Bligh Primary School (Juniors)

About Bligh Primary School (Juniors)

Bligh Primary School (Juniors) sits slightly above the Medway local authority average for Key Stage 2 outcomes, with 64% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined compared to the LA average of 62%. That two-point gap is modest but meaningful, placing the school 27th out of 55 primary schools in Medway, right in the middle of the pack. What stands out more sharply is the school’s high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals — 39.4% — well above the national average for a state primary, which makes its above-average headline result worth noting. The school is rated Good by Ofsted across all categories following its June 2023 inspection, a rating it has held consistently since at least 2013. Christian Markham is the headteacher, and the school serves the 7-11 age range only, with no nursery or sixth form provision.

Digging into the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the picture is mixed. In maths, 75% of pupils met the expected standard and 24% reached the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 104. Reading was similar: 72% at expected and 28% at higher, also with an average score of 104. Writing was weaker — 69% at expected but only 1% at the higher standard, and the combined reading, writing and maths higher standard figure was also just 1%. The school does not publish progress scores for any subject, so it is not possible to say how much value it adds relative to pupils’ starting points. In Medway, only four primaries are rated Outstanding, the nearest being The Pilgrim School 2.7 km away. Bligh’s ranking in the South East region places it in the 44th percentile nationally, broadly in line with the median for its type.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a sensory room, art studios, gymnasium, dining hall, ICT suite and a chapel. Sports provision covers netball, dance, rounders and athletics, while clubs include art, gardening and eco club. SEND support is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder and other difficulties. The school is oversubscribed, with 355 pupils against a capacity of 330, so places are in demand. For families in Medway looking for a mainstream state primary that achieves slightly above the local average despite serving a high-poverty intake, Bligh represents a solid, well-regarded option — particularly for those who value its Good Ofsted rating and broad SEND support.

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