Sandling Primary School, Maidstone
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Sandling Primary School excels at creating a nurturing environment where children are happy and thriving, with parents speaking highly of the school's care and commitment to each child's development. The school offers a rich learning experience beyond the classroom, including weekly outdoor learning sessions and well-chosen extra-curricular clubs tailored to pupil interests. Teachers are expert in their subjects and skilled at explaining concepts clearly, with strong systems in place to identify and support pupils who need additional help, including those with SEND.
Key Strengths
- Highly ambitious, well-designed curriculum with detailed small steps that help all pupils, including those with SEND, achieve well -
- Expert phonics teaching and strong reading focus from Reception onwards, resulting in confident and fluent readers -
- High-quality pastoral care and strong sense of equality and justice, with pupils feeling safe, valued and listened to -
- Effective teaching strategies that check understanding and provide targeted support where needed -
- Positive staff expertise and subject knowledge that engages enthusiastic pupils in their learning
Areas for Improvement
- Mathematics teaching in Reception sometimes focuses on task completion rather than mathematical concept exploration, which may affect children's ability to apply learning as it progresses
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective and the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Extra-curricular clubs, weekly outdoor learning sessions, anti-bullying ambassadors, peer mediators, leadership opportunities
Sandling Primary School provides pupils with a rich and broad learning experience, prioritising both formal curriculum and wider development through well-considered enrichment opportunities. The school maintains good standards across all areas of education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership.
At a Glance
10.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
59 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 92% to 82%. Maths has declined from 89% to 68%. Writing has remained stable at around 87%.
Class Sizes
29.8
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
29.7
KS2
14
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
100%
Over capacity
421 pupils
420 capacity
1 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Maidstone
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Maidstone
Admissions Demand - Kent
Places available
19,144
Applications
16,524
Got 1st preference
90.6%
Got preferred school
98.5%
Primary admissions across Kent (2025/26)
Inspection History(8)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.32103%
Overall absence
8.82353%
Persistent absence
374
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Sandling Primary School
Nearby Schools
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