Parkside Community Foundation Primary School, Canterbury

In its own words: "At Parkside Community Primary School we want every child to feel valued and be given time and guidance to develop emotionally, physically and academically. We believe that every child has the right to learn in a caring, safe environment. The establishment of a sound, positive and caring ethos is an essential prerequisite for whole child learning."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include basketball, multi-sports, gardening and forest school.

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

Coming up: an admissions event on Wednesday 11 November 2026 and an open day on Wednesday 11 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 38% of Year 6 pupils at Parkside Community Foundation Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 31% 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 54% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 21 families put Parkside Community Foundation Primary School as their first choice and 30 named it as one of their preferences, for 23 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Parkside Community Foundation Primary School are St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, Canterbury (1 mile, Good, 87% reading, 93% maths); St Johns Church of England Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 58% reading, 42% maths); St Stephen's Infant School (1.2 miles, Good); and St Stephen's Junior School (1.2 miles, Good, 62% reading, 55% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Parkside Community Foundation Primary School.

Parkside Community Foundation Primary School is one of 4 schools run by Thanet Endeavour Learning Trust, an academy trust.

67.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 31.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (44%), Asian (15%) and Mixed (8%).

In 2026, 36 pupils (22.4%) received SEN support and 3 (1.9%) 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 autism.

Parkside Community Foundation Primary School had 12 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Sturry Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Reed Avenue (adjacent), 400 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Parkside Community Foundation Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 280 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Parkside Community Foundation Primary School issued 9 suspensions, 5.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Parkside Community Foundation Primary School are Barton Court Grammar School (1 mile), Barton Manor School (1.1 miles), The Archbishop's School (1.4 miles) and Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School (1.7 miles).