Nonington Church of England Primary School, Dover
Nonington Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Dover. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 21st-highest of the 21 schools in Dover with published results, and 14,448th of 14,452 across England. It was 64% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2022)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
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
Nonington Church of England Primary School in detail
Nonington Church of England Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "On behalf of the children, staff and Governors, we would like to warmly welcome you to our school. We pride ourselves on ensuring that our school is an inclusive place of learning where everyone is valued and respected. We recognise every child as an individual and give them every opportunity to achieve across our whole curriculum."
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:50am.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 17% of Year 6 pupils at Nonington Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 17% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 50% in reading and 17% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Nonington Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 3 families put Nonington Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 11 named it as one of their preferences, for 3 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Nonington Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Nonington Church of England Primary School are St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Aylesham (0.7 miles, Good, 86% reading, 86% maths); Aylesham Primary School (1.2 miles); Goodnestone Church of England Primary School (1.6 miles, Good, 33% reading, 33% maths); and Adisham Church of England Primary School (2 miles, Outstanding, 75% reading, 81% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Nonington Church of England Primary School.
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, AyleshamAylesham Primary SchoolGoodnestone Church of England Primary SchoolAdisham Church of England Primary School
What parents say
14 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Nonington Church of England Primary School (as of September 2025): 86% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 75% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child does well at the school (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (64%).
Who goes there
46.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 2.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 21 pupils (46.7%) received SEN support and 5 (11.1%) 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 autism.
Staffing
Nonington Church of England Primary School had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Aylesham Rail Station, about 1120 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 17 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Nonington Church of England Primary School issued 28 suspensions, 48.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
All pupils feel a special sense of care in this small rural school. The school has significantly increased pupil numbers in recent months. Pupils value the warm relationships they have with staff. Those new to the school feel welcomed and cared for. The school has more pupils with some form of disadvantage than the national average. These pupils and their families feel valued and included in all aspects of school life.
Staff are aspirational for pupils' learning. However, the school has not consistently realised the ambitions of the curriculum. As a result, not all pupils achieve as well as they could. Pupils are eager to learn and are enthusiastic about what they know. They are proud of learning about their links to the local coal mining heritage.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Children make a positive start in Reception. The curriculum is carefully planned to provide opportunities for children to engage with each other and key learning. Children build effective language skills through purposefully chosen activities. They can access appropriate resources and equipment. Adults effectively model interactions and learning. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive expert care and attention. As a result, all children are ready for the next stage of education.
The curriculum is broad and ambitious. The school has identified and ordered all the knowledge that pupils need to learn. The school has done this effectively to reflect the mixed age range classes. In lessons, teachers do not yet consistently follow the curriculum or accurately teach the key concepts. This means pupils do not learn as well as they could. The support of pupils with SEND is a key strength of the school. The school ensures that pupils with complex needs are identified effectively and supported to achieve the best possible outcomes.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Requires Improvement at its April 2022 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
Areas Ofsted flagged
Quality of education (Requires Improvement).
At a Glance
46.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
14 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 declined from 50% to 17% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 17% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 33% to 0% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
15.0
Avg class size
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Nonington Church of England Primary School
Before and after school care
Nonington Church of England Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Kent
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Nonington Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Nonington Church of England 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)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
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 Nonington Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at Nonington Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Nonington Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Nonington Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Nonington Church of England 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 Nonington Church of England 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
64%
Available places
54 pupils
84 places
30 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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
21
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
57.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
45
Total Pupils
20
Boys
25
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
9.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£40,716
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,395
Per pupil
£574k
Total funding
£53k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
13.0%
Overall absence
46.2%
Persistent absence
52
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Nonington Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at Nonington Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at Nonington Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 17% reached the expected standard in reading and 17% did so in maths.
What is Nonington Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Nonington Church of England Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2022, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Nonington Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Nonington Church of England 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 Nonington Church of England Primary School?
Nonington Church of England Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 64% of its 84 places.
How big are the classes at Nonington Church of England Primary School?
Classes at Nonington Church of England Primary School average 15 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Nonington Church of England Primary School?
Nonington Church of England Primary School has around 45 pupils on roll. 47% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Nonington Church of England Primary School?
13% of sessions were missed at Nonington Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 46.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Nonington Church of England Primary School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Nonington Church of England 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 Nonington Church of England Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Nonington Church of England Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Nonington Church of England Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Kent is 11 (the median across 711 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Nonington Church of England Primary School?
Nonington Church of England Primary School is at Church Street, Nonington, Dover, Kent, CT15 4LB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)