John Mayne CofE Primary School

Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England

Part of TENTERDEN SCHOOLS TRUST

High Street, Biddenden, Ashford, TN27 8AL

01580 291424 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card3 expected, 4 needs attentionSafeguarding met · 25 February 2026
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths27%England 62% · 2024/25
38th highest of 38 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Higher than 1% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils94Room for 140 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 104 in 2019, 93 in 2021, 99 in 2022, 110 in 2023, 102 in 2024, 100 in 2025, 94 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.116 for 15 places, September 2026
Joint 12th highest of 39 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Higher than 82% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 25 February 2026 , published 13 May 2026.

In short: 3 expected, 4 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. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Early yearsNursery and reception classes. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
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.

What parents say

47 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

Kent comparisons use the 33 of its 459 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 426 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.

StatementThis schoolKentEngland
My child is happy at this school
33rd highest of 33 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent.
Higher than 6% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
68% 91% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
33rd highest of 33 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent.
Higher than 5% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
68% 92% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
33rd highest of 33 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent.
Higher than 3% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
43% 86% 78%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 14 parents whose child had been bullied
14th highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent.
Higher than 7% of 329 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
14% 45% 43%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 43 parents who had raised a concern
32nd highest of 32 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent.
Higher than 5% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
49% 81% 74%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 15 parents of children with SEND
26th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent.
Higher than 2% of 552 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
20% 72% 63%
I would recommend this school to another parent
33rd highest of 33 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent.
Higher than 3% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
51%said yes 90% 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 47%). 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. Kent figures pool parents at the Kent 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

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

11 pupils in this year group.

27% — 35 points below the Kent average, and 35 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 27% 62% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 0% 10% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 64% 75% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 64% 74% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 27% 71% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 100 106 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 95 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 45%This school 2023/24: 70%This school 2024/25: 27% This school England 62% 2022/23 45% 2023/24 70% 2024/25 27%

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 offered15
Families who put it first16
Of those, offered a place15 (94%)
Families who listed it at all23

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 1.1

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. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Kent

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolKentEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
8th highest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Higher than 68% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
31.0% 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
23rd highest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Higher than 41% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
13.0% 13.8%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
31st highest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Higher than 22% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
3.0% 15.8%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
33rd lowest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Lower than 20% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
6.2% 5.5%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
30th lowest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Lower than 27% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
16.1% 14.4%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
32nd lowest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Lower than 27% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
3.0 3.0 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
35th lowest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Lower than 19% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
2.0% 1.3% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.01% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
34th highest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Higher than 12% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
16.2 20.5 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 35th highest of 40 state primary schools in Ashford (Kent).
Higher than 12% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
8.2 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 John Mayne CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

John Mayne CofE Primary School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 25 February 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 3 expected, 4 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.

How did John Mayne CofE Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 27% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 35 points below the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend John Mayne CofE Primary School?

51% of the 47 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend John Mayne CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is John Mayne CofE Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 16 families put John Mayne CofE Primary School as their first choice for 15 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 15 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.