Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #331 in Kent public Top 84% UK

The Downs Church of England Primary School

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

personMs Natalie Luxford

corporate_fareDEAL EDUCATION ALLIANCE FOR LEARNING TRUST

location_onDeal, CT14 7TL

language Visit Website phone 1304372486

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

317

school

Expected Standard

48%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

The Downs Church of England Primary School is a Academy converter primary school in Deal, serving ages 4-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 84% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

The Downs Church of England Primary School is an academy converter in Deal, Kent, admitting pupils aged 4-11. It is part of DEAL EDUCATION ALLIANCE FOR LEARNING TRUST. The school has approximately 318 pupils on roll, of whom 38% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 48% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #331 of 424 primaries in Kent and #11,141 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. 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 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.8:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.1 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

48%

LA 61%

Reading67% LA 74%

Writing65% LA 72%

Maths61% LA 70%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

38%

LA 60%England 61%

Reading62% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing62% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths47% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

44%

LA 58%England 60%

Reading61% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing70% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths56% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.6

Read

LA -0.4

-4.2 to -0.9

-1.0

Write

LA -0.2

-2.6 to 0.6

-2.7

Maths

LA -1.2

-4.3 to -1.1

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

12 September 2023

Inspection Report

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05 April 2019

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-09-12

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2011-10-05

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2009-06-30

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

0.6%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.6%(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 318 pupils. During this period, there were 2 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)	318	2	0.6%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	308	5	1.6%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	315	1	0.3%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	314	3	1.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	307	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	318	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	317	3	0.9%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	318	5	1.6%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	330	1	0.3%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	326	1	0.3%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	327	1	0.3%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	346	3	0.9%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	349	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	350	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	373	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	373	1	0.3%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	372	3	0.8%	0.6%

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

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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 22 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 12 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 10 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

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The Downs Church of England Primary School

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)

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