SchoolScoresBalfour Infant School
Community school · Primary, ages 5 to 7 · Mixed
Pattens Lane, Rochester, ME1 2QT
01634 338280 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 15 October 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
16 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Rochester comparisons use the 21 of its 34 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 13 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Rochester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 10th highest of 21 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 92% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 11th highest of 21 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 39% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 92% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 12th highest of 21 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 37% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 87% | 84% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 10th highest of 21 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 38% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 87% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 6%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Rochester figures pool parents at the Rochester schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Medway. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 66 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 59 |
| Of those, offered a place | 59 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 185 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 18th highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 53% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 23.1% | 28.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 20th highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 19% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.5% | 2.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 22nd highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 50% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.2% | 16.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 36.2% | 18.9%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 11th lowest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Lower than 52% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.9% | 5.6%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 13th lowest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Lower than 55% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.9% | 15.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 73% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.6 | 21.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 18th highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 60% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.3 | 11.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 23rd highest of 33 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 38% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 9.6% | 16.3%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Balfour Junior School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Crest Infant School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2025
- Delce Academy 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- New Horizons Children's Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 35% met expected standard (KS2)
- Warren Wood Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Peter's Infant School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024
- St John's CofE Infant School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- St Michael Catholic Primary and Nursery School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2019 · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Phoenix Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- Greenvale Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Balfour Infant School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 15 October 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend Balfour Infant School?
88% of the 16 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Balfour Infant School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Balfour Infant School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 59 families put Balfour Infant School as their first choice for 66 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 59 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 118329.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.