Boughton Monchelsea Primary School

About Boughton Monchelsea Primary School

Boughton Monchelsea Primary School is a state primary in Maidstone, Kent, running almost at full capacity with 208 pupils against a school capacity of 210. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 14.4%, a figure worth noting against the national primary average of around 23%, suggesting a slightly less disadvantaged intake than the country as a whole. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 114 applications for just 30 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.8 to one. Of those, 29 were first-preference applications, and 25 first-preference offers were made, indicating that while the school is popular, not every local family who wants a place gets one. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and serves ages 4 to 11, with no nursery or sixth form provision.

Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 confirmed it remains Good, a rating it has held consistently across both its graded and ungraded inspections. The breakdown shows Good grades for leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness. At Key Stage 2, 43% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is notably below the Kent local authority average of 63%. The school ranks 41st out of 44 primary schools in Maidstone on this metric, placing it in the bottom half nationally. Individual subject scores are mixed: reading had 61% at expected and 25% at a higher standard, while maths saw 50% at expected and 14% at a higher level. Writing was the weakest area, with only 4% of pupils reaching the higher standard.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a library, music rooms, sports hall, ICT suite, and a chapel. Sports provision covers rounders, cross country, athletics, cricket, dance and netball, while clubs include drama, eco club, coding and science club. SEND support is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, visual impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families weighing up options, the nearest Outstanding-rated school is Leigh Academy Oaks, 2.4 kilometres away. Boughton Monchelsea suits families who value a full-to-capacity local school with strong demand, a broad SEND offer, and a clear understanding that its academic outcomes are below the local average, particularly in writing and combined measures.

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