Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, Cranbrook
Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Cranbrook. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2023. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 7th-highest of the 9 schools in Cranbrook with published results, and 8,234th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.3 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2023)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- 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
Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School in detail
Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama, Lego, knitting, sewing and book club.
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 68% of Year 6 pupils at Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 82% 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 (83% in reading, 70% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 39 families put Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 97 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 12 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School are Cranbrook Church of England Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 63% reading, 60% maths); Colliers Green Church of England Primary School (2 miles, Good, 81% reading, 88% maths); Frittenden Church of England Primary School (2.5 miles, Requires improvement, 80% reading, 93% maths); and Benenden Church of England Primary School (3.4 miles, Good, 86% reading, 82% maths).
Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Cranbrook Church of England Primary SchoolColliers Green Church of England Primary SchoolFrittenden Church of England Primary SchoolBenenden Church of England Primary School
What parents say
42 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School (as of September 2025): 95% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 77% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (98%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (77%).
Who goes there
6.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (83%) and Mixed (5%).
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cleavers (adjacent), 200 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 6 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, other theft and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided 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; Ofsted Parent View; 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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at creating a warm, engaging environment where every child's unique talents are valued. Reading is a central strength with expert phonics teaching and classrooms full of interesting books. The school offers wonderful opportunities for pupil leadership and character development, from school council roles to woodland learning where children safely develop independence and practical skills.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding early years provision giving children a strong foundation for learning
- Excellent behaviour and positive pupil attitudes, with older pupils supporting younger ones
- Strong leadership and governance with effective oversight of school improvements
- Well-taught reading programme with phonics and regular support for struggling readers
- Effective support for pupils with SEND who are adapted for in lessons
Areas for Improvement
- Pupils don't consistently retain and recall knowledge in foundation subjects over time
- Some of the most vulnerable pupils still have poor attendance despite recent improvements
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with clear policies and a positive culture that prioritises pupil safety.
Extracurricular Activities
School council, house captains, planet defenders, event planners, peace garden development, woodland environment activities, construction area, parachute games, pirate ship building project
Sissinghurst Primary is a good school where leaders have transformed it since the last inspection by implementing a well-planned curriculum and creating a supportive, engaging community. Pupils achieve well academically and develop strong leadership qualities in a caring environment where children 'run into school happily every morning'.
At a Glance
20.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
42 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 declined from 83% to 68% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 70% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 87% to 77% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.7
Avg class size
27.0
Infant (KS1)
28.3
KS2
7
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided 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
- 14
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 0 serious and 13 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
5 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 Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided 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 Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided 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
101%
Over capacity
176 pupils
175 places
1 pupil over capacity 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: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
26
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
16.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
194
Total Pupils
104
Boys
90
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
21.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,079
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,370
Per pupil
£1035k
Total funding
£59k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.4%
Overall absence
17.6%
Persistent absence
159
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School
Questions parents ask about Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 68% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% did so in maths.
What is Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2023, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided 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 Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School?
Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School was full in 2025, at 101% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School?
Classes at Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School average 27.7 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School?
Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School has around 194 pupils on roll. 21% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School?
5.4% of sessions were missed at Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 17.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided 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 Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 0 serious and 13 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 5 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 Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School?
Sissinghurst Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School is at Common Road, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 2BH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)