Eastling Primary School

About Eastling Primary School

Eastling Primary School sits slightly below the Kent local authority average for the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2. The school recorded 62% achieving that benchmark in the 2023/24 academic year, compared with the LA average of 63% for primary schools. That one-percentage-point gap is marginal, and it places Eastling 231st out of 459 primary schools in Kent — squarely in the middle of the pack. Within Swale, the school ranks 23rd out of 48 primaries, putting it in the bottom half of the borough but not far from the median. What stands out more is the unevenness across subjects: reading scores are a strength, with 77% of pupils reaching the expected standard and 46% hitting the higher standard, while maths lags behind at 62% expected and 0% higher. Writing sits at 85% expected but only 8% at the higher level. For a small village primary with just 105 pupils, these results tell a story of a school that does solid work in literacy but has room to push its maths outcomes further.

The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2016, rated it Good overall, with Good marks for leadership, teaching, early years and pupil outcomes. A subsequent ungraded inspection in October 2021 confirmed the school “remains Good.” Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is hard to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points, but the average reading score of 107 and maths score of 102 suggest pupils are broadly meeting national expectations. The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 29 applications for 15 places, with 14 first-preference offers made from 18 first-preference applications — a ratio of nearly two applicants per place. That level of demand hints at a strong local reputation, particularly given the school’s modest size and rural setting in Swale.

Facilities include a gymnasium, sports hall, playing fields, forest school area and art studios, plus a chapel on site. The school offers a range of clubs — chess, book club, art club and choir — and sports such as dance, netball, cross country, gymnastics and swimming. For children with additional needs, the school lists provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 21.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is slightly above the national average for primary schools, reflecting the mixed catchment. Eastling is a good fit for families who want a small, community-focused primary where reading is a clear strength and where the school is full to capacity — oversubscription means early application is essential. The nearest Outstanding-rated alternative is Sheldwich Primary School, 4.7 km away, which may be a consideration for parents weighing options.

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