Bethersden Primary School

About Bethersden Primary School

Bethersden Primary School holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, a grade it has maintained consistently across both its recent inspections. The school’s strongest area, according to the inspection, is its early years provision, which was rated Outstanding. When it comes to academic outcomes at Key Stage 2, the picture is mixed. The school’s combined score for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths stands at 53%, which is below the Kent local authority average of 63%. This places Bethersden in the bottom half of primary schools nationally, ranking 31st out of 40 schools in the Ashford district. However, the data also shows some bright spots: 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, and the average reading score was 105, slightly above the national benchmark of 100.

Looking more closely at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the school’s maths performance is a particular strength relative to its own overall picture. 73% of pupils reached the expected standard in maths, with an average score of 103, and 27% achieved the higher standard. Reading also saw a respectable 20% of pupils reaching the higher standard. Writing was the weakest area, with 60% meeting the expected standard and no pupils reaching the higher standard. The school’s Progress 8 scores are not available, so it is difficult to say how much value the school adds compared with similar pupils nationally. In the Ashford local authority, Bethersden ranks 325th out of 459 primary schools, placing it in the bottom third locally. For parents focused on academic outcomes, the school’s results are below average for the area, though the early years provision stands out as a clear strength.

Bethersden is a small village primary school with 115 pupils on roll, operating below its capacity of 140. It is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, with 32 applications for 18 places and 14 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.78. The school offers a range of facilities including a forest school, sensory room, ICT suite, music rooms, art studios and a chapel. Sports provision includes football, cricket, rounders and dance, while clubs cover chess, coding, science, choir, drama and eco club. The school has dedicated SEND provision for pupils with specific learning difficulties (dyslexia), social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. This combination of small size, strong early years, and a broad set of facilities and clubs may suit families looking for a community-focused primary with good pastoral support, particularly for children with SEND needs.

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