The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery), Rochester
The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Rochester, part of The Pilgrim Multi Academy Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 25 schools in Rochester with published results, and 1,036th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.8 first-choice applications for every place. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
- Demand
- 1.8 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 Medway (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) in detail
The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) in its own words
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care, from £3.50 per day.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils at The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) reached the expected standard in reading and 97% 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 (90% in reading, 93% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)
For September 2026 entry, 53 families put The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) as their first choice and 122 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.8 first choices for every place. 23 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) are St William of Perth Roman Catholic Primary School (0.7 miles); St Peter's Infant School (1 mile, Good); Delce Academy (1.1 miles, Good, 76% reading, 69% maths); and Cedar Children's Academy (1.1 miles, Good, 72% reading, 71% maths).
The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)'s 2025 results were higher than all 2 of them.
St William of Perth Roman Catholic Primary SchoolSt Peter's Infant SchoolDelce AcademyCedar Children's Academy
The trust
The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) is one of 4 schools run by The Pilgrim Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 75% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
60 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) (as of September 2025): 97% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 75% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (75%).
Who goes there
9.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (63%), Mixed (13%) and Black (10%).
Staffing
The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) had 16 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Cuxton Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Village Surgery (opposite), 130 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 105 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Medway (250).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) issued 7 suspensions, 3.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) are Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School (0.8 miles), The Rochester Grammar School (0.9 miles), Oasis Restore (1 mile) and Medway Secure Training Centre (1 mile).
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical SchoolThe Rochester Grammar SchoolOasis RestoreMedway Secure Training Centre
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; DfE school workforce census; 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 March 2015, 11 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 January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Pilgrim School excels at teaching children to read with confidence and enjoyment, while developing their character through learning values like courage, compassion and integrity. Teachers are highly skilled at adapting lessons so that every child - including those with additional needs - can access the rich curriculum. Pupils behave exceptionally well, play harmoniously together, and develop a real sense of belonging to the school community.
Key Strengths
- High-quality teaching of phonics and reading, with strong support for pupils who fall behind -
- Broad, carefully designed curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils -
- Exceptionally well-behaved pupils with positive relationships deeply embedded throughout the school -
- Highly skilled teachers who explain concepts clearly and make excellent adaptations to help all pupils access learning -
- Rich enrichment opportunities including music, sport, community service, and leadership roles for older pupils
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Music, sport, leadership roles for Year 6 pupils, school council, worship team, book swap, reading cafe, visits and workshops, singing at local care home, food bank events, breakfast club, after-school club
The Pilgrim School is an outstanding Church of England primary school where pupils develop strong character values and achieve extremely well across an ambitious, highly inclusive curriculum. The school creates a meaningful, lasting impact on pupils' lives through excellent teaching, positive relationships, and a rich range of learning opportunities.
At a Glance
17.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
60 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 87% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 93% to 97% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 90% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.3
Avg class size
29.7
Infant (KS1)
30.5
KS2
9
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)
Forest school
2 Jun 2026
Chessington
2 Jun 2026
Chessington
2 Jun 2026
Y6 Residental
14 Jul 2025
Y6 Residental
12 Jul 2025
Y6 Residental
12 Jul 2025
From The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)'s website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery).
- MFSEAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) is in Medway; for families living there:
Apply to Medway for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 13
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 9 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 Medway is 25 (the median across 117 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 Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)
Will you get a place at The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)'s admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery):
- The straight-line distance from your home to The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery).
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Medway, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Medway 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
99%
Near capacity
209 pupils
210 places
1 spare place in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Rochester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rochester
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: 1.8 first choices per place
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
44
SEN Support
14
EHC Plans
24.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
237
Total Pupils
115
Boys
122
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
14.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,291
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,239
Per pupil
£1233k
Total funding
£64k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.8%
Overall absence
11.5%
Persistent absence
191
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
The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)
Questions parents ask about The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)
What are SATs results like at The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)?
Of the pupils at The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 87% reached the expected standard in reading and 97% did so in maths.
What is The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)'s Ofsted rating?
The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)'s most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)?
No fixed boundary. When The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) is oversubscribed, Medway allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)?
The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)?
Classes at The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) average 26.3 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 The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)?
The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) has around 237 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)?
4.8% of sessions were missed at The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) in 2024/25. 11.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)?
Apply through Medway's coordinated admissions process, naming The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) 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 Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: MFSE (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 Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 9 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 Medway is 25 (the median across 117 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery)?
The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) is at Warwick Crescent, Borstal, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3LF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)