Sheldwich Primary School, Faversham
Sheldwich Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Faversham. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 12 schools in Faversham with published results, and 1,291st of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.4 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 105% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Kent (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Sheldwich Primary School in detail
Sheldwich Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "'At Sheldwich Primary School we believe in achieving consistently high standards of work and behaviour in a happy and caring environment'. We are proud of our reputation as a friendly, caring and welcoming school and our aim is that all our children should be happy and successful during their time here."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 91% of Year 6 pupils at Sheldwich Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 91% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 88% in reading and 79% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Sheldwich Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 41 families put Sheldwich Primary School as their first choice and 82 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 15 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Sheldwich Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Sheldwich Primary School are Selling Church of England Primary School (1.6 miles, Good, 76% reading, 52% maths); Ethelbert Road Primary School (2.6 miles, Outstanding, 83% reading, 79% maths); Ospringe Church of England Primary School (2.6 miles, Good, 81% reading, 81% maths); and Eastling Primary School (2.9 miles, Good, 82% reading, 65% maths).
Sheldwich Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Selling Church of England Primary SchoolEthelbert Road Primary SchoolOspringe Church of England Primary SchoolEastling Primary School
Who goes there
7.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 4.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 15 pupils (6.1%) received SEN support and 1 (0.4%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Selling Rail Station, about 2.5 miles away in a straight line.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Primary School (adjacent), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences and other crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
Sheldwich 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 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
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its May 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
7.7%
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 remained stable at around 91% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 79% to 91% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 85% to 91% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
31.6
Avg class size
30.3
Infant (KS1)
32.5
KS2
7
Total classes
5 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Sheldwich Primary School
Newsletter No. 02 Friday 25th Sept 2026
25 Sep 2026
Newsletter No. 1 Friday 11th Sept 2026
11 Sep 2026
Newsletter No.21 Friday 17th July 2026
17 Jul 2026
Newsletter No.20 - Friday 3rd July 2026
3 Jul 2026
Newsletter No.19 - Friday 19th June 2026
19 Jun 2026
Newsletter No. 18 - Friday 5th June 2026
5 Jun 2026
From Sheldwich Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Sheldwich Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Sheldwich Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Sheldwich 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
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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 Sheldwich Primary School
Will you get a place at Sheldwich Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Sheldwich Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Sheldwich Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Sheldwich 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 Sheldwich 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
105%
Over capacity
221 pupils
210 places
11 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Faversham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Faversham
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(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
15
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
6.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
246
Total Pupils
113
Boys
133
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
22.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,101
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,910
Per pupil
£1187k
Total funding
£26k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.4%
Overall absence
4.7%
Persistent absence
193
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Sheldwich Primary School
What are SATs results like at Sheldwich Primary School?
Of the pupils at Sheldwich Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 91% reached the expected standard in reading and 91% did so in maths.
What is Sheldwich Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Sheldwich Primary School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024.
What is the catchment area for Sheldwich Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Sheldwich 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 Sheldwich Primary School?
Sheldwich Primary School was full in 2025, at 105% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Sheldwich Primary School?
Classes at Sheldwich Primary School average 31.6 pupils (2025/26). 5 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Sheldwich Primary School?
Sheldwich Primary School has around 246 pupils on roll. 8% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Sheldwich Primary School?
3.4% of sessions were missed at Sheldwich Primary School in 2024/25. 4.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Sheldwich Primary School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Sheldwich 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 Sheldwich Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Sheldwich Primary School?
Sheldwich Primary School is at Lees Court Road, Sheldwich, Faversham, Kent, ME13 0LU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)