SchoolScoresThe Discovery School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Discovery Drive, Kings Hill, West Malling, ME19 4GJ
01732 847000 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 21 February 2023.
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 | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
95 pupils in this year group.
80% — 18 points above the Kent average, and 18 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 80% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 18% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 91% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 84% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 89% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 110 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 90 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 77 |
| Of those, offered a place | 75 (97%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 196 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 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 | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 10th highest of 10 state primary schools in West Malling. Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.3% | 27.2%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 10th highest of 10 state primary schools in West Malling. Higher than 11% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.1% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 7th highest of 10 state primary schools in West Malling. Higher than 25% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.7% | 13.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 10 state primary schools in West Malling. Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.1% | 15.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 9th lowest of 10 state primary schools in West Malling. Lower than 39% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.4% | 5.5%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 9th lowest of 10 state primary schools in West Malling. Lower than 43% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 13.0% | 14.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 10 state primary schools in West Malling. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.2 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 10 state primary schools in West Malling. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.2% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 10 state primary schools in West Malling. Higher than 86% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 24.0 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 10 state primary schools in West Malling. Higher than 74% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.2 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 6th highest of 10 state primary schools in West Malling. Higher than 41% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 10.1% | 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
- Kings Hill School Primary and Nursery 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Valley Invicta Primary School At Kings Hill 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 90% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wateringbury CofE Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- More Park Catholic Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Lift St James the Great 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- West Malling CofE Primary School and McGinty Speech and Language Srp 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Leybourne, St Peter and St Paul CofE Primary Academy 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ditton CofE Junior School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2019, before conversion) · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brookfield Infant School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Mereworth Community Primary School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Discovery School's Ofsted rating?
The Discovery School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 21 February 2023.
How did The Discovery School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 18 points above the England average of 62%.
Is The Discovery School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 77 families put The Discovery School as their first choice for 90 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 75 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 134057.
- 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.