SchoolScoresThurnham CofE Infant School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 5 to 7 · Mixed · Church of England
The Landway, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME14 4BL
01622 737685 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good 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 | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
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 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 | 77 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 161 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 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.
This is a Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 46th highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 3% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.1% | 27.2%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 44th highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 6% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.7% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 46th highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 2% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 13.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 33rd highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 48% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.9% | 15.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Lower than 90% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.6% | 5.5%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Lower than 95% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.8% | 14.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 28th lowest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Lower than 18% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.4 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 31st lowest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Lower than 16% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.2% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 16th highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 74% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.7 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 8th highest of 46 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 74% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.2 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 39th highest of 43 state primary schools in Maidstone. Higher than 19% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 3.6% | 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
- Roseacre Junior School 0.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Madginford Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Leigh Academy Bearsted 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Maidstone, St John's CofE Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- Greenfields Community Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Valley Invicta Primary School At East Borough 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Senacre Wood Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2024 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Park Way Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Leigh Academy Molehill 1.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- South Borough Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Thurnham CofE Infant School's Ofsted rating?
Thurnham CofE Infant School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 21 February 2023.
Is Thurnham CofE Infant School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 77 families put Thurnham CofE Infant School as their first choice for 90 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 77 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 118629.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.