Water Meadows Primary School

About Water Meadows Primary School

Water Meadows Primary School in Canterbury is a school that parents clearly feel strongly about, with 75% of respondents to the most recent Ofsted Parent View survey saying they would recommend it to others. That survey, which ran from September 2024 to September 2025, drew 32 responses and painted a picture of a school where children are generally happy and feel safe – 91% of parents agreed or strongly agreed with the first statement, and a similar proportion felt their child was safe. The school is also notably oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 38 applications for just 20 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.9. All 19 first-preference applicants were offered a place, which suggests that while demand is strong, families who put it first have a good chance of getting in. The headteacher is Ben Martin, and the school has no religious character.

Academically, Water Meadows performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 71% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Kent average of 63%. The school also excels in reading, where the average scaled score was 108 and 47% of pupils achieved the higher standard. Maths scores were also strong, with an average of 105 and 29% reaching the higher standard. Writing was a relative weak spot, with just 6% hitting the higher standard. The school ranks 8th out of 30 primary schools in the Canterbury local authority area, placing it in the top 27% locally. Its most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2019, rated overall effectiveness as Good, with leadership and management judged Outstanding. An ungraded inspection in January 2025 confirmed that standards are being maintained, and the early years provision was rated Outstanding.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for a primary of its size, including a sensory room, forest school area, art studios, a sports hall and playing fields. Clubs such as gardening, eco club, choir and science club are available, and sports include dance, cross country, rounders and gymnastics. Water Meadows has a significant SEND population – 38% of parents surveyed said their child had special educational needs – and the school lists provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech, language and communication needs, social, emotional and mental health, visual impairment, physical disability and moderate learning difficulty. With 179 pupils against a capacity of 210, the school is not at full capacity, and 40.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is high. This is a school that suits families looking for a community-focused, inclusive primary with strong academic foundations and a clear commitment to early years and SEND support.

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