Swingate Primary School has closed (Monday 31 August 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now Swingate Primary School.
Swingate Primary School, Chatham
Swingate Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Chatham. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 17 schools in Chatham with published results, and 814th of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Medway (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
Swingate Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 93% of Year 6 pupils at Swingate Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 93% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 72% in Medway and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (93% in reading, 96% in maths).
Getting a place at Swingate Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 91 families put Swingate Primary School as their first choice and 174 named it as one of their preferences, for 90 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Swingate Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Swingate Primary School are Swingate Primary School (under 0.1 miles); St Benedict's Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles, 87% reading, 84% maths); Lordswood School (0.6 miles, Good, 84% reading, 85% maths); and Walderslade Primary School (1 mile, Good, 93% reading, 93% maths).
Swingate Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Swingate Primary SchoolSt Benedict's Catholic Primary SchoolLordswood SchoolWalderslade Primary School
Who goes there
9.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 5.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and Mixed (7%).
In 2026, 82 pupils (12.4%) received SEN support and 9 (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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Rainham (Kent) Rail Station, about 3.7 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Copper Tree Walk (adjacent), 220 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 68 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Medway (250).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Swingate Primary School issued 6 suspensions, 0.9 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 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
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2014, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2014 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
9.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 93% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 93% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 87% to 82% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.1
Avg class size
29.1
Infant (KS1)
27.5
KS2
22
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Swingate Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Swingate Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Swingate Primary School is in Medway; for families living there:
Apply to Medway for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Swingate Primary School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
626 pupils
630 places
4 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Chatham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Chatham
Across Medway council
Places available
3,675
Applications
3,130
Got 1st preference
93.9%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Medway council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
82
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
13.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
662
Total Pupils
347
Boys
315
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
30
Teachers
22.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,889
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,064
Per pupil
£3424k
Total funding
£106k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.9%
Overall absence
6.1%
Persistent absence
541
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Swingate Primary School
What are SATs results like at Swingate Primary School?
Of the pupils at Swingate Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 93% reached the expected standard in reading and 93% did so in maths.
What is Swingate Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Swingate Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Swingate Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Swingate Primary School is oversubscribed, Medway allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Swingate Primary School?
Swingate Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 99% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Swingate Primary School?
Classes at Swingate Primary School average 28.1 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Swingate Primary School?
Swingate Primary School has around 662 pupils on roll. 9% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Swingate Primary School?
3.9% of sessions were missed at Swingate Primary School in 2024/25. 6.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Swingate Primary School?
Apply through Medway's coordinated admissions process, naming Swingate 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.
Where is Swingate Primary School?
Swingate Primary School is at Sultan Road, Lordswood, Chatham, Kent, ME5 8TJ.