Community school · Kent

Bethersden Primary School

4–11Ages
117Pupils
PrimaryPhase
118372URN

School Road, Bethersden, Ashford, TN26 3AH · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.1per place

0.3 below Kent median (2.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Kent

42 applications for 20 places · 260th of 385 in Kent

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

46%met the expected standard

Kent 65% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 7 June 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision	Outstanding

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.1applications per place, Reception

0.3 below Kent median (2.4) close to England median (2.2)

42 applications · 20 places offered · 17 named it first

2026 2.1; Kent median median 2.4
2025 1.8; Kent median median 2.3
2024 1.8; Kent median median 2.4
2023 2.3; Kent median median 2.3
2022 1.6; Kent median median 2.1
2021 2.0; Kent median median 2.2
2020 1.5; Kent median median 2.2
2019 1.5; Kent median median 2.1
2018 1.7; Kent median median 2.1
2017 1.8; Kent median median 2.2
2016 2.0; Kent median median 2.5
2015 1.8; Kent median median 2.4
2014 1.8; Kent median median 2.3

More applications per place than the Kent median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Kent median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	20	42	2.1	17	0.85
Sep 2025	18	32	1.8	14	0.78
Sep 2024	12	22	1.8	12	1.00
Sep 2023	16	36	2.3	15	0.94
Sep 2022	19	31	1.6	19	1.00
Sep 2021	19	37	2.0	19	1.00
Sep 2020	20	29	1.5	21	1.05
Sep 2019	13	19	1.5	11	0.85
Sep 2018	13	22	1.7	10	0.77
Sep 2017	14	25	1.8	10	0.71
Sep 2016	16	32	2.0	12	0.75
Sep 2015	17	30	1.8	16	0.94
Sep 2014	12	21	1.8	12	1.00

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 77% · Writing 100% · Maths 54% → all three 46% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard46%364th of 421 in Kent

Kent 65% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard77%

Kent 78% England 78%

Higher standard54%

Kent 35% England 33%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard100%

Kent 77% England 75%

Greater depth31%

Kent 15% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard54%

Kent 75% England 77%

Higher standard15%

Kent 24% England 24%

Average scaled score 102 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Kent median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	46%	15%	108	102
2023/24	53%	0%	105	103
2022/23	43%	9%	103	100

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Bethersden Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.1applications per place 46%met the SATs standard
High Halden Church of England Primary School
3.8 km · Kent

2026

3.5applications per place 42%met the SATs standard
Smarden Primary School
4.8 km · Kent

Remains Good2023

3.9applications per place 89%met the SATs standard
Chilmington Green Primary School
5.2 km · Kent

Good2022

2.2applications per place 46%met the SATs standard
Pluckley Church of England Primary School
5.2 km · Kent

Standards maintained2024

1.8applications per place 82%met the SATs standard
Woodchurch Church of England Primary School
5.4 km · Kent

Good2023

2.2applications per place 74%met the SATs standard
St Michael's Church of England Primary School
6.2 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.0applications per place 52%met the SATs standard
The John Wesley Church of England Methodist Voluntary Aided Primary School
6.3 km · Kent

Remains Good2021

2.5applications per place 52%met the SATs standard
Great Chart Primary School
6.5 km · Kent

Outstanding2023

3.7applications per place 77%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 118372 · 886/2278
Capacity: 140 pupils · 117 on roll
Free school meals: 29.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: School Road, Bethersden, Ashford, TN26 3AH
Local authority: Kent · Ashford

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources