St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Swanley Village
St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Swanley Village. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 100th-highest of the 432 schools in Kent with published results, and 3,694th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 2.1 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 104% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
- Demand
- 2.1 first choices per place
- 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 Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in detail
St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "We are a creative, forward thinking Church of England Primary School that aims for 'Life in all its fullness' (the Gospel of John 10:10) to enable each child to flourish through the provision of the best education; academically, morally, socially and spiritually; and by living out our faith in God."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include dance, guitar, gardening and art.
Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 12 January 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 94% of Year 6 pupils at St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 75% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 69% in reading and 69% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 30 families put St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice and 79 named it as one of their preferences, for 14 places offered. That is 2.1 first choices for every place. 16 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School are Hextable Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 76% reading, 79% maths); Downsview Community Primary School (0.9 miles, Requires improvement, 67% reading, 63% maths); St Bartholomew's Catholic Primary School, Swanley (1.1 miles); and Horizon Primary Academy (1.1 miles, Good, 88% reading, 81% maths).
St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Hextable Primary SchoolDownsview Community Primary SchoolSt Bartholomew's Catholic Primary School, SwanleyHorizon Primary Academy
What parents say
59 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (as of September 2025): 85% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 79% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (95%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (79%).
Who goes there
9.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.7% 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%), Mixed (9%) and Asian (7%).
In 2026, 3 pupils (2.8%) received SEN support and 6 (5.6%) 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 Swanley Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 54 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 Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School are Orchards Academy (1.3 miles), Leigh Academy Wilmington (1.5 miles), Wilmington Grammar School for Boys (1.5 miles) and Wilmington Grammar School for Girls (1.7 miles).
Orchards AcademyLeigh Academy WilmingtonWilmington Grammar School for BoysWilmington Grammar School for Girls
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; 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 · 1 year agoThis judgement is from May 2016, 10 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 June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Pauls' is a wonderfully caring school where children thrive and develop a strong sense of belonging. Teachers have high expectations that help all pupils, including those with additional needs, build their knowledge successfully. The school goes beyond academics to develop important life skills and character, giving pupils meaningful leadership roles and enriching experiences through carefully planned trips and visits.
Key Strengths
- Pupils' behaviour and attitudes to learning are exemplary with high attendance
- Early years provision is outstanding with skilled staff supporting children's development exceptionally well
- Rich and engaging curriculum carefully designed to meet the diverse needs of mixed-age classes
- Strong focus on developing pupils' character and life skills through initiatives like the 'job centre' and leadership roles
- Effective early reading with knowledgeable phonics delivery and quick catch-up support for pupils who fall behind
Areas for Improvement
- Curriculum implementation is occasionally varied, meaning pupils' learning is stronger in some subjects than others
- In a small number of subjects where newer changes have been introduced, expectations could be higher and adaptation to learning activities could be more precise
- Need for greater consistency in how staff adapt learning to meet pupils' needs across all subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Extensive extra-curricular clubs based on pupils' suggestions, leadership roles such as librarians, 'job centre' initiative, trips and visits to historically and culturally important places including London
St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a caring community where pupils are immensely proud and happy to attend. The school has been graded Good for quality of education, with Outstanding ratings for behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision.
At a Glance
9.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
59 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 improved from 69% to 94% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 69% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 69% to 94% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.7
Avg class size
15.0
Infant (KS1)
3
Total classes
2 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 Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School.
- West Hill Life LtdAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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 Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Will you get a place at St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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 Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School for 2014 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
104%
Over capacity
109 pupils
105 places
4 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Swanley Village
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Swanley Village
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: 2.1 first choices per place
Inspection History(11)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
3
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
8.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
107
Total Pupils
51
Boys
56
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
21.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£42,271
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,316
Per pupil
£764k
Total funding
£17k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.3%
Overall absence
6.2%
Persistent absence
97
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 Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Questions parents ask about St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 94% reached the expected standard in reading and 75% did so in maths.
What is St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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 Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School was full in 2025, at 104% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Classes at St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School average 25.7 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School has around 107 pupils on roll. 9% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
4.3% of sessions were missed at St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in 2024/25. 6.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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.
Does St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: West Hill Life Ltd (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is at School Lane, Swanley Village, Kent, BR8 7PJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)