SchoolScoresSt Margaret's Infant School
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 7 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of THE WESTBROOK TRUST
St Margaret's Infant School, Orchard Street, Orchard Street, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 9AE
01634 231327 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 July 2011. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
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 |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 14 May 2025: 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
61 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Gillingham (Medway) comparisons use the 13 of its 23 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 10 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.
| Statement | This school | Gillingham (Medway) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 70% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 88% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 2nd highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 88% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 78% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 80% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 12 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 3rd highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 78% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67% | 53% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 31 parents who had raised a concern 2nd highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 61% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 73% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 83% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98%said yes | 82% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 20%). 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. Gillingham (Medway) figures pool parents at the Gillingham (Medway) 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
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
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.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 78 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 67 |
| Of those, offered a place | 67 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 195 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 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 | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 18th highest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 37% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.4% | 28.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 18th highest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 6% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.7% | 2.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 19th highest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 49% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.1% | 16.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 13th highest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 56% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.4% | 18.9%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Lower than 62% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.6% | 5.6%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 11th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Lower than 51% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 11.6% | 15.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 12th highest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 69% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.2 | 21.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 10th highest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 79% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.6 | 11.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 21st highest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 18% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 3.1% | 16.3%* | 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
- St Margaret's CofE Junior School 0.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Miers Court Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2021 · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Thames View Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- Riverside Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Parkwood Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Twydall Primary School and Nursery 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Fairview Community Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Deanwood Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 28% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2024 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Margaret's Infant School's Ofsted rating?
St Margaret's Infant School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 July 2011. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 14 May 2025, Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
Would parents recommend St Margaret's Infant School?
98% of the 61 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Margaret's Infant School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Margaret's Infant School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 67 families put St Margaret's Infant School as their first choice for 78 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 67 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 144133.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.