Istead Rise Primary School, Gravesend
Istead Rise Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Gravesend, part of Swale Academies Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 25 schools in Gravesend with published results, and 2,629th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.9 first-choice applications for every place. It was 67% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2018)
- Demand
- 1.9 first choices per place
- Attendance
- In line with England
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
Istead Rise Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils at Istead Rise Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 87% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 87% in reading and 80% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Istead Rise Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 57 families put Istead Rise Primary School as their first choice and 121 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.9 first choices for every place. 27 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Istead Rise Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Istead Rise Primary School are Langafel Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (1.4 miles, Requires improvement, 63% reading, 47% maths); Sedley's Church of England Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 87% reading, 87% maths); Painters Ash Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 90% reading, 97% maths); and Shears Green Junior School (1.6 miles, Good, 63% reading, 68% maths).
Istead Rise Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Langafel Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolSedley's Church of England Primary SchoolPainters Ash Primary SchoolShears Green Junior School
The trust
Istead Rise Primary School is one of 19 schools run by Swale Academies Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 64% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
13.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and Mixed (6%).
In 2026, 29 pupils (13.7%) received SEN support and 1 (0.5%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Meopham Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Upper Avenue (opposite), 20 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Istead Rise 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 18 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
Istead Rise Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from September 2018, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its September 2018 inspection - up from Inadequate.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
13.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 87% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 80% to 87% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 90% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.2
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
30.3
KS2
6
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Istead Rise Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Istead Rise Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Istead Rise 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
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Istead Rise Primary School
Will you get a place at Istead Rise Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Istead Rise Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Istead Rise Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Istead Rise 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 Istead Rise Primary School for 2016 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
67%
Available places
210 pupils
315 places
105 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Gravesend
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Gravesend
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: 1.9 first choices per place
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
29
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
14.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
211
Total Pupils
109
Boys
102
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
21.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,518
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,992
Per pupil
£1157k
Total funding
£42k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.5%
Overall absence
11.4%
Persistent absence
185
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Istead Rise Primary School
Questions parents ask about Istead Rise Primary School
What are SATs results like at Istead Rise Primary School?
Of the pupils at Istead Rise Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 87% reached the expected standard in reading and 87% did so in maths.
What is Istead Rise Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Istead Rise Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2018, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Istead Rise Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Istead Rise 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 Istead Rise Primary School?
Istead Rise Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 67% of its 315 places.
How big are the classes at Istead Rise Primary School?
Classes at Istead Rise Primary School average 30.2 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 Istead Rise Primary School?
Istead Rise Primary School has around 211 pupils on roll. 14% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Istead Rise Primary School?
5.5% of sessions were missed at Istead Rise Primary School in 2024/25. 11.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Istead Rise Primary School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Istead Rise 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 Istead Rise Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Istead Rise Primary School?
Istead Rise Primary School is at Downs Road, Northfleet, Gravesend, Kent, DA13 9HG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)