reading has improved from 69% to 73% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 72% to 57% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 73% (2024 to 2025).

Class Sizes

30.0

Avg class size

29.7

Infant (KS1)

30.3

KS2

7

Total classes

1 class with more than 30 pupils

2025/26 academic year

How Does This School Compare?

Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools

See peer comparison with Pro - £9 a month, or £90 a year, inc. VAT

Keep up with Higham Primary School

Getting There

Train Stations

Higham Rail Station (entrance)
410m · 7 min walk

Bus Stops

School Lane Telephone Box (opp)
113m · 2 min walk
Steadman Close (adj)
361m · 6 min walk
Railway Station (adj)
416m · 7 min walk
Chequers Street (N-bound)
602m · 10 min walk
School Lane Shops (opp)
748m · 12 min walk

Free school transport

Check free transport to Higham Primary School from your postcode →

You apply to the council where you live. Higham 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
4
Fatal
0
Serious
0
Children hurt
1

Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 4 slight.

1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.

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.

Can you get into this school?
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Commute and house prices

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Your chances of a place at Higham Primary School

Will you get a place at Higham Primary School? Get the admissions report

Your home postcode, set against Higham Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.

What the report includes for Higham Primary School:

  • The straight-line distance from your home to Higham 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 Higham 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

101%

Over capacity

211 pupils

210 places

1 pupil over capacity in 2025

2025, DfE school capacity data

Area Demand Pressure - Rochester

Medium pressure
New homes approved:2,180
Projected new pupils:545

Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rochester

Across Kent council

Low demand council-wide0.88 applications per place

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)

24 January 2024
Quality of EducationGood
Behaviour & AttitudesGood
Personal DevelopmentGood
Leadership & ManagementGood
Early YearsGood
8 October 2020
6 June 2018

SEND & SEN Provision

SEN Overview

15

SEN Support

5

EHC Plans

9.5%

of Total Pupils

2026 academic year

Provision & Specialist Facilities

No specialist provision recorded

Pupils by Need Type

Social, Emotional & Mental Health5
Speech, Language & Communication5
Autistic Spectrum Disorder3
Specific Learning Difficulty2
Other2
Moderate Learning Difficulty1
EHC Plan
SEN Support

Pupil Demographics

Ethnicity

White British
84.3%
Asian
2.9%
Black
1.0%
Mixed
7.2%
Other
0.5%
Unclassified
0.5%

2026 academic year

Key Indicators

Free School Meals11.9%
English as Additional Language5.7%

210

Total Pupils

105

Boys

105

Girls

2026 academic year

Workforce

11

Teachers

19.1:1

Pupil-teacher ratio

£53,057

Mean salary

2026 data

School Funding

£5,234

Per pupil

£1218k

Total funding

£41k

Pupil premium

Deprivation£46,691
EAL funding£2,713
Lump sum£142,484

2025-26 financial year allocations

Pupil Absence
2024/25

5.2%

Overall absence

12.2%

Persistent absence

181

Enrolments

Authorised3.5%
Unauthorised1.7%
Persistent (10%+)12.2%
Severe (50%+)0.0%

Absence trend

3.7%
18/19
3.2%
20/21
4.4%
21/22
5.2%
22/23
6.1%
23/24
5.2%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

Questions parents ask about Higham Primary School

What are SATs results like at Higham Primary School?

Of the pupils at Higham Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 73% reached the expected standard in reading and 57% did so in maths.

What is Higham Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Higham Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2024.

What is the catchment area for Higham Primary School?

No fixed boundary. When Higham 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 Higham Primary School?

Higham Primary School was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.

How big are the classes at Higham Primary School?

Classes at Higham Primary School average 30 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.

How many pupils go to Higham Primary School?

Higham Primary School has around 210 pupils on roll. 12% are eligible for free school meals.

What is attendance like at Higham Primary School?

5.2% of sessions were missed at Higham Primary School in 2024/25. 12.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).

How do I apply to Higham Primary School?

Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Higham 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 Higham Primary School?

Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 4 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 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 Higham Primary School?

Higham Primary School is at School Lane, Higham, Rochester, Kent, ME3 7JL.

Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)

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