< Nursery Schools West Kent Guide Secondary Schools >
Best primary schools in Sevenoaks
Best primary schools in The Weald
Best primary schools in Tunbridge Wells & Tonbridge
Best primary schools in Rochester
Best primary schools in Maidstone
The most desirable primary schools in West Kent tend to be the ones feeding into the grammars and topping league tables for SATs. Options vary but in villages and rural spots with high demand and less housing, catchment areas are small. Not all the local C of E Primary Schools have faith-based selection but always check the admissions policy to be sure. Check out our article on choosing and applying to primary school.
Primary Schools in Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks ‘doesn’t really have any poor primary schools’, one parent boldly told us, and there certainly is a very good choice. In the centre, the highly regarded Lady Boswell’s Primary School has a very respectable track record for pupils’ success at 11+. Then the faith schools: St Thomas’ Catholic Primary School with admissions based on faith and St Johns’ Church of England, which in recent years has turned around its reputation (now oversubscribed with reportedly strong leadership, say parents). Riverhead Infants and Amherst Junior School in Otford tick all the boxes while Ightham Primary School‘s one form entry, superb outside space and results to match is a village school drawing much attention.
Best private schools in Sevenoaks
Best state secondary schools in Sevenoaks
Primary Schools in The Weald
Each quaint village in the Weald has an equally small village school – their results aren’t necessarily at the top of the pops, but parents and pupils say the ethos of these schools is what they want, not the data. The super SATs results at St Michael’s Church of England School make it popular, while Benenden Church of England Primary School is a solidly reliable village school with a community feel. Goudhurst and Kilndown Church of England School perhaps the best of the bunch here and without faith-based selection.
Best private schools in The Weald
Best state secondary schools in The Weald
Primary Schools Tunbridge Wells & Tonbridge
Three fabulous schools stand out: Speldhurst Church of England School, St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary School and Claremont School all varying sizes but all respected for pupils’ impressive 11+ success and dizzying high SATs.
Best private schools in Tunbridge Wells & Tonbridge
Best state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells & Tonbridge
Best nurseries in Tunbridge Wells & Tonbridge
Primary Schools in Rochester
After The Pilgrim School – the best in Rochester – a few schools dotted along this North Kent coast deserve a big shout out. The painfully oversubscribed small Bredhurst School tops the charts in this area for gaining the largest percentage of higher SATs grades. Cobham Primary School also hugely popular along with The Brent Primary (Dartford) and Bobbing School in Sittingbourne which serves one of the many new build estates.
Best private schools in Rochester
Best state secondary schools in Rochester
Primary Schools in Maidstone
Two areas particularly on the radar are Weavering and Bearsted with Thurnham Church of England Infant School and Roseacre Junior School both oversubscribed. St John’s Church of England School has some of the best SATs results in the area. The villages south of Maidstone are desirable and offer good schools too, Sutton Valence Primary School is particularly popular and benefits from its relationship with the private school over the road. The pretty village of Loose is home to Loose Primary School which is enjoying a spate of rather impressive results due to a forward-thinking approach to play and learning.
Best private schools in Maidstone
Best state secondary schools in Maidstone
State primary schools for children with special educational needs in West Kent
All mainstream state primary schools have SEN support for mild learning difficulties. This often varies and can be related to the size of the school (the larger the school, the better resourced and more experienced).
Five Acre Wood School in Maidstone has a primary section and is a through-school, also providing outreach for primary schools and provision in satellite schools in Snodland. Ifield School caters for children with severe and profound needs. The admission of pupils to special schools is a decision for the Kent LEA.