Ightham Primary School, Sevenoaks

Ofsted's report card from its 23 June 2026 inspection grades Ightham Primary School on 7 areas: 7 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils achieve highly across subjects."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders prioritise securing high attendance for all pupils."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have a very clear understanding of the strengths and priorities for development in curriculum and teaching."

Early years - Strong standard. "Children get an excellent start in the early years."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Inclusion lies at the heart of the school's work."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders are united in their vision that all pupils feel included, achieve and thrive."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Pupils' personal development and wellbeing are at the heart of this school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders and those responsible for governance should continue to ensure ongoing developments to the school's provision leading to exceptional standards of teaching which has a transformational impact on the achievement of all pupils, particularly those who face barriers to their learning".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Ightham Primary School. I am Sue Earl, Headteacher, and it is a privilege to lead a small, caring school where every child belongs. We are proud of a learning environment that combines high expectations with warmth and belonging."

The school runs after-school care.

Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 10 November 2026 and an open day on Monday 16 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

Ightham Primary School has no published results of its own yet. Before it took its current form in 2025, under its previous registration (URN 118293), 90% of its Year 6 pupils reached the expected standard in reading and 77% in maths in the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments.

For September 2026 entry, 47 families put Ightham Primary School as their first choice and 92 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.6 first choices for every place. 17 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Ightham Primary School are St Lawrence Church of England Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 100% reading, 75% maths); Borough Green Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 65% reading, 40% maths); Plaxtol Primary School (2.1 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths); and Platt Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (2.2 miles, Good, 68% reading, 52% maths).

Ightham Primary School is one of 23 schools run by The Pioneer Academy, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

29 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ightham Primary School (as of April 2026): 90% would recommend the school, 97% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that they are kept well informed about progress (79%).

2.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 8.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (86%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 14 pupils (6.8%) received SEN support and 6 (2.9%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

Ightham Primary School had 14 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 Borough Green & Wrotham Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Ightham Primary School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 8 crimes within a mile of the school, most often vehicle crime, violence and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).