Academy converter · Kent

Palm Bay Primary School

5–11Ages
407Pupils
PrimaryPhase
148992URN

Palm Bay Avenue, Cliftonville, Margate, CT9 3PP · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jan 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

3.4per place

0.9 above Kent median (2.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Kent

201 applications for 60 places · 60th of 385 in Kent

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

59%met the expected standard

Kent 65% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 28 January 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
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

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

3.4applications per place, Reception

0.9 above Kent median (2.4) 1.2 above England median (2.2)

201 applications · 60 places offered · 72 named it first

2026 3.4; Kent median median 2.4
2025 3.4; Kent median median 2.3
2024 3.2; Kent median median 2.4
2023 3.4; Kent median median 2.3
2022 3.0; Kent median median 2.1; as the previous school
2021 3.0; Kent median median 2.2; as the previous school
2020 3.3; Kent median median 2.2; as the previous school
2019 3.2; Kent median median 2.1; as the previous school
2018 2.9; Kent median median 2.1; as the previous school
2017 3.0; Kent median median 2.2; as the previous school
2016 3.9; Kent median median 2.5; as the previous school
2015 3.9; Kent median median 2.4; as the previous school
2014 3.8; Kent median median 2.3; as the previous school

This school
Kent median

Dashed bars: as Palm Bay Primary School (URN 118583), the previous school.

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	60	201	3.4	72	1.20
Sep 2025	60	201	3.4	81	1.35
Sep 2024	60	193	3.2	70	1.17
Sep 2023	60	203	3.4	84	1.40
Sep 2022 *	60	182	3.0	82	1.37
Sep 2021 *	60	180	3.0	86	1.43
Sep 2020 *	60	196	3.3	83	1.38
Sep 2019 *	60	194	3.2	78	1.30
Sep 2018 *	60	174	2.9	78	1.30
Sep 2017 *	60	182	3.0	77	1.28
Sep 2016 *	60	233	3.9	83	1.38
Sep 2015 *	60	233	3.9	78	1.30
Sep 2014 *	60	228	3.8	90	1.50

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 81% · Writing 68% · Maths 78% → all three 59% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard59%270th of 421 in Kent

Kent 65% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard81%

Kent 78% England 78%

Higher standard41%

Kent 35% England 33%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard68%

Kent 77% England 75%

Greater depth10%

Kent 15% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard78%

Kent 75% England 77%

Higher standard14%

Kent 24% England 24%

Average scaled score 105 (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	59%	3%	107	105
2023/24	68%	10%	107	105
2022/23	48%	5%	105	99

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

Palm Bay Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.4applications per place 59%met the SATs standard
Cliftonville Primary School
1.0 km · Kent

Good2024

1.8applications per place 44%met the SATs standard
Northdown Primary School
1.3 km · Kent

Good2021

2.7applications per place 52%met the SATs standard
Drapers Mills Primary Academy
2.1 km · Kent

2026

2.0applications per place 51%met the SATs standard
Callis Grange Nursery and Infant School
2.1 km · Kent

Good2022

2.3applications per place
St Peter-in-Thanet CofE Junior School
2.2 km · Kent

Outstanding2023

60%met the SATs standard
Margate, Holy Trinity and St John's Church of England Primary School
2.4 km · Kent

Good2023

2.1applications per place 31%met the SATs standard
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Broadstairs
2.9 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.5applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Salmestone Primary School
2.9 km · Kent

Standards maintained2024

2.7applications per place 66%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: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 148992 · 886/2672
Trust: Ekc Schools Trust Limited
Capacity: 428 pupils · 407 on roll
Free school meals: 27.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 April 2022
Replaced: Palm Bay Primary School (URN 118583)
Address: Palm Bay Avenue, Cliftonville, Margate, CT9 3PP
Local authority: Kent · Thanet

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