Horsted Infant School has closed (Monday 31 August 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now Horsted Infant School.
Horsted Infant School, Chatham
Horsted Infant School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 7 in Chatham. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2023. It was 98% full in 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Medway (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
Horsted Infant School in detail
Horsted Infant School in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, rugby, hockey, cricket, choir, Lego, cooking, film and Spanish.
Source: The school's own website
Getting a place at Horsted Infant School
For September 2026 entry, 52 families put Horsted Infant School as their first choice and 110 named it as one of their preferences, for 54 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 Horsted Infant School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Horsted Infant School are Horsted Infant School (under 0.1 miles); Horsted Junior School (under 0.1 miles); Horsted Junior School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 87% reading, 85% maths); and Oaklands School (0.6 miles, 80% reading, 70% maths).
Horsted Infant SchoolHorsted Junior SchoolHorsted Junior SchoolOaklands School
Who goes there
6.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (70%), Asian (9%) and Mixed (7%).
In 2026, 34 pupils (18.2%) received SEN support and 5 (2.7%) 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 Chatham Rail Station, about 2.1 miles away in a straight line.
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Watson Avenue (n-bound), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 137 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Medway (250).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Horsted Infant School issued 7 suspensions, 4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: 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 GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its October 2023 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Leadership & management.
Areas Ofsted flagged
Early years (Requires Improvement).
At a Glance
6.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
25.6
Avg class size
27.8
Infant (KS1)
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Horsted Infant School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Horsted Infant School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Horsted Infant School is in Medway; for families living there:
Apply to Medway for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Horsted Infant School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
176 pupils
180 places
4 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Chatham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Chatham
Across Medway council
Places available
3,675
Applications
3,130
Got 1st preference
93.9%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Medway council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
34
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
20.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
187
Total Pupils
101
Boys
86
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
18.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,998
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,350
Per pupil
£1061k
Total funding
£27k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.1%
Overall absence
7.4%
Persistent absence
122
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Horsted Infant School
What is Horsted Infant School's Ofsted rating?
Horsted Infant School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2016 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Horsted Infant School?
No fixed boundary. When Horsted Infant School is oversubscribed, Medway allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Horsted Infant School?
Horsted Infant School was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Horsted Infant School?
Classes at Horsted Infant School average 25.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Horsted Infant School?
Horsted Infant School has around 187 pupils on roll. 6% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Horsted Infant School?
4.1% of sessions were missed at Horsted Infant School in 2024/25. 7.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Horsted Infant School?
Apply through Medway's coordinated admissions process, naming Horsted Infant 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.
Where is Horsted Infant School?
Horsted Infant School is at Barberry Avenue, Chatham, Kent, ME5 9TF.