St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford, Ashford
St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Ashford, part of Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 40th-highest of the 45 schools in Ashford with published results, and 13,133rd of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 102% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2022)
- 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 Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford in detail
Results
In 2025, 57% of Year 6 pupils at St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford reached the expected standard in reading and 60% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 83% in reading and 83% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford
For September 2026 entry, 29 families put St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford as their first choice and 61 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 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 Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford are Ashford Oaks Community Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 54% reading, 43% maths); Beaver Green Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 73% reading, 75% maths); Victoria Road Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 70% reading, 60% maths); and Great Chart Primary School (0.8 miles, Outstanding, 85% reading, 88% maths).
St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Ashford Oaks Community Primary SchoolBeaver Green Primary SchoolVictoria Road Primary SchoolGreat Chart Primary School
The trust
St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford is one of 33 schools run by Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership, an academy trust.
What parents say
37 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford (as of September 2025): 76% would recommend the school, 81% say their child is happy there and 36% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (89%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (36%).
Who goes there
50.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (34%), Asian (24%) and Black (14%).
In 2026, 32 pupils (15.4%) received SEN support and 4 (1.9%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Ashford International Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Arcon Road (opposite), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 406 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford issued 2 suspensions, 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 Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford are The John Wallis Church of England Academy (0.7 miles), Highworth Grammar School (1.1 miles), The North School (1.2 miles) and The Norton Knatchbull School (1.5 miles).
The John Wallis Church of England AcademyHighworth Grammar SchoolThe North SchoolThe Norton Knatchbull School
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 agoOverall
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
Staff care deeply for pupils in this inclusive school where everyone feels welcome and safe. Reading is prioritised brilliantly - children learn to read fluently from an early age with strong support for anyone who falls behind. The school goes beyond academics by offering enriching experiences like working with artists, public performances and business projects that help children become confident, well-rounded citizens.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading - children learn phonics confidently from early years with effective catch-up support
- Well-designed curriculum that is ambitious and meets the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND
- Warm relationships between staff and pupils with prompt action taken on bullying and low-level disruption
- Excellent enrichment opportunities through the 'Ten for Ten' programme including work with artists, public performances and enterprise projects
- Clear leadership with high expectations and effective support from the trust and governors
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers do not always check pupils' understanding carefully enough before moving learning on
- Misconceptions and errors in pupils' work are not always picked up quickly enough
- Need for more systematic checks to identify gaps in pupils' learning so teaching can be adapted
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff keeping pupils safe and responding promptly to any concerns.
Extracurricular Activities
Football club, sports competitions, musical instruments, choir performances, business project in Year 6, young language ambassadors, liturgy committee, St Simon's job centre
St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School is an inclusive school where pupils feel safe and happy. The school has improved from its previous 'Requires Improvement' rating and now provides a broad, ambitious curriculum with high expectations for all pupils.
At a Glance
19.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
37 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 83% to 57% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 83% to 60% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 83% to 63% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.7
Avg class size
26.7
Infant (KS1)
32.0
KS2
7
Total classes
4 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 Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford.
- Premier Education WAC - Beaver Green Primary School720m away · Not yet graded
- Tutorworld Education820m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford 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
- 26
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 7 serious and 18 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle and 2 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 Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford
Will you get a place at St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Kent, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford for 2015 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
102%
Over capacity
215 pupils
210 places
5 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Ashford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Ashford
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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
32
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
17.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
208
Total Pupils
101
Boys
107
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
17.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,345
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,484
Per pupil
£1290k
Total funding
£59k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.5%
Overall absence
10.0%
Persistent absence
190
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 Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford
Questions parents ask about St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford
What are SATs results like at St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford?
Of the pupils at St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 57% reached the expected standard in reading and 60% did so in maths.
What is St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford's Ofsted rating?
St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2022, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford?
No fixed boundary. When St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford 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 Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford?
St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford was full in 2025, at 102% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford?
Classes at St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford average 29.7 pupils (2025/26). 4 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford?
St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford has around 208 pupils on roll. 20% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford?
4.5% of sessions were missed at St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford in 2024/25. 10% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford 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 Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford: Premier Education WAC - Beaver Green Primary School (720m away, registered, not yet graded) and Tutorworld Education (820m away, 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 Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 7 serious and 18 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle and 2 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 Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford?
St Simon of England Roman Catholic Primary School, Ashford is at Noakes Meadow, Ashford, Kent, TN23 4RB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)