Danecourt School
Special academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Part of MARITIME ACADEMY TRUST
Hotel Road, Gillingham, ME8 6AA
01634 232589 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 June 2019.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 13 November 2024: Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
47 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school | 83% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school | 83% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved | 81% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 23 parents whose child had been bullied | 48% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 43 parents who had raised a concern | 70% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 47 parents of children with SEND | 79% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent | 79%said yes | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 18%). 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. 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
41 pupils in this year group.
0% — 61 points below the Medway average, and 62 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 61% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 0% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 0% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 0% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 104 | 105 |
"Not published": No figure published.
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 Medway. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round. It caters for: Speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs; Multi-sensory impairment; Moderate learning difficulties; Severe learning difficulties; Profound and multiple learning difficulties.
| Pupils | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 53.3% | 53.6%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 100.0% | 99.7%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 0.0% | 0.3%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 5.4% | 8.8%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 8.1% | 12.4%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 21.5% | 32.1%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.8 | 13.5 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 0.4% | 6.0% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.27% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 10.2 | 6.8 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 9.1% | 8.0%* | 14.3%* |
Comparisons are with special schools. * 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby special schools
- Alchemy School 1.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected
- Rivermead School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 4% grade 5+ English and maths
- Blue Skies School 2.1 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Bradfields Academy 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2022
- INSPIRE Free Special School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 0% grade 5+ English and maths
- Ripplevale School Rochester 2.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Danecourt School's Ofsted rating?
Danecourt School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 June 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 13 November 2024, Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
How did Danecourt School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 0% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 62 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Danecourt School?
79% of the 47 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Danecourt School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 142266.
- 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.