Bodsham CofE Primary School

Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England

School Hill, Bodsham, Ashford, TN25 5JQ

01233 750374 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card2 strong, 3 expected, 2 needs attentionSafeguarding met · 19 May 2026
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths79%England 62% · 2024/25
7th highest of 38 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Higher than 85% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils70Room for 103 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 78 in 2019, 73 in 2021, 74 in 2022, 82 in 2023, 77 in 2024, 75 in 2025, 70 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.76 for 9 places, September 2026
37th highest of 39 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Higher than 2% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 19 May 2026 , published 25 June 2026.

In short: 2 strong, 3 expected, 2 needs attention, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Early yearsNursery and reception classes. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

14 pupils in this year group.

79% — 17 points above the Kent average, and 17 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 79% 62% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 21% 10% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 86% 75% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 86% 74% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 86% 71% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 107 106 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 108 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 75%This school 2023/24: 80%This school 2024/25: 79% This school England 62% 2022/23 75% 2023/24 80% 2024/25 79%

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 fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered9
Families who put it first6
Of those, offered a place6 (100%)
Families who listed it at all23

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.7

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.

This is a Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.

Admissions dates and schools in Kent

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolKentEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
38th highest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Higher than 19% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
10.7% 27.2%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
Joint 37th highest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 3.0%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
37th highest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Higher than 16% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
9.3% 13.8%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
22nd highest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Higher than 52% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
10.7% 15.8%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
17th lowest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Lower than 52% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.9% 5.5%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
19th lowest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Lower than 47% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
12.2% 14.4%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 3.0 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 1.3% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.01% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
38th highest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Higher than 6% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
14.3 20.5 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 32nd highest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Higher than 14% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
8.4 10.3 10.6

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.

Nearby primary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Bodsham CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Bodsham CofE Primary School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 19 May 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 2 strong, 3 expected, 2 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.

How did Bodsham CofE Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 79% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 17 points above the England average of 62%.

Is Bodsham CofE Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 6 families put Bodsham CofE Primary School as their first choice for 9 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 6 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.