Minterne Junior School, Sittingbourne

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Minterne Junior School on 6 areas: 3 strong standard and 3 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have constructed a curriculum that is ambitious and clearly sequenced."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have robust systems to identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) swiftly and accurately."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's approach to equality, diversity and inclusion is a notable strength."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Over time, most pupils' achievement in reading and mathematics by the end of key stage 2 is broadly in line with national averages."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have high expectations for pupils' attendance."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a school that is at the centre of the community."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue with their work to ensure that disadvantaged pupils consistently achieve well and develop detailed knowledge and skills across the curriculum so that they are well prepared for their next stage of education"; "Leaders should analyse whole-school attendance carefully to spot trends and patterns so that pupils who are eligible for the pupil premium attend school more regularly".

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Minterne, we are passionate about providing children with the opportunities and desire for learning. Our purpose is to equip our children with the essential skills they need to be successful and engaged in all their learning, both at school and in the wider world."

In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at Minterne Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 68% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 79% in reading and 68% in maths in 2024.

Across Kent, 90% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 98% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Kent lodged 237 appeals against primary school offers; 166 reached a hearing and 18 succeeded (10.8% of those heard).

The nearest other state primary schools to Minterne Junior School are The Oaks Infant School (under 0.1 miles, Good); St Peter's Catholic Primary School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 87% reading, 73% maths); Westlands Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 78% reading, 70% maths); and Tunstall Church of England (Aided) Primary School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 81% reading, 86% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Minterne Junior School.

Minterne Junior School is one of 10 schools run by Our Community Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

81 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Minterne Junior School (as of September 2026): 83% would recommend the school, 86% say their child is happy there and 43% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (89%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (43%).

6.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 69 pupils (17.6%) received SEN support and 39 (9.9%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Minterne Junior School has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Sittingbourne Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Windsor Drive (opposite), 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 246 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Minterne Junior School issued 1 suspension, 0.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Minterne Junior School are Borden Grammar School (0.6 miles), Fulston Manor School (0.6 miles), Highsted Grammar School (0.6 miles) and Westlands School (0.9 miles).