Community school · Kent

Preston Primary School

4–11Ages
129Pupils
PrimaryPhase
118401URN

Mill Lane, Preston, Canterbury, CT3 1HB · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.5per place

close to Kent median (2.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Kent

49 applications for 20 places · 178th of 385 in Kent

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

63%met the expected standard

Kent 65% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 24 June 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education	Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Early years provision	Outstanding

Inspection history

24 June 2025
Graded inspection, no overall grade
1 February 2024
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good (Improving)

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

2.5applications per place, Reception

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

49 applications · 20 places offered · 24 named it first

2026 2.5; Kent median median 2.4
2025 2.2; Kent median median 2.3
2024 2.0; Kent median median 2.4
2023 2.1; Kent median median 2.3
2022 2.3; Kent median median 2.1
2021 2.6; Kent median median 2.2
2020 2.2; Kent median median 2.2
2019 2.4; Kent median median 2.1
2018 1.7; Kent median median 2.1
2017 2.2; Kent median median 2.2
2016 2.2; Kent median median 2.5
2015 2.3; Kent median median 2.4
2014 3.3; Kent median median 2.3

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	49	2.5	24	1.20
Sep 2025	20	44	2.2	28	1.40
Sep 2024	16	32	2.0	14	0.88
Sep 2023	19	39	2.1	17	0.89
Sep 2022	11	25	2.3	11	1.00
Sep 2021	11	28	2.6	11	1.00
Sep 2020	18	39	2.2	13	0.72
Sep 2019	17	40	2.4	17	1.00
Sep 2018	19	33	1.7	17	0.89
Sep 2017	16	35	2.2	14	0.88
Sep 2016	18	39	2.2	15	0.83
Sep 2015	12	27	2.3	11	0.92
Sep 2014	12	39	3.3	9	0.75

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 79% · Writing 79% · Maths 84% → all three 63% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard63%224th of 421 in Kent

Kent 65% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard79%

Kent 78% England 78%

Higher standard47%

Kent 35% England 33%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard79%

Kent 77% England 75%

Greater depth16%

Kent 15% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard84%

Kent 75% England 77%

Higher standard32%

Kent 24% England 24%

Average scaled score 107 (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	63%	11%	108	107
2023/24	85%	5%	109	107
2022/23	76%	5%	108	108

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

Preston Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.5applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
Wickhambreaux Church of England Primary School
3.7 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2025
Wingham Primary School
3.8 km · Kent

2026

3.1applications per place 77%met the SATs standard
Ash Cartwright and Kelsey Church of England Primary School
4.1 km · Kent

Improved significantly2025

1.6applications per place 54%met the SATs standard
Chislet Church of England Primary School
4.3 km · Kent

Good2022

3.6applications per place 47%met the SATs standard
Water Meadows Primary School
5.1 km · Kent

Standards maintained2025

1.4applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
Littlebourne Church of England Primary School
5.2 km · Kent

Some aspects not as strong2024

2.4applications per place 47%met the SATs standard
Monkton Church of England Primary School
5.5 km · Kent

Remains Good2024
Hoath Primary School
5.8 km · Kent

2026

5.5applications per place 71%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: 118401 · 886/2322
Capacity: 133 pupils · 129 on roll
Free school meals: 13.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Mill Lane, Preston, Canterbury, CT3 1HB
Local authority: Kent · Dover

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