St Mark's Church of England Primary School, Eccles, Aylesford

Ofsted's report card from its 7 July 2026 inspection grades St Mark's Church of England Primary School, Eccles on 7 areas: 3 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Expected standard. "The early years curriculum is ambitious for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and disadvantaged pupils participate fully in school life."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a coherent programme of personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils do not achieve consistently well."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Pupils with vulnerabilities, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), do not attend school frequently enough."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The effectiveness of teaching varies."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders do not evaluate the impact of their efforts with enough accuracy."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that there is a robust analysis of attendance to recognise patterns and trends and use their findings to intervene early to remove barriers so that overall attendance at least aligns with national averages"; "Leaders should ensure that they set high expectations and develop teaching expertise to secure pupils' foundational knowledge, particularly in mathematics and phonics"; "Leaders should ensure assessment tools are used effectively to check for understanding and make changes to teaching and/or the curriculum, as necessary to address knowledge gaps and misconceptions"; "Leaders should use precision to evaluate accurately areas for development and have a clear rationale that is detailed to drive improvement across the school for all groups"; "Leaders should continue raising standards in the early years to ensure that outcomes are consistently above national expectations".

From the headteacher's welcome: "We love God's world, we care for God's world, we are His stewards. Inspired by learning in beautiful surroundings of God's creation, we have become a school community that flourishes in learning and life. At St Mark's, we are a small, close-knit community who love and care for each other, echoing God's love and care for us (Genesis 1)."

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at St Mark's Church of England Primary School, Eccles reached the expected standard in reading and 78% 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 (72% in reading, 72% in maths).

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 13 families put St Mark's Church of England Primary School, Eccles as their first choice and 23 named it as one of their preferences, for 13 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Mark's Church of England Primary School, Eccles are Burham Church of England Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 91% reading, 87% maths); St Peter's Church of England Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 86% reading, 79% maths); Valley Invicta Primary School At Aylesford (1.7 miles, Outstanding, 75% reading, 73% maths); and Wouldham, All Saints Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (1.8 miles, Good, 60% reading, 57% maths).

St Mark's Church of England Primary School, Eccles's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

St Mark's Church of England Primary School, Eccles is one of 4 schools run by The Pilgrim Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 75% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

7.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

St Mark's Church of England Primary School, Eccles had 10 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is New Hythe Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Red Bull (opposite), 160 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 20 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).

St Mark's Church of England Primary School, Eccles recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to St Mark's Church of England Primary School, Eccles are Aylesford School (1.6 miles) and The Holmesdale School (1.8 miles).