Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Places Available emoji_events #4 in Medway public Top 15% UK

St Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School

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

personMrs Victoria Ebdon

location_onChatham, ME5 0NF

language Visit Website phone 1634864701

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

417

school

Expected Standard

78%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

St Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Chatham, serving ages 4-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Ranks in the top 15% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

St Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School is a voluntary aided school in Chatham, Medway, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 410 pupils on roll, of whom 17% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 78% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 19% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #4 of 65 primaries in Medway and #1,680 of 15,231 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. 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 28.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies. Teacher turnover in the previous year was 6.5%.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.4 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

78%

LA 59%

Reading90% LA 71%

Writing83% LA 71%

Maths85% LA 69%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

110

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

63%

LA 61%England 61%

Reading78% LA 72% · Eng 74%

Writing80% LA 72% · Eng 72%

Maths78% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

69%

LA 56%England 60%

Reading85% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Writing80% LA 71% · Eng 71%

Maths80% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.9

Read

LA -1.3

-0.7 to 2.4

-0.6

Write

LA -0.6

-2.1 to 1.0

0.7

Maths

LA -1.5

-0.8 to 2.2

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

87%

LA 63%England 65%

Reading92% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Writing93% LA 76% · Eng 78%

Maths95% LA 76% · Eng 79%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.4

Read

LA -0.5

0.8 to 3.9

1.6

Write

LA -0.1

0.1 to 3.0

1.8

Maths

LA -0.3

0.5 to 3.2

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

87%

LA 63%

Reading88% LA 72%

Writing92% LA 79%

Maths95% LA 73%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.5

Read

LA -0.8

-1 to 2

-1

Write

LA 0.1

-2.5 to 0.5

1.7

Maths

LA -0.5

0.3 to 3.1

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

Inspection Report

31 August 2025

Inspection Report

15 October 2024

Inspection Report

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07 February 2013

Inspection Report

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04 May 2011

Inspection Report

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07 January 2011

Inspection Report

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12 November 2007

Inspection Report

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06 May 2003

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-10-15

S5 Inspection 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

2013-02-07

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2007-11-12

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

0.2%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.2%(1 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 410 pupils. During this period, there were 1 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.2%, which is below 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)	410	1	0.2%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	408	2	0.5%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	420	8	1.9%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	416	11	2.6%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	417	9	2.2%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	422	1	0.2%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	417	3	0.7%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	415	2	0.5%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	414	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	415	6	1.4%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	412	21	5.1%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	418	7	1.7%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	412	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	415	3	0.7%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	420	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	420	1	0.2%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	419	3	0.7%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	418	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	422	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	423	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	420	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	421	2	0.5%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	424	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	423	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	426	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	425	0	0.0%	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 26 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 14 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 7 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 3 pupils

Hearing Impairment 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.

98.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

99.0%Positive

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

11.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree56%

agree35%

disagree4%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree65%

agree26%

disagree7%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree28%

agree11%

disagree19%

strongly disagree6%

not applicable37%

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

yes24%

no76%

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

strongly agree62%

agree8%

disagree23%

strongly disagree8%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree54%

agree30%

disagree7%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree63%

agree30%

disagree6%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree54%

agree35%

disagree9%

strongly disagree2%

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

strongly agree59%

agree33%

disagree2%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree52%

agree30%

disagree11%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree52%

agree31%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

don't know7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes91%

no9%

Top Primary Schools in Medway

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Napier Community Primary and Nursery Academy

Good

location_on Gillingham, ME7 4HG

emoji_events #1 in LA

St Margaret's at Troy Town CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Good

location_on Rochester, ME1 1YF

emoji_events #2 in LA

Thames View Primary School

Good

location_on Gillingham, ME8 7DX

emoji_events #3 in LA

Horsted Junior School

Good

location_on Chatham, ME5 9TF

emoji_events #4 in LA

Walderslade Primary School

Good

location_on Chatham, ME5 8BJ

emoji_events #5 in LA

Oaklands School

Good

location_on Chatham, ME5 0QS

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Medway arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

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 Medway

Napier Community Primary and Nursery Academy

St Margaret's at Troy Town CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Thames View Primary School

Horsted Junior School

Walderslade Primary School

Oaklands School