John Mayne Church of England Primary School, Ashford

Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Church of England
Ages 411

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~2.2km)Possible (~3.1km)Unlikely (~4.0km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Helen Tester
Pupils:94 / 140 capacity
LA:Kent
Phone:01580291424
Address:High Street, Biddenden, Ashford, TN27 8AL
Trust:TENTERDEN SCHOOLS TRUST
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 April 2023

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 7 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Early Years
Expected Standard
Inspected 25 February 2026View full report
URN:149623
UKPRN:10092108
Diocese:Diocese of Canterbury
Constituency:Weald of Kent
Urban/Rural:Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

This is a welcoming village school where children feel they belong and develop into respectful, kind learners. The school excels at supporting vulnerable pupils, including those with special needs and disadvantaged children, ensuring they feel included and supported. Staff prioritise pupil wellbeing and have successfully improved attendance through strong relationships with families.

Key Strengths

  • Pupils feel safe and well-cared for with strong relationships between staff and students
  • Attendance has improved significantly, especially for pupils with SEND
  • Personal development programme effectively teaches pupils about different cultures, beliefs and British values
  • School creates inclusive environment with effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
  • Behaviour is good with pupils showing respect and kindness

Areas for Improvement

  • Pupils do not achieve well enough in national tests - attainment falls below expectations
  • Teaching is inconsistent and does not address gaps in reading, writing and mathematical fluency
  • Staff lack sufficient professional development in subject knowledge and curriculum delivery
  • Curriculum sequencing and progression is unclear, leading to uneven progress across year groups
  • Early years provision misses opportunities for systematic learning, particularly in outdoor areas and writing

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Clarinet lessons, sporting events, trips to local football club, local rural singing festivals, police and fire service visits

John Mayne Church of England Primary School is a village primary school with a strong sense of community where pupils feel safe and well cared for. However, the school requires improvement in academic achievement and teaching consistency across the curriculum.

At a Glance

31.9%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading-36ppMaths-43ppWriting-26pp

Reading has declined from 100% to 64%. Maths has declined from 70% to 27%. Writing has declined from 90% to 64%.

Class Sizes

24.3

Avg class size

17.0

Infant (KS1)

28.0

KS2

3

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

The Weavers (opp)
159m · 3 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

67%

Available places

94 pupils

140 capacity

46 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Ashford

Low pressure
New homes approved:2,620
Projected new pupils:655

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Ashford

Admissions Demand - Kent

Low demand0.86x oversubscription

Places available

19,144

Applications

16,524

Got 1st preference

90.6%

Got preferred school

98.5%

Primary admissions across Kent (2025/26)

Inspection History(2)

25 February 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Early Years
5 April 2023

House Prices

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

6.2298%

Overall absence

16.09195%

Persistent absence

87

Enrolments

Authorised4.0875%
Unauthorised2.1423%
Persistent (10%+)16.09195%
Severe (50%+)1.14943%

Absence trend

7.47588%
23/24
6.2298%
24/25
Overall absence rate

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

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