SchoolScoresThistle Hill Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Part of THE STOUR ACADEMY TRUST
Aspen Drive, Minster-on-Sea, Sheerness, ME12 3UD
01795 899119 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 5 November 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
93 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Sheerness comparisons use the 5 of its 10 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 5 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 | Sheerness | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sheerness. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 90% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sheerness. Higher than 39% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 90% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sheerness. Higher than 34% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 78% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 30 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 83rd highest of 188 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent. Higher than 55% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 57% | – | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 64 parents who had raised a concern 2nd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sheerness. Higher than 39% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 72% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 39 parents of children with SEND Joint 32nd highest of 84 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent. Higher than 68% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | – | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 2nd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sheerness. Higher than 35% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87%said yes | 82% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 28%). 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. Sheerness figures pool parents at the Sheerness 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
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
59 pupils in this year group.
49% — 13 points below the Kent average, and 13 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 49% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 59% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 76% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 59% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 100 | 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 | 38 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 38 |
| Of those, offered a place | 38 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 78 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 14 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 10 state primary schools in Sheerness. Higher than 90% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 49.1% | 27.2%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 10 state primary schools in Sheerness. Higher than 94% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.8% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools in Sheerness. Higher than 99% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 32.8% | 13.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 10 state primary schools in Sheerness. Higher than 48% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.0% | 15.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Sheerness. Lower than 10% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.0% | 5.5%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 5th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Sheerness. Lower than 9% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 22.5% | 14.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 6th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Sheerness. Lower than 25% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 6th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Sheerness. Lower than 27% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 9th highest of 10 state primary schools in Sheerness. Higher than 9% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 15.4 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 8th highest of 10 state primary schools in Sheerness. Higher than 9% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 7.9 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools in Sheerness. Higher than 93% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 35.0% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Minster in Sheppey Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 strong · 89% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Georges CofE (Aided) Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Halfway Houses Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Richmond Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Queenborough School and Nursery 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- West Minster Primary School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 4 strong, 3 expected · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Rose Street Primary School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Edward's Catholic Primary School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Eastchurch CofE Primary School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 needs attention · 25% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Thistle Hill Academy's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 5 November 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Thistle Hill Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 49% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 13 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Thistle Hill Academy?
87% of the 93 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Thistle Hill Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Thistle Hill Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 38 families put Thistle Hill Academy as their first choice for 38 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 38 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 140393.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- 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.