Herne Bay Junior School

About Herne Bay Junior School

Herne Bay Junior School received a Requires Improvement rating from Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in June 2025, a notable step down from the Good rating it held in its previous inspection in 2016. The inspection report, published in September 2025, rated the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management all as requires improvement, while personal development was judged to be good. The most telling academic metric comes from the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results: only 42% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That figure places the school 28th out of 30 primary schools in the Canterbury local authority area, and in the bottom 50% nationally. For context, the Kent local authority average for the same combined measure is 63%, so the school is running well behind its peers. Just 2% of pupils reached the higher standard across all three subjects.

Digging into the individual subject scores, reading was the strongest area, with 63% of pupils reaching the expected standard and an average scaled score of 102. Maths followed at 58% expected, with an average score of 100, while writing lagged at 55% expected. The proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard was low across the board: 11% in reading, 7% in maths, and just 2% in writing. The school's Progress 8 scores are not available in the data, so it is difficult to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils' starting points. Parent feedback from the Parent View survey, collected between September 2024 and September 2025, shows a mixed picture: 79% of the 72 respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed that their child is happy (82% combined strongly agree/agree) and feels safe (83%). However, only 72% agreed that the school has high expectations for their child, and concerns about behaviour were evident, with 25% disagreeing that the school ensures pupils are well behaved.

The school is a mixed, non-denominational state primary for pupils aged 7 to 11, with a current roll of 391 against a capacity of 500, so there is some room for growth. It serves a community with high levels of disadvantage: 45.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. The school lists a wide range of SEND provisions, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. However, the Parent View data on SEND support is notably split: 50% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, but 41% disagreed or strongly disagreed. Facilities include a library, playing fields, a gymnasium, art studios, a sports hall, and an outdoor playground, with clubs such as drama, science club, eco club and choir. For families considering this school, the nearest outstanding-rated alternative is Herne Church of England Junior School, about 2 km away. Herne Bay Junior School may suit families who value its broad SEND offer and community feel, but the academic outcomes and Ofsted rating suggest it is currently a school in transition.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Herne Bay Junior School

Helpful Guides for Parents