Classpot

Thistle Hill Academy

Swale, ME12 3UDPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
5 Good
Nov 2024
KS2 Results
68%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
41 1st-choice / 43 places
Ranking
#4,855
of 13,686 nationally

About Thistle Hill Academy

Thistle Hill Academy is a mixed state primary in Swale, Kent, and its intake profile tells a clear story. The school has capacity for 420 pupils but currently enrols 332, leaving around a fifth of places unfilled. That spare capacity sits alongside a very high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals — 48.2%, far above the national average. Despite this, demand is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 74 applications for 43 places, with all 41 first-preference applicants offered a spot. That oversubscription ratio of 1.72 suggests families in the area actively choose Thistle Hill, even with available places elsewhere. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, serving children from ages 4 to 11. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, saw the school jump from a Requires Improvement rating in 2022 to a Good overall, with Outstanding marks for personal development and leadership and management. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive — 87% of respondents in the most recent Parent View survey would recommend the school.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressAspen Drive, Sheerness, Swale, ME12 3UD
HeadteacherRebecca Handebeaux
Local AuthorityKent
Number of Pupils332
Free School Meals (FSM)48.2%
School Capacity332 / 420 (79% full)

The full report on this school

What 93 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

5 Nov 2024
View Report
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Early Years Provision
Good

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 1 Dec 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
GymnasiumOutdoor PlaygroundSports HallICT SuitePlaying FieldsDining HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

8

Sports

GymnasticsFootballCricketAthleticsTennis

Clubs & Activities

DramaChoirChess

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

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyResourced ProvisionMulti-Sensory

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:15

Breakfast club

07:45-08:45

After-school care

15:15-18:00

Source: thistlehill.kent.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Thistle Hill Academy

Thistle Hill Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.