Sandling Primary School
Ashburnham Road, Penenden Heath, Maidstone, ME14 2JGOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Sandling Primary School is a primary school in Maidstone for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 692 schools in Kent. It ranks 21st of 42 primary schools in Maidstone. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 7 May 2025, report published 9 June 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- 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 May 2025
Pupils benefit from a rich and broad learning experience in this school. Alongside the formal curriculum, pupils' wider development is prioritised through a range of well- considered enrichment opportunities. Weekly outdoor learning sessions support pupils to develop their resilience, safety awareness and problem-solving skills. Pupils participate regularly in extra-curricular clubs. The school ensures that pupils' interests and needs are considered when planning which clubs to offer, so that those who will benefit most are encouraged to attend. Pupils demonstrate a strong sense of equality and justice. They are proud that discrimination is not tolerated in their school. Pupils enjoy learning about different religions, cultures and beliefs. This helps them to engage in meaningful discussions and to develop their understanding of different perspectives. The quality of pastoral care for pupils, from the early years upwards, is strong. Pupils feel safe, valued and listened to. Staff provide a range of leadership opportunities so that pupils can help shape their school and develop valuable life skills. Anti-bullying ambassadors and peer mediators are well trained to promote positive friendships and to help resolve conflict. The school engages positively with families and the wider community. Parents and carers speak highly of the nurturing environment where their children are happy and thriving.
What the school should improve
- Sometimes, the teaching of early mathematics focuses on task completion rather than mathematical concepts. As a result, pupils may not build sufficiently strong foundations for future mathematics learning. The school should ensure that teaching in the early years enables children to explore mathematical concepts.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
60 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
421 pupils on roll, with places for 420
Schools near Sandling Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Paul's Infant School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| North Borough Junior School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 63% met the expected standard |
| Valley Invicta Primary School At East Borough | 1 mile | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 70% met the expected standard |
| Brunswick House Primary School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 65% met the expected standard |
| Leigh Academy Bearsted | 1 mile | Ofsted: Outstanding | 75% 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
- Miss Claire Coombes
- Phone
- 01622763297
- Address
- Ashburnham Road, Penenden Heath, Maidstone, ME14 2JG
- Local authority
- Kent
- URN
- 118511
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.