Palmarsh Primary School

Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed

St George's Place, Hythe, CT21 6NE

01303 260212 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 15 March 2016; confirmed 2025
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths67%England 62% · 2024/25
Joint 3rd highest of 6 state primary schools in Hythe.
Higher than 55% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils204Room for 140 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 154 in 2019, 168 in 2021, 184 in 2022, 191 in 2023, 199 in 2024, 201 in 2025, 204 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.939 for 20 places, September 2026
1st highest of 6 state primary schools in Hythe.
Higher than 100% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 15 March 2016.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 2 April 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

66 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Hythe comparisons use the 3 of its 6 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 3 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 schoolHytheEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hythe.
Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 97% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
3rd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hythe.
Higher than 59% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 98% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hythe.
Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94% 94% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 10 parents whose child had been bullied
Joint 156th highest of 188 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent.
Higher than 17% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
40% – 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 46 parents who had raised a concern
2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hythe.
Higher than 68% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89% 88% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 15 parents of children with SEND
21st highest of 84 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent.
Higher than 79% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
87% – 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hythe.
Higher than 77% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97%said yes 96% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 33%). 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. Hythe figures pool parents at the Hythe 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.

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Results

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

30 pupils in this year group.

67% — 5 points above the Kent average, and 5 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 67% 62% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 0% 10% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 87% 75% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 83% 74% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 67% 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. 102 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 62%This school 2023/24: 68%This school 2024/25: 67% This school England 62% 2022/23 62% 2023/24 68% 2024/25 67%

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 2 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered20
Families who put it first39
Of those, offered a place20 (51%)
Families who listed it at all70

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.8 · 2025: 1.6 · 2026: 1.9

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Kent

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolKentEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
2nd highest of 6 state primary schools in Hythe.
Higher than 63% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
27.9% 27.2%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
3rd highest of 6 state primary schools in Hythe.
Higher than 60% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
3.5% 3.0%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
3rd highest of 6 state primary schools in Hythe.
Higher than 14% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
9.0% 13.8%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
4th highest of 6 state primary schools in Hythe.
Higher than 36% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
5.5% 15.8%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
4th lowest of 6 state primary schools in Hythe.
Lower than 61% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.6% 5.5%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
3rd lowest of 6 state primary schools in Hythe.
Lower than 64% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
9.4% 14.4%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 6 state primary schools in Hythe.
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 6 state primary schools in Hythe.
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
1st highest of 6 state primary schools in Hythe.
Higher than 95% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
26.0 20.5 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
1st highest of 6 state primary schools in Hythe.
Higher than 98% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
15.9 10.3 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 6 state primary schools in Hythe.
Higher than 53% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
13.3% 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

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

Questions parents ask

What is Palmarsh Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Palmarsh Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 15 March 2016. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 2 April 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.

How did Palmarsh Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 5 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Palmarsh Primary School?

97% of the 66 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Palmarsh Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Palmarsh Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 39 families put Palmarsh Primary School as their first choice for 20 places: about 2 first-choice applications for every place. 20 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.