Capel-le-Ferne Primary School

Capel-le-Ferne Primary School is a small local authority primary school with 179 pupils and a high proportion of pupils with special educational needs support (22.9%, well above average). Following a full inspection in June 2026, safeguarding standards are met. The school is performing at the expected standard in curriculum and teaching, early years, inclusion, leadership and governance, and personal development and wellbeing. However, achievement and attendance/behaviour need attention. The headteacher took up post in September 2022 and has driven improvements, particularly in phonics and early reading, but these have not yet translated into published outcomes at the end of key stage 2, which remain below average overall. Strengths include an inclusive and supportive culture, a well-embedded phonics programme, high-quality early years provision, effective support for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, and strong leadership and governance. Pupils behave well, are respectful and benefit from a wide range of enrichment opportunities and effective pastoral care. However, persistent absence for some groups is still too high, and assessment is not always used consistently to address misconceptions promptly, meaning some older pupils have gaps in knowledge that have not been closed quickly enough. Leaders should continue to embed attendance systems and ensure assessment is used more effectively to build secure understanding.

Strengths

• Inclusive and supportive school community where pupils feel safe and happy
• Fully embedded and well-delivered phonics programme
• High-quality early years provision with a strong focus on communication and language
• Effective systems to identify and reduce barriers for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils
• Strong leadership and governance with high ambitions and effective staff development
• Positive pupil behaviour, respect and strong relationships across the school
• Well-considered personal development programme with a range of enrichment opportunities
• Effective pastoral care and support systems for pupils' wellbeing
• Disadvantaged pupils achieve well in reading compared to disadvantaged pupils nationally

Areas for Improvement

• Achievement in national tests at the end of key stage 2 has been below average overall
• Persistent absence for some groups of pupils is still too high
• Assessment checks are sometimes not thorough or timely enough
• Gaps in knowledge for some older pupils have not been closed as quickly as possible
• Disadvantaged pupils' achievement in mathematics and combined subjects shows a gap compared to national non-disadvantaged pupils
• Published outcomes at the end of key stage 2 have not yet improved despite improvements in school

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Capel-le-Ferne Primary School attended 93.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 19.8% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Capel-le-Ferne Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Capel-le-Ferne Primary School had 17.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 22.4% of pupils at Capel-le-Ferne Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 0.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Capel-le-Ferne Primary School received £7,059 and spent £7,073 for each of its 170 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £60,000 (£353 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Folkestone · Kent local authority: places and applications

What is Capel-le-Ferne Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Capel-le-Ferne Primary School is Needs attention, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was Capel-le-Ferne Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Capel-le-Ferne Primary School was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Capel-le-Ferne Primary School have?

Capel-le-Ferne Primary School has 170 pupils on roll.

What age range does Capel-le-Ferne Primary School cover?

Capel-le-Ferne Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Capel-le-Ferne Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 50% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Capel-le-Ferne Primary School?

Capel-le-Ferne Primary School is at Capel Street, Capel-le-Ferne, Folkestone, Kent, CT18 7HB.