Horsted Infant School

About Horsted Infant School

Horsted Infant School in Medway was rated Good overall in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, a change from its previous Outstanding rating in 2016. The inspection report reveals a mixed picture: behaviour and attitudes, and personal development were both rated Outstanding, while leadership and management and quality of education were judged Good. The early years provision, however, was rated Requires improvement, which is worth noting for parents of younger children. The school serves children from age 3 to 7, with a nursery on site, and has 175 pupils against a capacity of 180. Around 11.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, slightly below the national average. The school is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 121 applications for 51 places, with 46 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.37.

Academic outcomes data for Horsted Infant School is limited because it only covers Key Stage 1, not the Key Stage 2 SATs used for the local authority average. The Medway LA average for Key Stage 2 attainment is 62, but this metric does not apply directly to an infant school. Ofsted’s judgement on quality of education as Good suggests solid foundations in reading, writing and maths at the early primary stage. The school’s previous Outstanding rating in 2016 indicates a history of strong performance, though the 2023 inspection noted some decline in early years. Parents looking for a direct comparison with other local primaries should note that Medway has four Outstanding-rated primary schools out of 76 total, with the nearest being St Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School, 1.1 km away. Horsted’s closest peer schools by ranking score include The Pilgrim School and Swingate Primary School, both scoring 87.

The school offers a range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, a forest school area, and a chapel. Sports provision includes swimming, gymnastics, tennis and dance, while extracurricular clubs cover gardening, drama and eco club. SEND support is available for pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, and other disabilities. The school is a mixed, non-religious state primary with no sixth form, and does not offer boarding. Given its oversubscription, families should apply early and consider the first-preference route — all 46 first-preference applicants in the most recent round were offered places. This school suits families who value strong behaviour and personal development in a smaller setting, and who are comfortable with a Good-rated school that has a specific area for improvement in early years. The forest school and outdoor playground will appeal to those wanting hands-on learning experiences.

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