St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend, Gravesend
St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Gravesend, part of Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 7th-highest of the 25 schools in Gravesend with published results, and 5,775th of 14,452 across England. It was 98% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
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
St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend in detail
Results
In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend reached the expected standard in reading and 83% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 83% in reading and 83% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend
For September 2026 entry, 99 families put St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend as their first choice and 225 named it as one of their preferences, for 105 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 St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend are Chantry Community Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 58% reading, 52% maths); Westcourt Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 64% reading, 51% maths); Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School (0.5 miles, 66% reading, 54% maths); and Wrotham Road Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 82% reading, 82% maths).
St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Chantry Community Primary SchoolWestcourt Primary SchoolHoly Trinity Church of England Primary SchoolWrotham Road Primary School
The trust
St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend is one of 33 schools run by Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership, an academy trust.
Who goes there
33.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (26%), Black (24%) and Mixed (17%).
In 2026, 70 pupils (8.1%) received SEN support and 17 (2%) 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 railway station is Gravesend Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St John's School (in), 60 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 371 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend issued 11 suspensions, 1.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend are Gravesend Grammar School (0.1 miles); St John's Catholic Comprehensive (0.2 miles); Thamesview School (1.1 miles); and Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend (1.2 miles).
Gravesend Grammar SchoolSt John's Catholic ComprehensiveThamesview SchoolMayfield Grammar School, Gravesend
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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from July 2014, 12 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 Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its July 2014 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
18.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 83% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 83% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 86% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.4
Avg class size
27.8
Infant (KS1)
30.1
KS2
30
Total classes
8 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend.
- Premier Education WAC - St John's Catholic Primary SchoolAt the school · Not yet graded
- Progressive Sports @ Holy Trinity790m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend 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
- 37
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 37 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 30 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
9 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 St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend
Will you get a place at St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Kent, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend for 2016 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
98%
Near capacity
827 pupils
840 places
13 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Gravesend
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Gravesend
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(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
70
SEN Support
17
EHC Plans
10.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
869
Total Pupils
460
Boys
409
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
44
Teachers
19.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,727
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,910
Per pupil
£4448k
Total funding
£232k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.6%
Overall absence
10.0%
Persistent absence
729
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
St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend
Questions parents ask about St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend
What are SATs results like at St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend?
Of the pupils at St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 77% reached the expected standard in reading and 83% did so in maths.
What is St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend's Ofsted rating?
St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend?
No fixed boundary. When St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend is oversubscribed, Kent allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend?
St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend?
Classes at St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend average 28.4 pupils (2025/26). 8 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend?
St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend has around 869 pupils on roll. 19% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend?
4.6% of sessions were missed at St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend in 2024/25. 10% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend 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.
Does St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Premier Education WAC - St John's Catholic Primary School (registered, not yet graded). There is another within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 37 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 30 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 9 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 St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend?
St John's Catholic Primary School, Gravesend is at Rochester Road, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 2SY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)