Selsted Church of England Primary School

About Selsted Church of England Primary School

Selsted Church of England Primary School is a small state primary in Folkestone and Hythe, with 97 pupils against a capacity of 105, so it runs close to full. Its free school meals rate of 13.4% is slightly above the national primary average of around 12%, suggesting a modestly higher-than-average level of disadvantage among its intake. The school is clearly in demand: for its 12 places in the 2025/26 admission round, it received 41 applications, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 3.42 applicants per place. Of those, only eight were first-preference offers, meaning most families who put it top got in, but competition is real. The school is Church of England, which may shape its intake, though the data doesn't specify any faith-based admissions criteria. It's a mixed, non-selective school for ages 4 to 11, with no nursery or sixth form provision.

Academically, Selsted is a solid but not standout performer. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2013, it was rated Good overall, with Good for leadership and management. An ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed the school remains Good. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 53% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, below the Kent local authority average of 63%. Reading was the strongest subject, with 73% at expected and 20% at a higher standard; writing and maths were weaker, with 67% and 60% at expected respectively. Average scores were 102 in reading and 100 in maths. The school ranks 24th out of 35 primaries in Folkestone and Hythe on the combined expected standard metric, placing it in the bottom half locally and around the 72nd percentile nationally.

The school offers a good range of facilities for its size, including a library, playing fields, a sensory room, a gymnasium, an ICT suite, a forest school and a chapel. Sports on offer include tennis, gymnastics, athletics, dance, netball and rounders, with clubs covering drama, book club, coding, science and film. SEND provision is well-documented, with support for social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Hawkinge Primary School, 4.7 km away. Selsted suits families who want a small, Church of England village school with strong community feel and a clear focus on pastoral support, but who are realistic about its middling academic outcomes compared with stronger local peers.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Selsted Church of England Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents