Thurnham Church of England Infant School

Thurnham Church of England Infant School is performing well following its inspection, achieving overall effectiveness rated as good. Despite a lengthy gap since its last inspection in 2009, during which the school was exempt from routine evaluations, the current assessment highlights strong performance across various domains. Key strengths include a nurturing environment where pupils feel valued, exceptional pastoral care, and effective reading instruction that promotes fluency and a love for reading. The curriculum is ambitious and well-planned, particularly in subjects like mathematics and history, leading to high pupil achievement. However, some areas need improvement, notably in writing and certain foundation subjects like art and computing, where teaching does not consistently reinforce knowledge and skills. Additionally, while behavior is generally good, there are concerns about some pupils' respect for property and school routines. Leaders are aware and taking steps to foster a more respectful school culture. Overall, the school is on a positive trajectory, with supportive leadership and a healthy school community atmosphere.

Strengths

• Strong pastoral care ensuring pupils feel safe and valued
• High levels of engagement in early years phonics education
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs
• Ambitious and inclusive curriculum across subjects
• Pupils achieve highly in mathematics and reading
• Strong one-to-one catch-up sessions for pupils
• Wide variety of enjoyable after-school clubs
• Positive learning atmosphere with minimal bullying

Areas for Improvement

• Writing is not as strong and leaders are taking action to improve it
• Less effective teaching in foundation subjects like art and computing
• Some pupils do not consistently show respect for property and adults

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 Thurnham Church of England Infant School attended 96.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 3.8% 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, 2.2% of pupils at Thurnham Church of England Infant 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 Thurnham Church of England Infant School had 22.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 3.6% 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, 5.5% of pupils at Thurnham Church of England Infant School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 0.4% 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 Thurnham Church of England Infant School received £6,772 and spent £6,885 for each of its 254 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £28,000 (£110 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 Maidstone · Kent local authority: places and applications

What is Thurnham Church of England Infant School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Thurnham Church of England Infant School is Good, from an inspection in April 2023.

When was Thurnham Church of England Infant School last inspected by Ofsted?

Thurnham Church of England Infant School was last inspected in April 2023.

How many pupils does Thurnham Church of England Infant School have?

Thurnham Church of England Infant School has 254 pupils on roll.

What age range does Thurnham Church of England Infant School cover?

Thurnham Church of England Infant School for pupils aged 5 to 7.

Where is Thurnham Church of England Infant School?

Thurnham Church of England Infant School is at The Landway, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 4BL.