Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #376 in Kent public Top 95% UK

Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMs Helen Comfort

location_onDover, CT16 1QX

language Visit Website phone 1304206887

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

155

school

Expected Standard

35%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Dover, serving ages 4-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 95% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School is a voluntary aided school in Dover, Kent, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 167 pupils on roll, of whom 60% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 35% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #376 of 424 primaries in Kent and #12,594 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.6:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.3 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

35%

LA 61%

Reading45% LA 74%

Writing65% LA 72%

Maths55% LA 70%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

60%

LA 60%England 61%

Reading73% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing87% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths67% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

65%

LA 58%England 60%

Reading70% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing78% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths65% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.2

Read

LA -0.4

-0.5 to 5.0

1.0

Write

LA -0.2

-1.6 to 3.5

-1.7

Maths

LA -1.2

-4.2 to 0.9

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

69%

LA 67%England 65%

Reading72% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing76% LA 81% · Eng 78%

Maths79% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.6

Read

LA 0.0

-4.9 to -0.3

-1.9

Write

LA 0.1

-4.0 to 0.2

-2.0

Maths

LA -0.6

-4.0 to 0.0

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

43%

LA 65%

Reading65% LA 76%

Writing76% LA 80%

Maths46% LA 73%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.8

Read

LA 0.0

-2.7 to 1.1

2.1

Write

LA 0.4

0.3 to 3.9

-3.5

Maths

LA -0.5

-5.3 to -1.7

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

08 July 2025

Inspection Report

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15 November 2022

Inspection Report

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21 March 2017

Inspection Report

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06 December 2012

Inspection Report

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19 October 2011

Inspection Report

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13 May 2010

Inspection Report

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22 February 2007

Inspection Report

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08 May 2001

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2025-07-08

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2022-11-15

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-03-21

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2012-12-06

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2010-05-13

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

1.2%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.2%(2 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 167 pupils. During this period, there were 2 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.2%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	167	2	1.2%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	177	6	3.4%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	164	1	0.6%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	154	1	0.6%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	155	2	1.3%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	153	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	155	1	0.6%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	162	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	179	1	0.6%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	164	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	170	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	162	1	0.6%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	158	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	163	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	186	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	186	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	187	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	186	1	0.5%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	192	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	202	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	207	1	0.5%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	213	3	1.4%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	215	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	224	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	229	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	224	1	0.4%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 11 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 9 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 6 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

78.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

89.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

34.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree28%

agree50%

disagree6%

strongly disagree17%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree44%

agree44%

disagree6%

don't know6%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree44%

agree11%

disagree11%

strongly disagree11%

not applicable22%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree33%

agree44%

disagree6%

strongly disagree11%

don't know6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree56%

agree22%

disagree6%

strongly disagree17%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree50%

agree44%

disagree6%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree44%

agree44%

strongly disagree6%

don't know6%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree39%

agree50%

disagree6%

don't know6%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree39%

agree33%

disagree11%

strongly disagree11%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes78%

no22%

Top Primary Schools in Kent

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Westgate Primary School

Good

location_on Dartford, DA1 2LP

emoji_events #1 in LA

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

Outstanding

location_on Ebbsfleet, DA10 1AD

emoji_events #2 in LA

Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Deal, CT14 8DD

emoji_events #3 in LA

Thornden Wood Primary School

Good

location_on Herne Bay, CT6 7RS

emoji_events #4 in LA

Leigh Academy Paddock Wood

Good

location_on Tonbridge, TN12 6JE

emoji_events #5 in LA

The Discovery School

Outstanding

location_on West Malling, ME19 4GJ

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Kent arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Kent

Westgate Primary School

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School

Thornden Wood Primary School

Leigh Academy Paddock Wood

The Discovery School