Kemsley Primary Academy

About Kemsley Primary Academy

Kemsley Primary Academy’s headline Key Stage 2 results sit slightly below the Kent local authority average, with 59% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths compared with the LA average of 63%. That places the school in the bottom half of primary schools in Swale, ranked 30th out of 48, and nationally in the 60th percentile. But the picture is more nuanced when you dig into individual subjects: 78% of pupils met the expected standard in writing, and 70% did so in both reading and maths, which suggests the combined figure is dragged down by a smaller group struggling across all three. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in October 2024, confirmed that standards are being maintained at Good, a significant improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2015 when it was rated Inadequate. Leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness were all judged Good, and the school has held a Good rating across both its recent inspections.

Looking at the finer academic detail, the school’s average scaled scores were 104 in reading and 103 in maths, both close to the national benchmark of 100. The proportion reaching the higher standard was modest: 11% in reading, 15% in maths, 15% in writing, and just 4% across all three subjects combined. That’s a fairly typical profile for a school with above-average levels of disadvantage — 37% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. The school’s Progress 8 scores are not available in the data, so it’s hard to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. Parental feedback from the most recent Parent View survey (55 responses) was broadly positive: 76% would recommend the school, and 89% agreed or strongly agreed that their child does well. However, the SEND support question drew a sharply divided response, with 36% strongly disagreeing that children with special educational needs get the support they need, against 36% strongly agreeing.

Kemsley is a three-form entry primary with nursery provision, and it was oversubscribed for 2025/26, receiving 57 applications for 27 places, with all 25 first-preference families offered a spot. The school is larger than its official capacity of 210, currently housing 225 pupils. Facilities include a library, sports hall, sensory room, music rooms, forest school and a chapel, and the school runs clubs such as science, gardening, drama, book club and choir. Sports on offer include swimming, gymnastics, football and netball. The school’s SEND register covers specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families weighing up options, the nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Tunstall Church of England (Aided) Primary School, 4.5 km away. Kemsley suits families who want a Good-rated local school with strong writing outcomes, a wide range of clubs, and a clear focus on early years provision, but who are aware that its combined academic results sit just below the Kent average.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Kemsley Primary Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents