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Palace Wood Primary School

Palace Wood Primary School

Maidstone, ME16 0ABPrimary School·Ages 4-11
Goodby Ofsted

101%

Capacity

426

Pupils

2.2x

Demand

About Palace Wood Primary School

Palace Wood Primary School is a state-funded Does not apply primary school serving the Maidstone community, welcoming children from age 4 to 11. The school has 426 pupils on roll and is near full capacity (101% of 420 places).

Ofsted has rated Palace Wood Primary School "Good", the school is led by headteacher Clare Cairns, it falls under Kent local authority.

In terms of academic performance, 56% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths at KS2 — close to the national average. Additionally, ranked 9033rd out of 13,686 schools in England. Additionally, 31st out of 44 in Maidstone.

Palace Wood Primary School is a popular choice with families — it received 134 applications for 60 places, making it 2.2x oversubscribed. Of these, 48 were first-preference applications.

For children with special educational needs, the school offers support across 7 areas, including Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia), Social, Emotional & Mental Health, Speech, Language & Communication and 4 more. Parents should contact the school's SENCO for specific details about provision.

On-site facilities at Palace Wood Primary School include Library, Art Studios, Playing Fields, ICT Suite, Gymnasium, Chapel.

Beyond the classroom, pupils can take part in sports such as Netball, Football, Swimming, Dance, as well as clubs including Chess, Drama, Coding.

The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 18.3%, which is below the national average for primary schools in England.

For families exploring primary schools in Maidstone, Palace Wood Primary School is one of the options available in the South East region. Use Classpot to compare it side-by-side with nearby alternatives and find the best fit for your child.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressAsh Grove, Maidstone, Maidstone, ME16 0AB
HeadteacherClare Cairns
Local AuthorityKent
Number of Pupils426
Free School Meals (FSM)18.3%
School Capacity426 / 420 (101% full)

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

15 Sept 2022
View Report

Overall Effectiveness

Good

Latest inspection (15 Sept 2022): School remains Good

Improved
Leadership & Management
Good

Additional Provisions

Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 18 Sept 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

League Table Position

Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (56%)

9033rd of 13,686

Nationally

Top 66%

1354th of 2,034

In South East

Top 67%

31st of 44

In Maidstone

Top 70%

Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data

KS2 SATs Results

2023/24

Reading, Writing & Maths Combined

56%

Expected Standard

11%

Higher Standard

ReadingAvg Score: 104
Expected:68%
Higher:24%
Writing
Expected:81%
Higher:24%
MathsAvg Score: 103
Expected:68%
Higher:21%
RWM Expected Standard % over timeDeclining -14%

'22/23

70%

'23/24

56%

Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionPhysicalOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

Facilities

6
LibraryArt StudiosPlaying FieldsICT SuiteGymnasiumChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

7

Sports

NetballFootballSwimmingDance

Clubs & Activities

ChessDramaCoding

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

Admissions

2025/26Oversubscribed
Places

60

Applications

134

Good Demand

Popular school with more applications than places

Applications to places ratio2.2x
0x1x2x3x5x+

48 families put this school as their 1st choice (36% of all applications)

Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Palace Wood Primary School

Palace Wood Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.

Contact Information

01622750084www.palacewoodprimary.org.uk/

Ash Grove, Maidstone

Maidstone, ME16 0AB

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Ash Grove, Maidstone

Maidstone, ME16 0AB

Journey to School

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Opening Hours

Monday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Tuesday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Wednesday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Thursday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Friday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed

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