St Margaret's Church of England Junior School

About St Margaret's Church of England Junior School

St Margaret’s Church of England Junior School sits within the Medway local authority, where it ranks 14th out of 55 primary schools — comfortably inside the top quarter of its peers. Among the highest-scoring schools in the area are The Pilgrim School, Swingate Primary School and Leigh Academy High Halstow, all of which sit ahead of St Margaret’s on the local rankings table. The school is a state-funded, mixed-gender junior school for children aged 7 to 11, with a Church of England religious character. It is led by headteacher Lenny Williams and currently has 364 pupils on roll, just one above its official capacity of 363, suggesting it is operating at full stretch. Around 18.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly above the national average for primary schools. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in September 2023, confirmed that it remains Good — a rating it has held consistently since at least its previous graded inspection in 2013.

Academically, St Margaret’s performs well above the Medway average for Key Stage 2 outcomes. In the 2023/24 academic year, 71% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 62%. That puts the school in the top 50 nationally by this metric. Looking at individual subjects, 82% met the expected standard in maths, with an average scaled score of 106, while 79% did so in both reading and writing, with a reading average of 105. Higher-standard attainment is more modest: 11% achieved the higher benchmark across all three subjects, with 30% reaching it in maths and 33% in reading. Progress scores are not available in the data, but the school’s consistent above-average results suggest solid teaching. In its most recent graded inspection, leadership and management were also judged Good, and the school has maintained that standard through its subsequent ungraded visit.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including an ICT suite, art studios, a sports hall, a sensory room, a forest school area and a chapel. Sports provision covers gymnastics, cross country, swimming, netball, cricket, rounders and tennis, while extracurricular clubs include drama, choir and gardening. For families with children who have additional needs, St Margaret’s lists seven categories of SEND provision, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. The school is oversubscribed — its capacity is 363 and it has 364 pupils — so parents should be prepared for a competitive admissions process. With strong academic results, a clear Church of England identity and a full range of facilities, this is a school that suits families looking for a well-regarded junior option within Medway, particularly those who value a faith-based setting and a solid track record in core subjects.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About St Margaret's Church of England Junior School

Helpful Guides for Parents