Bodsham Church of England Primary School

About Bodsham Church of England Primary School

Bodsham Church of England Primary School is a small, mixed state primary for children aged 4 to 11, currently home to 75 pupils against a capacity of 103. That leaves it running at roughly 73% full, which is a fairly comfortable margin for a village school. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 10.7%, slightly below the national average for primary schools, suggesting a relatively low-deprivation intake. Demand, however, is notably strong. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school had 16 applications for just 9 places, making it officially oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.78 applicants per place. All 9 first-preference families were offered a spot, but the remaining 7 applicants would have been disappointed. This level of competition is a clear signal that local parents rate the school highly, and it's worth noting that the school's Church of England character may be a draw for families seeking a faith-based setting in the Folkestone and Hythe area.

Academically, Bodsham performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 80% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to a Kent average of just 63%. The school also excels at stretching its pupils: 20% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths, with reading a particular strength — 60% hit the higher mark and every single pupil reached the expected level. Average scores tell a similar story: 110 in reading and 107 in maths, both comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. In the Folkestone and Hythe local authority rankings, Bodsham sits 7th out of 35 primary schools, placing it in the top 20% regionally and the top 11% nationally. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated the school Good overall, with Outstanding marks for early years provision, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes.

The school packs a surprising amount into its small footprint. Facilities include a library, music rooms, an ICT suite, playing fields, a forest school, art studios and even a chapel, reflecting its Church of England foundation. Sports provision covers rounders, athletics, dance and swimming, while clubs range from coding and choir to eco club and drama. For children with additional needs, the school supports specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, social and emotional challenges, and autistic spectrum disorder. Given its oversubscribed status, families should be prepared to apply early and consider their catchment area carefully. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes in a small, faith-based village setting, with a clear emphasis on personal development and outdoor learning through the forest school programme.

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