Rolvenden Primary School, Cranbrook
Rolvenden Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Cranbrook, part of Tenterden Schools Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 8th-highest of the 9 schools in Cranbrook with published results, and 9,159th of 14,452 across England. It was 85% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
- 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
Rolvenden Primary School in detail
Rolvenden Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "Rolvenden Primary School is a small school which is built around the CREATE values of Creativity, Resilience, Engagement, Aspirations, Teamwork and Enjoyment. Our curriculum is engaging and ambitious and is designed and led by strong and knowledgeable staff."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include gymnastics, dance, Lego and film.
The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care, from £3 per session.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at Rolvenden Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 73% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 86% in reading and 86% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Rolvenden Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 6 families put Rolvenden Primary School as their first choice and 24 named it as one of their preferences, for 7 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 Rolvenden Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Rolvenden Primary School are Benenden Church of England Primary School (2.4 miles, Good, 86% reading, 82% maths); Tenterden Church of England Junior School (2.9 miles, Good, 64% reading, 54% maths); Tenterden Infant School (2.9 miles, Good); and Sandhurst Primary School (3.2 miles, Good, 79% reading, 79% maths).
Rolvenden Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Benenden Church of England Primary SchoolTenterden Church of England Junior SchoolTenterden Infant SchoolSandhurst Primary School
The trust
Rolvenden Primary School is one of 6 schools run by Tenterden Schools Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 52% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
34.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 1.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 22 pupils (24.4%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Rolvenden Rail Station (KESR), about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Monypenny (on), 240 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 7 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
Rolvenden 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; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; 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 November 2012, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils are surrounded with care and kindness at this small, friendly school. The school's motto, 'Small school - Big difference', captures their experiences here. Pupils enjoy playing and learning together. They have positive relationships with staff and each other. They trust in adults to keep them safe and to resolve any fallings-out, which are rare.
The school is calm and well ordered. Pupils know that they are expected to work hard and behave well. They take pride in their achievements. At playtimes, pupils get along well, whether involved in skipping challenges, enjoying the wooded area or active in ball games. They encourage each other, and shouts of 'Well done,' or 'Good pass,' are commonplace.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has carefully crafted an ambitious curriculum that builds knowledge effectively as pupils move through the school. From Years 1 to 6, this is well sequenced. Pupils in mixed-age classes, but different year groups, are very clear about how the expectations of them are slightly different because of the year group they are in. The school recognises the need to ensure the early years curriculum is more precisely linked to Year 1 to ensure children have the knowledge they need in all subjects, ready for Year 1. The school is in the process of bringing this about to further support children as they move on from Reception.
Staff have strong subject knowledge, which supports them well in delivering the planned curriculum. They regularly check that pupils are understanding and learning the intended curriculum. Any pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have their needs quickly identified. This helps staff to adapt learning so that pupils with SEND do well and experience success.
From Ofsted's June 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 Good at its November 2012 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
34.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 86% to 73% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 86% to 73% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 86% to 80% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
22.5
Avg class size
20.5
Infant (KS1)
24.5
KS2
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Rolvenden Primary School
From Rolvenden Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Rolvenden Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Rolvenden Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Rolvenden 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
- 4
- Children hurt
- 1
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, 4 serious and 1 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
2 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 Rolvenden Primary School
Will you get a place at Rolvenden Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Rolvenden Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Rolvenden Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Rolvenden 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 Rolvenden Primary School for 2020 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
85%
Available places
93 pupils
110 places
17 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Cranbrook
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Cranbrook
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(2)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
22
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
24.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
90
Total Pupils
45
Boys
45
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
18.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,902
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,861
Per pupil
£700k
Total funding
£38k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.9%
Overall absence
9.8%
Persistent absence
82
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Rolvenden Primary School
What are SATs results like at Rolvenden Primary School?
Of the pupils at Rolvenden Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 73% reached the expected standard in reading and 73% did so in maths.
What is Rolvenden Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Rolvenden Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Rolvenden Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Rolvenden 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 Rolvenden Primary School?
Rolvenden Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 85% of its 110 places.
How big are the classes at Rolvenden Primary School?
Classes at Rolvenden Primary School average 22.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Rolvenden Primary School?
Rolvenden Primary School has around 90 pupils on roll. 34% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Rolvenden Primary School?
4.9% of sessions were missed at Rolvenden Primary School in 2024/25. 9.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Rolvenden Primary School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Rolvenden 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 Rolvenden 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, 4 serious and 1 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 2 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 Rolvenden Primary School?
Rolvenden Primary School is at Hastings Road, Rolvenden, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 4LS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)