Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #93 in Kent public Top 3% UK

Smarden Primary School

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

personMrs Claudia Miller

corporate_fareTHE KEMNAL ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onAshford, TN27 8ND

language Visit Website phone 1233770316

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2017

groups

Students

174

school

Expected Standard

89%

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Demand Ratio

1.3x

summarize

Smarden Primary School is a Academy converter primary school in Ashford, serving ages 2-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.3×) — apply through your local authority on time. Ranks in the top 3% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Smarden Primary School is an academy converter in Ashford, Kent, admitting pupils aged 2-11. It is part of THE KEMNAL ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 175 pupils on roll, of whom 15% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 89% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 6% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #93 of 424 primaries in Kent and #3,483 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.3× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 21.3:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.3 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

89%

LA 61%

Reading89% LA 74%

Writing89% LA 72%

Maths89% LA 70%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

60%

LA 60%England 61%

Reading87% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing87% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths67% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

75%

LA 58%England 60%

Reading79% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing82% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths79% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.9

Read

LA -0.4

-0.4 to 4.2

2.2

Write

LA -0.2

-0.1 to 4.4

1.7

Maths

LA -1.2

-0.5 to 3.9

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

88%

LA 67%England 65%

Reading88% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing100% LA 81% · Eng 78%

Maths88% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.4

Read

LA 0.0

-1.8 to 6.7

7.7

Write

LA 0.1

3.7 to 11.6

-1.5

Maths

LA -0.6

-5.3 to 2.2

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

65%

LA 65%

Reading75% LA 76%

Writing85% LA 80%

Maths70% LA 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.1

Read

LA 0.0

-3.7 to 1.5

2.8

Write

LA 0.4

0.3 to 5.3

-3.4

Maths

LA -0.5

-5.8 to -1

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

10 May 2023

Inspection Report

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05 December 2017

Inspection Report

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14 March 2013

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2017-12-05

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-03-14

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2010-10-14

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

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

0.6%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.6%(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 175 pupils. During this period, there were 1 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.6%, 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)	175	1	0.6%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	159	0	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	176	1	0.6%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	174	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	171	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	181	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	174	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	167	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	165	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	161	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	152	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	159	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	158	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	144	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	151	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	151	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	147	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	116	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	114	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	115	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	117	1	0.9%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	118	2	1.7%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	118	1	0.8%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	116	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	116	1	0.9%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	114	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.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 14 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 5 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 5 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 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.

94.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

100.0%Positive

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

30.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree53%

agree42%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

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

strongly agree75%

agree22%

strongly disagree3%

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

strongly agree53%

agree8%

strongly disagree11%

not applicable28%

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 agree53%

agree44%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree75%

agree22%

disagree3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree61%

agree33%

disagree6%

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

strongly agree58%

agree36%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree81%

agree17%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree56%

agree39%

disagree3%

don't know3%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes94%

no6%

Top Primary Schools in Kent

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Westgate Primary School

Good

location_on Dartford, DA1 2LP

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Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

Outstanding

location_on Ebbsfleet, DA10 1AD

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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

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The Discovery School

Outstanding

location_on West Malling, ME19 4GJ

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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

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