St Margaret's Infant School, Gillingham

Good
Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 37

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~367m)Possible (~524m)Unlikely (~681m)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Paula Fewtrell
Pupils:312 / 270 capacity
LA:Medway
Phone:01634231327
Address:St Margaret's Infant School, Orchard Street, Orchard Street, Gillingham, ME8 9AE
Trust:THE WESTBROOK TRUST
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 April 2017

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 1 year ago
-

Overall

Inspected 13 May 2025View full report
URN:144133
UKPRN:10063037
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Gillingham and Rainham
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

St Margaret's provides exceptional care and compassion, making every child feel that they truly matter. The school has lofty ambitions for all pupils and delivers impressive results - by Year 2, pupils produce accurate and accomplished writing, apply mathematical concepts to solve problems, and excel across the curriculum. Teachers provide clear, helpful feedback that turns mistakes into learning opportunities, and pupils are proud to improve their work.

Key Strengths

  • Highly effective teaching of early reading with consistent approach from Nursery through Year 1 - pupils become fluent, confident readers
  • Well-designed curriculum with strong subject knowledge ensures pupils learn and remember knowledge over time, producing high-quality work
  • Excellent behaviour and attitudes to learning - classrooms are purposeful and calm with pupils showing enthusiasm, kindness and respect
  • Strong support for pupils with SEND through collaborative work with parents and outside agencies, with tailored resources and adaptations
  • Rich personal development programme including leadership roles (Calming Crew, Play Rangers, Eco Squad) and diverse experiences like swimming, community singing and sports events

Safeguarding

Safeguarding arrangements are effective with leaders prioritising pupils' best interests and creating a welcoming, reflective approach.

Extracurricular Activities

Calming Crew, Play Rangers, Eco Squad, School Learning Council, community singing, trust sports events, swimming lessons, online safety programme, road safety programme

St Margaret's Infant School has made impressive improvements across all areas since its previous inspection. Pupils flourish with confidence and happiness, achieving highly across the curriculum with excellent behaviour and strong support for all learners.

At a Glance

12.2%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

What Parents Think

61 responses
Would recommend98%
Child is happy98%
Well taught97%
Good progress95%
Feels safe98%
Well behaved97%
Bullying dealt with13%
Kept informed98%
Handles concerns44%
Wider development95%

Source: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree

Class Sizes

28.9

Avg class size

29.2

Infant (KS1)

10

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Rainham (Kent) Rail Station
697m · 11 min walk

Bus Stops

Holding Street (adj)
277m · 5 min walk
The Cricketers (adj)
291m · 5 min walk
Manor Farm (opp)
300m · 5 min walk
Orchard Street (o/s 117)
337m · 5 min walk
White Horse (adj)
358m · 6 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

116%

Over capacity

312 pupils

270 capacity

42 places over capacity

Area Demand Pressure - Gillingham

Medium pressure
New homes approved:1,897
Projected new pupils:474

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Gillingham

Admissions Demand - Medway

Low demand0.83x oversubscription

Places available

3,805

Applications

3,151

Got 1st preference

95.6%

Got preferred school

99.4%

Primary admissions across Medway (2025/26)

Inspection History(3)

13 May 2025
12 February 2020
5 July 2011
Good
Leadership & ManagementGood

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.

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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.

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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.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

4.61034%

Overall absence

11.60221%

Persistent absence

181

Enrolments

Authorised3.51404%
Unauthorised1.0963%
Persistent (10%+)11.60221%
Severe (50%+)0%

Absence trend

3.67791%
18/19
2.79075%
20/21
6.53708%
21/22
5.97984%
22/23
5.39551%
23/24
4.61034%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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