St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School, Faversham
St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Faversham, part of The Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 10th-highest of the 12 schools in Faversham with published results, and 13,418th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.6 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2018)
- Demand
- 1.6 first choices per place
- 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
St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School in detail
St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to St Mary of Charity (SMC) Primary School. We are set in the heart of Faversham and offer a safe, lively and purposeful place to work and learn, reflective of a rich curriculum and positive relationships. Our school is underpinned by our values of Determination, Aspiration, Teamwork, Faith, Forgiveness, Respect & Honesty."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include yoga and judo.
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 52% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 61% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 65% in reading and 58% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 47 families put St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School as their first choice and 89 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.6 first choices for every place. 17 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School are Davington Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 73% reading, 78% maths); Ethelbert Road Primary School (0.7 miles, Outstanding, 83% reading, 79% maths); Bysing Wood Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 65% reading, 43% maths); and Ospringe Church of England Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 81% reading, 81% maths).
St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Davington Primary SchoolEthelbert Road Primary SchoolBysing Wood Primary SchoolOspringe Church of England Primary School
The trust
St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School is one of 18 schools run by The Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 60% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
33 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School (as of September 2025): 91% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 56% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (56%).
Who goes there
38.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 8.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (79%) and Black (8%).
In 2026, 36 pupils (17.3%) received SEN support and 3 (1.4%) 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 autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Faversham Rail Station, about 580 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Recreation Ground (adjacent), 170 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School issued 15 suspensions, 7.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School are Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School (0.1 miles) and The Abbey School (0.7 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from July 2018, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a highly inclusive school where children flourish from the early years onwards. Pupils enjoy respectful relationships with staff, behave very well, and benefit from a wide range of leadership roles and enrichment activities. The school is ambitious for every child and provides strong support for those with additional needs.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding early years provision with children engaging eagerly and developing independence, curiosity and resilience
- Strong phonics teaching that is precise and well-delivered, with swift action taken to help pupils who fall behind
- Excellent behaviour and respectful relationships between pupils and staff, creating a happy and harmonious atmosphere
- Well-led school with ambition to support all pupils, including those with special educational needs
- Varied leadership roles and clubs that develop pupils' interests, confidence and commitment to the school community
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers do not check pupils' understanding of previously taught knowledge consistently enough in some subjects, leaving some learning gaps unaddressed
- Staff need better equipment and training to identify and address gaps in essential knowledge so all pupils achieve well across the curriculum
- Improving attendance among vulnerable pupils remains an important priority
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with clear routines and structures in place to keep pupils safe and secure.
Extracurricular Activities
Judo, yoga, singing, school council, outdoor play and learning leader roles, worship leader roles, library visits, train station visits
St Mary of Charity CofE Primary School is a highly inclusive school where pupils are valued and ambitious expectations drive academic progress. The school maintains good overall quality with an outstanding early years provision.
At a Glance
38.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
33 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 65% to 52% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 61% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 61% to 55% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.7
Avg class size
29.7
Infant (KS1)
29.8
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School
Become a School Governor!
25 Sep 2026
School Tours
16 Sep 2026
Pirate Day Lunch
11 Sep 2026
Stagecoach
11 Sep 2026
Be Safe With Us!
11 Sep 2026
The Kent Country Show
24 Jul 2026
From St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) 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
- 29
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 29 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 22 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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 St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School
Will you get a place at St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) 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 St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School 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
101%
Over capacity
212 pupils
210 places
2 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: 1.6 first choices per place
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
36
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
18.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
208
Total Pupils
112
Boys
96
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
17.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,894
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,785
Per pupil
£1401k
Total funding
£123k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.4%
Overall absence
18.0%
Persistent absence
183
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 Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School
Questions parents ask about St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 52% reached the expected standard in reading and 61% did so in maths.
What is St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2018, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) 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 St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School?
St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) 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 St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School?
Classes at St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School average 29.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School?
St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School has around 208 pupils on roll. 39% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School?
5.4% of sessions were missed at St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School in 2024/25. 18% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) 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 St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 29 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 22 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School?
St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School is at Orchard Place, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8AP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)