The Anthony Roper Primary School, Dartford
The Anthony Roper Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Dartford. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 25th-highest of the 25 schools in Dartford with published results, and 12,028th of 14,452 across England. It was 83% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- 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
The Anthony Roper Primary School in detail
The Anthony Roper Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "The Anthony Roper Primary School is a popular village school situated in Eynsford on the outskirts of Dartford in Kent. It is bigger than other primary schools and caters for 300 boys and girls between the ages of four and eleven years in mixed age and ability classes."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 66% of Year 6 pupils at The Anthony Roper Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 63% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (66% in reading, 63% in maths).
Getting a place at The Anthony Roper Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 28 families put The Anthony Roper Primary School as their first choice and 72 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 The Anthony Roper Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to The Anthony Roper Primary School are Horton Kirby Church of England Primary School (2.1 miles, Good, 94% reading, 82% maths); Downsview Community Primary School (2.1 miles, Requires improvement, 67% reading, 63% maths); High Firs Primary School (2.3 miles, Good, 77% reading, 73% maths); and Crockenhill Primary School (2.5 miles, Good, 59% reading, 56% maths).
The Anthony Roper Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Horton Kirby Church of England Primary SchoolDownsview Community Primary SchoolHigh Firs Primary SchoolCrockenhill Primary School
What parents say
73 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Anthony Roper Primary School (as of September 2025): 67% would recommend the school, 88% say their child is happy there and 52% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (88%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (52%).
Who goes there
12.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 21 pupils (8.1%) received SEN support and 7 (2.7%) 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 Eynsford Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mill Lane (adjacent), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 31 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, other theft and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
The Anthony Roper Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from July 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Some aspects are not as strong as at the last graded inspection.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Anthony Roper Primary School creates a genuinely happy learning environment where pupils love attending and develop strong friendships. Reading is taught exceptionally well with a structured phonics programme that builds confident, fluent readers who enjoy books. The school places exceptional emphasis on personal development and character, preparing pupils to be caring citizens who make a real difference in their community.
Key Strengths
- Effective teaching of reading with a strong phonics programme that helps pupils read confidently and fluently
- Excellent personal development and character education, with pupils learning about diversity, equality and contributing to the local community
- Strong early years provision where children settle quickly, make friends and develop independence
- Positive school culture with clear values like creativity and teamwork embedded throughout the school
Areas for Improvement
- Curriculum in subjects beyond English and maths lacks clear guidance on which knowledge and skills are most important and when to teach them
- Inconsistent quality in curriculum delivery - some teachers move pupils on to new learning before they have fully understood previous lessons
- Pupils with special educational needs do not receive consistent support, causing gaps in their learning and slowing progress
- Need to improve staff expertise in checking pupils' understanding and addressing misconceptions
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and create a positive culture that prioritises pupils' interests.
Extracurricular Activities
Breakfast club, after-school clubs, values days, sports, reading, art, trips and events
The Anthony Roper Primary School is a happy, welcoming community where pupils enjoy learning and behave well. However, academic achievement in subjects beyond English and maths is not as strong as it should be due to inconsistencies in curriculum delivery and support for pupils with additional needs.
At a Glance
12.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
73 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 66% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 63% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 74% to 68% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.8
Avg class size
25.7
Infant (KS1)
25.7
KS2
10
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with The Anthony Roper Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near The Anthony Roper Primary School.
- Anthony Roper School Breakfast And After School ClubAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Anthony Roper Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Anthony Roper 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.
2 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 The Anthony Roper Primary School
Will you get a place at The Anthony Roper Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against The Anthony Roper Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for The Anthony Roper Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to The Anthony Roper 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 The Anthony Roper 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
83%
Available places
263 pupils
315 places
52 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Dartford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Dartford
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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
21
SEN Support
7
EHC Plans
10.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
258
Total Pupils
138
Boys
120
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
17.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,391
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,031
Per pupil
£1459k
Total funding
£45k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.4%
Overall absence
14.9%
Persistent absence
249
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about The Anthony Roper Primary School
What are SATs results like at The Anthony Roper Primary School?
Of the pupils at The Anthony Roper Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 66% reached the expected standard in reading and 63% did so in maths.
What is The Anthony Roper Primary School's Ofsted rating?
The Anthony Roper Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for The Anthony Roper Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When The Anthony Roper 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 The Anthony Roper Primary School?
The Anthony Roper Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 83% of its 315 places.
How big are the classes at The Anthony Roper Primary School?
Classes at The Anthony Roper Primary School average 25.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to The Anthony Roper Primary School?
The Anthony Roper Primary School has around 258 pupils on roll. 12% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at The Anthony Roper Primary School?
5.4% of sessions were missed at The Anthony Roper Primary School in 2024/25. 14.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Anthony Roper Primary School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming The Anthony Roper 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 The Anthony Roper Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Anthony Roper School Breakfast And After School Club (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 The Anthony Roper 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. 2 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 The Anthony Roper Primary School?
The Anthony Roper Primary School is at High Street, Eynsford, Dartford, Kent, DA4 0AA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)