St Mary's Island CofE (Aided) Primary School

Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class

Island Way West, St Mary's Island, Chatham, ME4 3ST

01634 891050 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 12 March 2014; confirmed 2023
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths71%England 62% · 2024/25
Joint 8th highest of 19 state primary schools in Chatham.
Higher than 67% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils663Room for 630 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 458 in 2019, 578 in 2021, 639 in 2022, 671 in 2023, 681 in 2024, 674 in 2025, 663 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.068 for 70 places, September 2026
16th highest of 20 state primary schools in Chatham.
Higher than 47% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 March 2014.

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
Leadership and managementGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 15 November 2023: 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

99 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.

Chatham comparisons use the 12 of its 22 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.

StatementThis schoolChathamEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 11th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chatham.
Higher than 7% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
81% 93% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
12th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chatham.
Higher than 5% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
79% 93% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
12th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chatham.
Higher than 9% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
72% 89% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 38 parents whose child had been bullied
8th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chatham.
Higher than 8% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
32% 49% 49%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 76 parents who had raised a concern
11th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chatham.
Higher than 6% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
58% 78% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
12th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chatham.
Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
69%said yes 89% 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. Chatham figures pool parents at the Chatham 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.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

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

87 pupils in this year group.

71% — 10 points above the Medway average, and 9 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolMedwayEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 71% 61% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 10% 7% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 79% 73% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 77% 73% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 83% 71% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 107 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 107 104 105
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: 64%This school 2023/24: 69%This school 2024/25: 71% This school England 62% 2022/23 64% 2023/24 69% 2024/25 71%

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 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 about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered70
Families who put it first68
Of those, offered a place68 (100%)
Families who listed it at all112

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

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 Medway

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolMedwayEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
19th highest of 22 state primary schools in Chatham.
Higher than 26% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
12.8% 28.5%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
11th highest of 22 state primary schools in Chatham.
Higher than 10% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
1.0% 2.1%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
17th highest of 22 state primary schools in Chatham.
Higher than 56% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
15.1% 16.6%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
8th highest of 22 state primary schools in Chatham.
Higher than 76% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
27.4% 18.9%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
15th lowest of 22 state primary schools in Chatham.
Lower than 30% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
5.8% 5.6%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
11th lowest of 22 state primary schools in Chatham.
Lower than 36% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
14.2% 15.0%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 22 state primary schools in Chatham.
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 22 state primary schools in Chatham.
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
6th highest of 22 state primary schools in Chatham.
Higher than 84% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
23.8 21.5 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
15th highest of 22 state primary schools in Chatham.
Higher than 53% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
10.9 11.1 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
18th highest of 21 state primary schools in Chatham.
Higher than 19% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
3.6% 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

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

Questions parents ask

What is St Mary's Island CofE (Aided) Primary School's Ofsted rating?

St Mary's Island CofE (Aided) Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 March 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 15 November 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did St Mary's Island CofE (Aided) Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 71% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 9 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend St Mary's Island CofE (Aided) Primary School?

69% of the 99 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend St Mary's Island CofE (Aided) Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is St Mary's Island CofE (Aided) Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 68 families put St Mary's Island CofE (Aided) Primary School as their first choice for 70 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 68 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.