Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School
70%
Capacity
74
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School
Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School stands out sharply against the Kent local authority average for Key Stage 2 outcomes. While the LA average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined sits at 63%, this school achieved a perfect 100% in its most recent results. That places it first out of 35 primary schools in the Folkestone and Hythe district and inside the top 25 nationally. The school is small, with just 74 pupils against a capacity of 105, and its headteacher is Rachel Buss. It is a state-funded, mixed Church of England primary for children aged 5 to 11, and it is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 15 applications for 7 places, with all 5 first-preference families offered a spot.
Academic performance is strong across the board. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, every pupil reached the expected standard in reading, maths and writing individually, and a quarter achieved the higher standard in all three subjects. Average scaled scores were 109 in both reading and maths, comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. In maths, 63% of pupils reached the higher standard, while in reading and writing it was 38%. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2022, rated it Good overall, with Outstanding marks for early years provision and for behaviour and attitudes. Leadership and management, quality of education, and personal development were all judged Good. This continues a pattern of solid performance: the previous inspection in 2012 also awarded a Good rating.
The school offers a practical range of facilities including a library, music rooms, art studios, a sports hall, gymnasium and chapel. Sports provision covers gymnastics, tennis, cross country, athletics, dance, football and cricket, while clubs include gardening, coding, eco club, art club, science club and chess. The school’s SEND provisions are focused on social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication, and autistic spectrum disorder. With its small size, strong academic outcomes and oversubscribed admissions, this is a school that suits families who prioritise high attainment in a village Church of England setting, and who are prepared to apply early given the competition for places.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 5 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Bossingham Road, Canterbury, Folkestone and Hythe, CT4 6DU |
| Headteacher | Rachel Buss |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 74 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.2% |
| School Capacity | 74 / 105 (70% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Jun 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 25 Jul 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (100%)
24th of 13,686
Nationally
4th of 2,034
In South East
1st of 35
In Folkestone and Hythe
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
100%
Expected Standard
25%
Higher Standard
'22/23
82%
'23/24
100%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed7
15
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
5 families put this school as their 1st choice (33% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.2%
- Mixed5.5%
- Asian5.4%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Bossingham Road, Canterbury
Folkestone and Hythe, CT4 6DU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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