SchoolScoresPalace Wood Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Ash Grove, Allington, Maidstone, ME16 0AB
01622 750084 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 4 July 2017.
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 | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 15 September 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
64 pupils in this year group.
69% — 7 points above the Kent average, and 7 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 69% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 8% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 75% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 78% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 80% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 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 | 57 |
| Of those, offered a place | 55 (96%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 146 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.9
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 31st highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 43% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.5% | 27.2%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 29th highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 21% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.6% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 36th highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 13% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.7% | 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) 20th lowest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Lower than 54% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 5.5%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) Joint 17th lowest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Lower than 51% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 11.6% | 14.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 25th lowest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Lower than 30% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.6 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 29th lowest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Lower than 21% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.9% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 35th highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 35% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.3 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 12th highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 64% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.5 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 28th highest of 43 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 39% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 9.8% | 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
- Allington Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Francis' Catholic Primary School, Maidstone 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brunswick House Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- West Borough Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Maidstone, St Michael's CofE Junior School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Michael's CofE Infant School Maidstone 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
- North Borough Junior School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Paul's Infant School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2025
- Jubilee Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 4 expected · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- Barming Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Palace Wood Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Palace Wood Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 4 July 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 15 September 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Palace Wood Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 69% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 7 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Palace Wood Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 57 families put Palace Wood Primary School as their first choice for 60 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 55 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 135106.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- 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.