Lift St James the Great
Chapman Way, East Malling, ME19 6SDOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Lift St James the Great is a primary school in East Malling for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 692 schools in Kent. It ranks 89th of 420 primary schools in Kent. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2018.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 7 March 2018, report published 29 March 2018
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 12 September 2023
Pupils enjoy attending this caring school. They are happy, and adults keep them safe. As one pupil said, 'There is always someone to talk to if you are worried about something.' Pupils form positive relationships with one another in class and while at play. They show a genuine compassion for one another. Pupils enjoy taking Snoopy, the school dog, for a walk around the school field during playtime. The school is ambitious for all pupils. Trust leaders work closely with the school to ensure that pupils experience a curriculum that inspires them to learn and develops their interests well. Pupils are encouraged by the school vision to 'choose a remarkable life'. This is enacted through the variety of opportunities provided by the school. Children in the early years explore new learning with one another in their well-resourced outdoor area. Older pupils take on roles of responsibility involving them in the running of the school. For example, 'pupil leaders' attend meetings with senior staff and show visitors around the school. Pupils are proud of undertaking these roles, which help to build their confidence and a sense of pride in their school.
What the school should improve
- Teachers do not consistently provide the adaptations needed to help pupils with SEND to succeed in some subjects. As a result, some pupils with SEND struggle to fully understand new learning in some subjects, particularly subjects that have been recently reviewed. Teachers need to ensure adaptations are made that help pupils with SEND to access the learning alongside their peers in all subjects.
- While leaders have introduced strategies to strengthen questioning in class, this has not yet been consistently implemented by teachers in all subjects. As a result, some pupils do not develop their understanding well enough in some subjects. Leaders need to ensure that the school's approach to questioning is implemented consistently across all subjects.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
28 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
176 pupils on roll, with places for 210
Schools near Lift St James the Great
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| More Park Catholic Primary School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 72% met the expected standard |
| Brookfield Infant School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Lunsford Primary School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 35% met the expected standard |
| Brookfield Junior School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 63% met the expected standard |
| Leybourne, St Peter and St Paul Church of England Primary Academy | 0.7 miles | Report card: Expected standard | 81% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- LIFT SCHOOLS
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Miss Tamasin Springett
- Phone
- 01732841912
- Address
- Chapman Way, East Malling, ME19 6SD
- Local authority
- Kent
- URN
- 138074
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.