Petham Primary School, Canterbury
Petham Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Canterbury, part of Our Community Multi Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 16th-highest of the 28 schools in Canterbury with published results, and 8,234th of 14,452 across England. It was 89% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Kent (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Petham Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at Petham Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 83% in reading and 58% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Petham Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 9 families put Petham Primary School as their first choice and 36 named it as one of their preferences, for 10 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 Petham Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Petham Primary School are Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School (2 miles, Good, 71% reading, 71% maths); Chartham Primary School (2.7 miles, 73% reading, 75% maths); Wincheap Foundation Primary School (3.5 miles, Good, 85% reading, 73% maths); and Bodsham Church of England Primary School (3.7 miles, Good, 86% reading, 86% maths).
Petham Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary SchoolChartham Primary SchoolWincheap Foundation Primary SchoolBodsham Church of England Primary School
The trust
Petham Primary School is one of 10 schools run by Our Community Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
47 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Petham Primary School (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 73% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (98%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (72%).
Who goes there
3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (80%) and Mixed (9%).
In 2026, 18 pupils (18.2%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Staffing
Petham Primary School had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Chartham Rail Station, about 2.8 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church Lane (adjacent), 350 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Petham Primary School issued 1 suspension, 1 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
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 May 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 April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Petham Primary School creates a warm, welcoming environment where children thrive both academically and personally. Teachers have high expectations and consistently deliver quality teaching, particularly in reading and mathematics. The school places great emphasis on personal development and ensures all children, including those with additional needs, feel safe, supported and included in a wide range of enriching activities.
Key Strengths
- Pupils are excited about learning, extremely well behaved, and happy to attend school
- Strong phonics programme and early reading teaching result in pupils acquiring secure and reliable reading skills
- Well-structured curriculum with clearly identified technical vocabulary in most subjects, particularly English and mathematics
- Pupils with SEND are fully included and receive carefully tailored support with staff training to meet individual needs
- Excellent personal development through a strong PSHE curriculum and wide range of clubs, trips and activities
Areas for Improvement
- Complete the refinement of subject-specific vocabulary and key knowledge elements in remaining foundation subjects to ensure consistent delivery across all curriculum areas
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with clear systems and robust procedures established by the multi-academy trust.
Extracurricular Activities
clubs, trips, activities
Petham Primary School is a warm and welcoming village primary school where pupils thrive and achieve well both personally and academically. The school has maintained good standards with a carefully designed curriculum and consistently high expectations for learning and behaviour.
At a Glance
21.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
47 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 remained stable at around 83% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 58% to 67% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 94% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.8
Avg class size
20.0
Infant (KS1)
29.5
KS2
4
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Petham Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Petham Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Petham 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 Petham Primary School
Will you get a place at Petham Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Petham Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Petham Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Petham 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 Petham 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
89%
Available places
102 pupils
115 places
13 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Canterbury
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Canterbury
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(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
18
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
18.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
99
Total Pupils
54
Boys
45
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
12.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,519
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,944
Per pupil
£692k
Total funding
£24k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.9%
Overall absence
10.2%
Persistent absence
98
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Petham Primary School
What are SATs results like at Petham Primary School?
Of the pupils at Petham Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% reached the expected standard in reading and 67% did so in maths.
What is Petham Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Petham Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Petham Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Petham 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 Petham Primary School?
Petham Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 89% of its 115 places.
How big are the classes at Petham Primary School?
Classes at Petham Primary School average 24.8 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Petham Primary School?
Petham Primary School has around 99 pupils on roll. 21% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Petham Primary School?
4.9% of sessions were missed at Petham Primary School in 2024/25. 10.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Petham Primary School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Petham 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.
How many road collisions happen near Petham 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 Petham Primary School?
Petham Primary School is at Petham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 5RD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)