St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy, New Romney
St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in New Romney, part of The Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 228th-highest of the 432 schools in Kent with published results, and 8,057th of 14,452 across England. It was 98% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- 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 Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy in detail
Results
In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils at St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 73% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 77% in reading and 63% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 43 families put St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy as their first choice and 83 named it as one of their preferences, for 44 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 Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy are Greatstone Primary School (1.8 miles, Good, 62% reading, 49% maths); Lydd Primary School (3.2 miles, Good, 59% reading, 74% maths); Dymchurch Primary School (3.6 miles, Requires improvement, 66% reading, 69% maths); and Brenzett Church of England Primary School (4 miles, Good, 64% reading, 64% maths).
St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Greatstone Primary SchoolLydd Primary SchoolDymchurch Primary SchoolBrenzett Church of England Primary School
The trust
St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy 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
92 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy (as of September 2025): 95% would recommend the school, 97% say their child is happy there and 65% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (97%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (65%).
Who goes there
39.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 3.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy has a resourced provision for autism: 20 places, 14 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is New Romney Station (RHDR), about 880 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Ship (opposite), 180 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 39 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy issued 1 suspension, 0.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
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); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils are exceptionally well cared for. Pupil well-being is at core of the school's work. Every day pupils are immersed in the school values of respect, friendship, trust and community. Pupils know that they matter here and have a strong sense of belonging. They feel safe, happy and heard. Staff build strong, good-humoured relationships with pupils. They know them well.
Staff expect pupils to work hard, and they do. These high expectations inspire pupils to develop the remaining school values of perseverance and ambition. Pupils attain well and are ready for the next stages of their education.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school is highly ambitious for every pupil to succeed and do well. It has ensured that the needs of pupils are at the centre of curriculum development. The school has carefully crafted a curriculum that engages all pupils, is meaningful for them and supports their achievements. This curriculum starts in Reception and builds knowledge in clearly sequenced steps towards Year 6. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have their needs carefully identified and supported. Pupils with SEND thrive and mostly achieve well.
Staff are well trained and have strong subject knowledge to deliver the curriculum. They use well-developed checks to quickly spot where pupils need additional help or are confused. Occasionally, however, the tasks they choose are not well adapted to the needs of all pupils. This can mean some pupils struggle to complete tasks successfully.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2019 inspection - up from Inadequate.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
39.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
92 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 remained stable at around 78% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 63% to 73% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 78% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.8
Avg class size
29.5
Infant (KS1)
30.1
KS2
13
Total classes
5 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy
Making bread- just like the Little Red Hen!
29 Sep 2026
Physical Development
29 Sep 2026
Sorting in Maths
29 Sep 2026
Creation
19 Sep 2026
Charcoal Drawing
18 Sep 2026
Real PE - Personal skills - Footwork
17 Sep 2026
From St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy 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
- 25
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 21 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
8 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 Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy
Will you get a place at St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Kent, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy for 2017 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
410 pupils
420 places
10 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - New Romney
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for New Romney
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(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
59
SEN Support
20
EHC Plans
19.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy has a resourced provision for autism: 20 places, 14 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
412
Total Pupils
214
Boys
198
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
21
Teachers
19.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,993
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,297
Per pupil
£2507k
Total funding
£227k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.6%
Overall absence
16.4%
Persistent absence
359
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 Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy
Questions parents ask about St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy
What are SATs results like at St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy?
Of the pupils at St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 78% reached the expected standard in reading and 73% did so in maths.
What is St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy 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 Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy?
St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy?
Classes at St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy average 29.8 pupils (2025/26). 5 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy?
St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy has around 412 pupils on roll. 39% are eligible for free school meals.
Does St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy have specialist SEN provision?
St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy has a resourced provision for autism: 20 places, 14 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy?
5.6% of sessions were missed at St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy in 2024/25. 16.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy 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 Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 21 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 8 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 Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy?
St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy is at Fairfield Road, New Romney, Kent, TN28 8BP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)