Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School

Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary is a small village primary school with 79 pupils. Inspected in September 2026, it was found to have stabilised and improved rapidly under its new headteacher, with strong early years provision, effective leadership and governance, and a well-developed personal development programme. Safeguarding standards are met, and pupils are described as polite, confident and well cared for in a calm, inclusive environment. The school’s main strengths lie in its early years, leadership, personal development and inclusion. Children get a strong start, early reading is taught well, and staff know pupils and families closely. Leaders have created a positive culture, supported staff well and built constructive relationships with parents. Pupils benefit from a rich enrichment offer, including farm school, and older pupils act as positive role models. Outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of key stage 2 are typically above national averages, and disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND are generally well supported. Overall, provision is secure but not yet consistently strong across all areas. Inspectors identified areas for further development: the multiplication tables check in Year 4 has been less positive, some curriculum developments are at an earlier stage, and gaps in pupils’ knowledge are not always identified or addressed quickly enough. Leaders are already focused on improving teaching consistency across the school.

Strengths

• Early years provision gives children a highly positive and well-structured start to school
• Staff know children well and build warm, trusting relationships that support learning
• Early reading is taught consistently well and children are keen readers
• Leaders have driven rapid and effective improvements after a period of turbulence
• Leadership is visible, focused and effective in prioritising school improvement
• Professional development, coaching and support for staff are strong
• Governors provide effective challenge and support and understand the school well
• Personal development is well planned and woven through school life
• Pupils value leadership opportunities such as student ambassadors and councillors
• Pastoral support and emphasis on social and emotional development help pupils grow in confidence and resilience
• A rich enrichment programme, including farm school, broadens pupils’ experiences
• Behaviour is calm and positive, with very little disruption to learning
• Pupils are polite, welcoming and demonstrate the school’s values
• Inclusion is central, and disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND are generally well supported
• Key stage 2 outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics are typically above national averages

Areas for Improvement

• Achievement is secure but not consistently strong across all areas
• The multiplication tables check in Year 4 has been less positive
• Some curriculum developments are at an earlier stage and their full impact is not yet realised
• Some gaps in pupils’ knowledge are not identified or addressed quickly enough
• Teaching consistency across the school remains a priority for leaders

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 Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School attended 94.9% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.7% 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 Stelling Minnis Church of England 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 Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School had 15.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 40.0% 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, 7.6% of pupils at Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 7.6% 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 Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School received £9,608 and spent £9,684 for each of its 79 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £79,000 (£1,000 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

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What is Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School is Expected standard, from an inspection in October 2026.

When was Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School was last inspected in October 2026.

How many pupils does Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School have?

Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School has 79 pupils on roll.

What age range does Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School cover?

Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 5 to 11.

What are Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School?

Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School is at Bossingham Road, Stelling Minnis, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 6DU.