Lydden Primary School, Dover
Lydden Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Dover. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 3rd-highest of the 21 schools in Dover with published results, and 2,457th of 14,452 across England. It was 90% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Kent (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Lydden Primary School in detail
Lydden Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Lydden Primary School is a small rural village school catering for children between the ages of 4-11. Children learn together in four mixed age classes. The school is open from 8.45am to 3.15pm. We aspire for all children to become confident, caring individuals who achieve well academically and develop a love of learning."
The school runs after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 92% of Year 6 pupils at Lydden Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 83% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (86% in reading, 86% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Lydden Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 5 families put Lydden Primary School as their first choice and 42 named it as one of their preferences, for 8 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 Lydden Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Lydden Primary School are Temple Ewell Church of England Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 95% reading, 95% maths); Shepherdswell Church of England Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 89% reading, 96% maths); River Primary School (2 miles, Outstanding, 87% reading, 70% maths); and Whitfield Aspen School (2.2 miles, Good, 61% reading, 55% maths).
Lydden Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Temple Ewell Church of England Primary SchoolShepherdswell Church of England Primary SchoolRiver Primary SchoolWhitfield Aspen School
What parents say
27 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Lydden Primary School (as of September 2025): 85% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 88% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (82%).
Who goes there
1.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 20 pupils (29.4%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) 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.
Staffing
Lydden Primary School had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Kearsney Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Old Police Houses (e-bound), 170 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 8 crimes within a mile of the school, most often burglary, violence and sexual offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
Lydden 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; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from February 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Lydden is a caring, small school where your child will be known well and encouraged to aim high. Reading is a particular strength, with expert teaching helping children become confident, fluent readers from Reception onwards. The school also excels at building character - your child will develop kindness, responsibility and an understanding of different cultures and beliefs, preparing them well for secondary school.
Key Strengths
- Reading is a whole school priority with well-trained staff and consistent, high-quality teaching - pupils are fluent, accurate readers who love reading
- Pupils demonstrate strong behaviour, kindness and respect, creating a positive learning environment where they rise to high expectations
- Effective support for pupils with SEND, which has significantly increased, with swift identification and targeted help in and out of classrooms
- School provides meaningful opportunities for responsibility and citizenship through roles like pupil ambassadors, mini cadets and mini medics
- Strong leadership at all levels with committed governors who effectively challenge and support the school
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils have gaps in learning from the recent curriculum transition, though the school is working to identify and close these
- In some newer curriculum areas, teachers deliver content with less confidence and explanations are not always clear enough, particularly impacting pupils with SEND
- Need for continued staff training and support to implement the new curriculum as intended
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Pupil ambassadors, mini cadets, mini medics
Lydden Primary School is a small rural primary school that has maintained good standards since its previous inspection. Pupils flourish in an environment of high expectations, care, and kindness, with effective support for those with special educational needs.
At a Glance
17.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
27 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 86% to 92% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 83% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 71% to 92% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
17.0
Avg class size
9.0
Infant (KS1)
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Lydden Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Lydden Primary School.
- Lydden Wraparound @ jackinaboxeducationltdAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Lydden Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Lydden 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
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
1 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 Lydden Primary School
Will you get a place at Lydden Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Lydden Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Lydden Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Lydden 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 Lydden 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
90%
Near capacity
76 pupils
84 places
8 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Dover
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Dover
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: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
20
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
29.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
68
Total Pupils
31
Boys
37
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
13.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,265
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,667
Per pupil
£573k
Total funding
£23k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.6%
Overall absence
6.8%
Persistent absence
74
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Lydden Primary School
What are SATs results like at Lydden Primary School?
Of the pupils at Lydden Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 92% reached the expected standard in reading and 83% did so in maths.
What is Lydden Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Lydden Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Lydden Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Lydden 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 Lydden Primary School?
Lydden Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 90% of its 84 places.
How big are the classes at Lydden Primary School?
Classes at Lydden Primary School average 17 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Lydden Primary School?
Lydden Primary School has around 68 pupils on roll. 18% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Lydden Primary School?
4.6% of sessions were missed at Lydden Primary School in 2024/25. 6.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Lydden Primary School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Lydden 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.
Does Lydden Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Lydden Wraparound @ jackinaboxeducationltd (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Lydden Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 1 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 Lydden Primary School?
Lydden Primary School is at Stonehall, Lydden, Dover, Kent, CT15 7LA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)