Pluckley Church of England Primary School, Ashford
Pluckley Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Ashford, part of The Kemnal Academies Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 4th-highest of the 45 schools in Ashford with published results, and 1,291st of 14,452 across England. It was 74% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
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
Pluckley Church of England Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 94% of Year 6 pupils at Pluckley Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 88% 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 (93% in reading, 86% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Pluckley Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 17 families put Pluckley Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 31 named it as one of their preferences, for 17 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Pluckley Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Pluckley Church of England Primary School are Egerton Church of England Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 64% reading, 73% maths); Charing Church of England Primary School (3 miles, Good, 93% reading, 93% maths); Smarden Primary School (3.2 miles, Good, 89% reading, 89% maths); and Bethersden Primary School (3.3 miles, Good, 77% reading, 54% maths).
Pluckley Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Egerton Church of England Primary SchoolCharing Church of England Primary SchoolSmarden Primary SchoolBethersden Primary School
The trust
Pluckley Church of England Primary School is one of 45 schools run by The Kemnal Academies Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 71% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
28 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Pluckley Church of England Primary School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (89%).
Who goes there
2.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 13 pupils (15.9%) 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
Pluckley Church of England Primary School had 6 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 Pluckley Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Post Office (adjacent), 30 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 6 crimes within a mile of the school, most often vehicle crime, violence and sexual offences and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
Pluckley Church of England 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; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; 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 agoThis judgement is from June 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
This is a values-led school where children thrive academically and personally. Staff excel at teaching reading and ambitious vocabulary across all subjects, while supporting each child's individual needs including those with SEND. Pupils enjoy leadership opportunities and benefit from a rich range of activities including performances, residential trips and sporting events that build their confidence.
Key Strengths
- Pupils achieve well with strong phonics teaching and confident reading skills
- Excellent behaviour and high attendance, with clear expectations throughout school
- Ambitious curriculum that connects learning to real life and supports all pupils, including those with SEND
- Rich opportunities for wider development including performances, trips and sporting events
- Strong leadership culture with pupils taking active roles as ambassadors and governors
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers need to be more systematic about identifying and correcting errors in pupils' writing to ensure consistently high quality work
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with clear teaching about keeping healthy and safe, and an open culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Performances, residential trips, sporting events, leadership roles (ambassadors, house captains, student governors), movie nights, bake sales, breakfast club, after-school club
Pluckley Church of England Primary School has maintained its good standards. Pupils achieve well in a happy, safe and inspiring environment with exemplary behaviour and strong values-led learning.
At a Glance
23.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
28 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 94% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 86% to 82% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
20.5
Avg class size
17.0
Infant (KS1)
24.0
KS2
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Pluckley Church of England Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Pluckley Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Pluckley 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)
- Collisions
- 5
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 5 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Pluckley Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at Pluckley Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Pluckley Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Pluckley Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Pluckley 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 Pluckley 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
74%
Available places
88 pupils
119 places
31 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Ashford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Ashford
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: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
13
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
15.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
82
Total Pupils
44
Boys
38
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
6
Teachers
13.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,133
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,395
Per pupil
£655k
Total funding
£26k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.4%
Overall absence
7.4%
Persistent absence
81
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Pluckley Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at Pluckley Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at Pluckley Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 94% reached the expected standard in reading and 88% did so in maths.
What is Pluckley Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Pluckley Church of England Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Pluckley Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Pluckley 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 Pluckley Church of England Primary School?
Pluckley Church of England Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 74% of its 119 places.
How big are the classes at Pluckley Church of England Primary School?
Classes at Pluckley Church of England Primary School average 20.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Pluckley Church of England Primary School?
Pluckley Church of England Primary School has around 82 pupils on roll. 23% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Pluckley Church of England Primary School?
3.4% of sessions were missed at Pluckley Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 7.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Pluckley Church of England Primary School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Pluckley 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.
How many road collisions happen near Pluckley Church of England Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 5 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Pluckley Church of England Primary School?
Pluckley Church of England Primary School is at The Street, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent, TN27 0QS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)