Classpot

Barnsole Primary School

Medway, ME7 2JGPrimaryAges 2–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2024
KS2 Results
45%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
55 1st-choice / 57 places
Ranking
#11,638
of 13,686 nationally

About Barnsole Primary School

Barnsole Primary School in Medway is a larger-than-average state primary that is currently running above its official capacity, with 665 pupils on roll against a published capacity of 630. The school serves a community with a notably high level of disadvantage: 36.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average of around 23% and significantly higher than the Medway average of roughly 19%. Demand for places is extremely strong, with 226 applications for just 57 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of nearly 4:1. Of those applications, 55 were first-preference choices, meaning virtually every available place went to families who had ranked Barnsole as their top pick. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, taking children from age 2 through to 11, with nursery provision on site. This is a school that clearly commands strong local loyalty, despite serving a catchment with higher-than-average levels of economic challenge.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range2 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressBarnsole Road, Gillingham, Medway, ME7 2JG
HeadteacherJonathan Smales
Local AuthorityMedway
Number of Pupils665
Free School Meals (FSM)36.1%
School Capacity665 / 630 (106% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

28 Feb 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 29 Apr 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
GymnasiumLibraryMusic RoomsPlaying FieldsArt StudiosForest SchoolChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

8

Sports

RoundersFootballTennisAthleticsNetball

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubCodingGardening

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

09:00 – 15:10

Breakfast club

07:30-08:40

After-school care

15:10-18:00

Source: barnsoleprimary.medway.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Barnsole Primary School

Barnsole Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.