Bapchild and Tonge Church of England Primary School and Nursery

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 2 to 11
Ofsted: Good

School Lane, Bapchild, Sittingbourne, ME9 9NLOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Bapchild and Tonge Church of England Primary School and Nursery is a primary school in Sittingbourne for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 692 schools in Kent. It ranks 18th of 23 primary schools in Sittingbourne. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in April 2015.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 30 April 2015, report published 3 June 2015

Overall effectiveness
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 25 March 2025

Pupils thrive in this welcoming and caring school. The school has a strong culture built around its values. Adults are compassionate and are responsive to the needs of pupils. Pupils form positive relationships with one another. Children in the early years settle well to life in school. Older pupils support younger children. For example, buddies link with children in the early years to help them to settle into the life of the school. As a result, the school is a place where pupils are valued and cared for. The school is ambitious for its pupils. The school develops pupils' characters, confidence and resilience. For example, pupils learn about how to articulate their own emotions, and they are responsive to the feelings of others. Pupils achieve well across a broad range of subjects. They produce high-quality work that adorns the corridors. They explore their learning through a variety of engaging activities. They talk with interest and enthusiasm about what they learn in class. Pupils' behaviour is positive. The school sets clear rules for pupils. Pupils appointed as anti-bullying ambassadors keep a caring watch on other pupils during playtime. This builds a culture in the school where pupils feel safe and happy.

What the school should improve

  • The reading curriculum has not been designed in a way that enables some pupils to build their reading skills as well as they could. This means that some pupils do not master the full range of reading skills and are not able to apply them when reading and exploring texts. The school should ensure that the curriculum supports pupils to become progressively more skilled and confident readers.
  • Pupils are not always confident when talking about important concepts relating to British values. This is because the school's personal development programme does not emphasise the importance of pupils learning relevant key vocabulary. Consequently, pupils do not always deepen their understanding of these topics. The school should ensure that delivery of the personal development programme enables pupils to secure a stronger understanding of British values.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

30 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths40%

40%, 22 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths10%

10%, 2 percentage points above the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score104

104, 2 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score101

101, 4 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score101

101, 4 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

252 pupils on roll, with places for 210

Eligible for free school meals15.5%

15.5%, 11 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language4.4%

4.4%, 17.2 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support7.5%

7.5%, 7.3 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan4.4%

4.4%, 1.6 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Bapchild and Tonge Church of England Primary School and Nursery

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Lansdowne Primary School0.4 milesOfsted: Good73% met the expected standard
Canterbury Road Primary School0.8 milesOfsted: Good67% met the expected standard
Sunny Bank Primary School0.9 milesOfsted: Good71% met the expected standard
South Avenue Primary School1 mileOfsted: Good67% met the expected standard
Rodmersham School1 mileOfsted: Outstanding72% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Voluntary aided school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
2 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Mr Christian Kelly
Address
School Lane, Bapchild, Sittingbourne, ME9 9NL
Local authority
Kent
URN
118730

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.