SchoolScoresBarming Primary School
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of ORCHARD ACADEMY TRUST
Belmont Close, Barming, Maidstone, ME16 9DY
01622 726472 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 24 September 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
105 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Maidstone comparisons use the 22 of its 46 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 24 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 | Maidstone | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 17th highest of 22 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Maidstone. Higher than 23% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 93% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 15th highest of 22 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Maidstone. Higher than 22% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 92% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 15th highest of 22 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Maidstone. Higher than 22% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 86% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 41 parents whose child had been bullied 16th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Maidstone. Higher than 10% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 34% | 53% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 82 parents who had raised a concern Joint 14th highest of 22 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Maidstone. Higher than 30% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 80% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 24 parents of children with SEND 6th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Maidstone. Higher than 22% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 58% | 71% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 13th highest of 22 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Maidstone. Higher than 30% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85%said yes | 87% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 21%). 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. Maidstone figures pool parents at the Maidstone 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
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
58 pupils in this year group.
48% — 14 points below the Kent average, and 14 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 48% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 5% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 64% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 81% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 59% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Kent. 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 60 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 59 |
| Of those, offered a place | 57 (97%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 118 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
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 | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 16th highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 61% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 26.9% | 27.2%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 43rd highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.8% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 33rd highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 20% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.0% | 13.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 23rd highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 57% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.9% | 15.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 23rd lowest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Lower than 42% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.3% | 5.5%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 30th lowest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Lower than 30% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 15.4% | 14.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 19th lowest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Lower than 55% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.8 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 18th lowest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Lower than 51% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.6% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 8th highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 84% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.7 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 7th highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 76% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.3 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 13th highest of 43 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 74% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 20.1% | 14.4%* | 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
- Jubilee Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 4 expected · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- West Borough Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Francis' Catholic Primary School, Maidstone 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- East Farleigh Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 strong, 2 expected, 1 needs attention · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Palace Wood Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- Maidstone, St Michael's CofE Junior School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Michael's CofE Infant School Maidstone 1.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
- Allington Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brunswick House Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Archbishop Courtenay Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Barming Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 24 September 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Barming Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 48% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 14 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Barming Primary School?
85% of the 105 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Barming Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Barming Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 59 families put Barming Primary School as their first choice for 60 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 57 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 142924.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.