Laddingford St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Darman Lane, Laddingford, Maidstone, ME18 6BLOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Laddingford St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a primary school in Maidstone for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 692 schools in Kent. It ranks 32nd of 42 primary schools in Maidstone. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 7 March 2023, report published 16 May 2023
- 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 7 March 2023
Pupils offer everyone warm smiles and a friendly welcome. The school offers a safe and nurturing environment, starting with 'chill time' every day. Pupils enjoy playing hockey, mastering craft skills and solving puzzles together. Pupils meet high expectations for behaviour. Staff model how to be polite, respectful and kind, which inspires high standards for pupils. If pupils need help, staff use a 'restorative' approach. Pupils learn from mistakes and make amends. As a result, relationships stay positive and warm. Pupils understand what bullying is and play their role in ensuring it does not happen. Pupils and parents have no concerns about bullying. They share faith in staff to always help with any worries. Outdoor learning is embedded in school life. Pupils love cooking sausage stew and nettle soup over open fires, which they build themselves. Pupils learn to care for their environment and develop practical skills in the woodland area. Teachers see the resilience, teamwork and communication benefits of this in class. Leaders are passionate that all pupils should experience a wealth of cultural opportunities. Highlights include a visit to watch the ballet at the Royal Opera House, residential activity trip and singing with other schools at a large arena. Pupils were enthralled by visitors who brought history to life through exciting drama activities.
What the school should improve
- Assessment is not precise in all subjects. This means that teachers may not know exactly what pupils have learned and remembered in some areas of the curriculum. Teachers should ensure that efficient assessment systems are embedded to identify gaps in pupils' knowledge and understanding.
- The attendance of some pupils has been low since the pandemic. These pupils are missing out on learning time in school and may not achieve as well as they should. Leaders must extend their work to further improve attendance and reduce persistent absence.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
8 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
83 pupils on roll, with places for 101
Schools near Laddingford St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yalding, St Peter and St Paul Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 56% met the expected standard |
| East Peckham Primary School | 2 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 59% met the expected standard |
| St Margaret's, Collier Street Church of England Voluntary Controlled School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 59% met the expected standard |
| Hunton Church of England Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 69% met the expected standard |
| Leigh Academy Paddock Wood | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 86% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary controlled school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Lucy Clark
- Phone
- 01622871270
- Address
- Darman Lane, Laddingford, Maidstone, ME18 6BL
- Local authority
- Kent
- URN
- 118637
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.