Northdown Primary School

Northdown Primary School has made significant progress since its previous inspection, moving from an 'Requires Improvement' to a 'Good' rating in all areas assessed. The school emphasizes a strong educational framework with an ambitious curriculum that effectively prepares students, particularly in early reading and phonics, leading to positive engagement and academic growth among pupils. The staff prioritize creating a supportive and caring environment, which has been positively reflected in student behavior and safety perceptions. However, attendance remains a concern, with a notable number of students still classified as persistently absent despite improvements.

Strengths

• Pupils feel safe and well cared for.
• Improved student behavior and focus in classrooms.
• Strong emphasis on reading and phonics from early years.
• High expectations set by teachers contribute to a calm learning environment.
• Well-trained pastoral staff support pupils effectively.
• Increasing opportunities for personal development.
• Positive relationships between staff and pupils.

Areas for Improvement

• Teachers' subject knowledge in some areas is not well developed.
• Some teaching lacks clarity, leading to gaps in understanding.
• Too many pupils are persistently absent.

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 Northdown Primary School attended 89.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 39.9% 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, 20.7% of pupils at Northdown Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). 2 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 Northdown Primary School had 14.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.2% 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, 36.1% of pupils at Northdown Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.6% 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 2024–25 Northdown Primary School received £7,893 and spent £8,033 for each of its 333 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £149,000 (£449 per pupil).

Across all 45 schools of The Kemnal Academies Trust, income was £8,501 and spending £8,452 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

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• Secondary Schools

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

Northdown Primary School is part of The Kemnal Academies Trust, which runs 45 schools. The nearest others:

• Drapers Mills Primary Academy Margate
• Salmestone Primary School Margate
• Dame Janet Primary Academy Ramsgate
• Newlands Primary School Ramsgate
• Pluckley Church of England Primary School Ashford
• Smarden Primary School Ashford
• Rainham School for Girls Gillingham
• Napier Community Primary and Nursery Academy Gillingham
• Maldon Primary School Maldon
• Heybridge Primary School Maldon

What is Northdown Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Northdown Primary School is Good, from an inspection in January 2022.

When was Northdown Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Northdown Primary School was last inspected in January 2022.

How many pupils does Northdown Primary School have?

Northdown Primary School has 302 pupils on roll.

What age range does Northdown Primary School cover?

Northdown Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Northdown Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 52% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Northdown Primary School?

Northdown Primary School is at Tenterden Way, Margate, Kent, CT9 3RE.