Wateringbury Church of England Primary School

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 4 to 11
Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding

147 Bow Road, Wateringbury, Maidstone, ME18 5EAOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Wateringbury Church of England Primary School is a primary school in Maidstone for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 692 schools in Kent. It ranks 18th of 42 primary schools in Maidstone. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 1 July 2025, report published 7 September 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 July 2025

Pupils embody key qualities such as acceptance exceptionally well at this warm and caring school. The school ensures that pupils not only learn about these crucial values but live them. This is evident in pupils' deep care and consideration for others. Pupils feel secure in sharing their own views but also sensitively consider views that differ from their own. They develop a strong sense of justice and fairness. This helps pupils become highly active citizens in the school and beyond. Pupils behave well. They show high levels of courtesy to staff and to each other. Pupils work hard in lessons and listen carefully to teachers. As a result, a sense of calm and purpose pervades the school. Staff build positive relationships with pupils. Pupils know that teachers will deal with any concerns they have. This helps them to feel happy and safe in school. The school has worked hard to raise ambition. Staff have high expectations of what pupils can achieve. They ensure that pupils have the skills and knowledge they need. This means that pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well. Pupils become increasingly confident and independent learners. They are generally well prepared for their next steps.

What the school should improve

  • The curriculum that a small group of pupils with historic gaps in knowledge follow is not effective enough in addressing these gaps. As a result, these pupils do not catch up quickly enough. The school should ensure that the curriculum for pupils with gaps in their knowledge helps them catch up effectively.
  • Some of the checks on pupils' spelling and transcription are not precise enough. As a result, pupils' knowledge and spelling of some subject-specific vocabulary are variable. This means that pupils do not always use this crucial technical language accurately. The school must ensure that staff have the expertise to check on pupils' spelling and use of key vocabulary accurately and consistently.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

29 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths66%

66%, 4 percentage points above 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 score105

105, 1 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score104

104, 1 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score104

104, 1 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

134 pupils on roll, with places for 210

Eligible for free school meals27.6%

27.6%, 1.1 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language7.5%

7.5%, 14.1 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support13.4%

13.4%, 1.4 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan3%

3%, 3 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Wateringbury Church of England Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
The Discovery School2 milesOfsted: Outstanding80% met the expected standard
Yalding, St Peter and St Paul Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School2 milesOfsted: Good56% met the expected standard
Kings Hill School Primary and Nursery2 milesOfsted: Outstanding63% met the expected standard
Valley Invicta Primary School At Kings Hill2 milesOfsted judgements: Outstanding90% met the expected standard
St Helens Montessori School2 milesOfsted: OutstandingNot published

School details

School type
Voluntary aided school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
4 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England
Nursery classes
No
Headteacher
Miss Debbie Johnson
Address
147 Bow Road, Wateringbury, Maidstone, ME18 5EA
Local authority
Kent
URN
118632

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.