Higham Primary School
School Lane, Higham, Rochester, ME3 7JLOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Higham Primary School is a primary school in Rochester for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 692 schools in Kent. It ranks 18th of 24 primary schools in Rochester. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 24 January 2024, report published 17 March 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 24 January 2024
Pupils at Higham Primary School say it is a good place to be. They feel a strong sense of belonging within their school community. Daily, pupils work hard to live up the school's motto of 'grow, learn, believe, achieve'. Parents recognise the positive impact of the school on their children's self-belief and confidence. The school has high expectations for all pupils' achievement. Pupils recognise this and approach their learning with a great sense of positivity and enthusiasm. In the strongest subjects, such as art and design, pupils develop a real love of learning and this is reflected in the high-quality work they produce. Pupils have recently worked with staff to redevelop the school's approach to managing behaviour. Pupils told inspectors that the new approach is working well and that their learning is rarely disrupted. Pupils work hard to demonstrate the positive behaviour and values that staff expect. Pupils particularly enjoy the daily opportunities they have to play and learn outdoors within the school's extensive grounds, 'trim trail' and climbing wall. Pupils talk animatedly about the broad range of trips and activities they participate in. For example, during the inspection pupils in Year 2 represented the school in a 'kurling' competition.
What the school should improve
- In a small number of subjects, some teachers' subject knowledge is not yet as strong as it could be. Consequently, teachers do not adapt the curriculum in these subjects as well as they might in order to ensure that every pupil is sufficiently challenged. Leaders should continue their work to develop teachers' subject knowledge so that teachers ensure the whole curriculum meets the needs of all pupils effectively.
- The school has developed the early years curriculum in isolation and has not considered how it links with Year 1 carefully enough. As a result, some children start Year 1 with gaps in their knowledge and understanding that could have been addressed earlier. The school needs to ensure that the early years curriculum is refined so that it prepares children fully for their subsequent learning.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
30 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
210 pupils on roll, with places for 210
Schools near Higham Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shorne Church of England Primary School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 69% met the expected standard |
| Temple Mill Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 66% met the expected standard |
| Bligh Primary School (Juniors) | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 56% met the expected standard |
| Bligh Primary School (Infants) | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | Not published |
| Cliffe Woods Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | 53% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Catherine Grattan
- Phone
- 01474822535
- Address
- School Lane, Higham, Rochester, ME3 7JL
- Local authority
- Kent
- URN
- 118262
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.