SchoolScoresJoy Lane Primary Foundation School
Foundation school · Primary, ages 1 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of The Coastal Alliance Co-operative Trust
Joy Lane, Whitstable, CT5 4LT
01227 261430 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 6 February 2014.
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 |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 24 April 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
225 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Whitstable comparisons use the 6 of its 7 state primary schools with comparable results. The other one has 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 | Whitstable | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitstable. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 2nd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitstable. Higher than 76% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 96% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 2nd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitstable. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 90% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 61 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitstable. Higher than 60% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59% | 45% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 167 parents who had raised a concern 2nd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitstable. Higher than 79% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 82% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitstable. Higher than 72% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96%said yes | 90% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Whitstable figures pool parents at the Whitstable 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
77 pupils in this year group.
58% — 4 points below the Kent average, and 4 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 58% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 8% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 65% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 74% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 71% | 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. | 104 | 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 | 89 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 85 |
| Of those, offered a place | 83 (98%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 162 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.1 · 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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 30 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 7 state primary schools in Whitstable. Higher than 56% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 24.2% | 27.2%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 7 state primary schools in Whitstable. Higher than 94% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.1% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 7 state primary schools in Whitstable. Higher than 30% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.5% | 13.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 7 state primary schools in Whitstable. Higher than 31% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 15.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 7 state primary schools in Whitstable. Lower than 39% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.4% | 5.5%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 7 state primary schools in Whitstable. Lower than 32% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 15.1% | 14.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 7 state primary schools in Whitstable. Lower than 35% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.1 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 7 state primary schools in Whitstable. Lower than 28% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 6th highest of 7 state primary schools in Whitstable. Higher than 36% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.4 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 7th highest of 7 state primary schools in Whitstable. Higher than 9% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 7.9 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 7 state primary schools in Whitstable. Higher than 44% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 10.9% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Whitstable Junior School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2025 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Alphege CofE Infant School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Whitstable and Seasalter Endowed CofE Junior School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2022 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Westmeads Community Infant School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Whitstable 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Swalecliffe Community Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Joy Lane Primary Foundation School's Ofsted rating?
Joy Lane Primary Foundation School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 6 February 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 24 April 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Joy Lane Primary Foundation School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 58% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 4 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Joy Lane Primary Foundation School?
96% of the 225 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Joy Lane Primary Foundation School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Joy Lane Primary Foundation School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 85 families put Joy Lane Primary Foundation School as their first choice for 89 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 83 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 135130.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 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.