St Mark's Church of England Primary School, Eccles
Aylesford, ME20 7HS · Kent · primary school
Check the area around this school
286th of 425 primary schools in Kent we can score, 460 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 4.0/10 against 2,356 of them, against 3.5/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 56.0 · 30 | 41% | 1.21 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 34% | 1.76 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 6.0 · 45 | 26% | 1.14 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Mark's Church of England Primary School, Eccles overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 56.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. For the higher standard, the figure was 6.0% against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2022. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (4.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in cricket, tag rugby, netball, football, hockey, athletics, and swimming.
Getting in
The published school roll is 109 pupils against a stated capacity of 140. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who are below the national median in literacy and numeracy? What specific steps are taken to maintain the Good Ofsted rating following the 2022 inspection?
What Ofsted said about St Mark's Church of England Primary School, Eccles
Overview
St Mark’s Church of England Primary School continues to be a good school, described as a "happy and welcoming place" where pupils enjoy their learning. Leaders have revitalised the curriculum and raised expectations, ensuring pupils are well prepared for their future education.
Strengths
- Pupils are "friendly and respectful," with unkindness being rare and older pupils supporting younger children as ‘guardian angels’.
- Mathematics teaching is strong, with a "well thought out" curriculum that helps pupils understand concepts and apply skills across subjects.
- Early reading is a high priority; "very effective phonics teaching" in Reception ensures most pupils read well by the end of key stage 1.
- Provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is skilled, with careful identification of needs and effective strategies used alongside peers.
- The curriculum enriches learning through outdoor activities in the school’s extensive grounds and a rich selection of after-school clubs.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must identify and sequence key knowledge in science and some foundation subjects to ensure pupils’ learning is fully maximised.
- Support for the weakest readers needs improvement, specifically ensuring they practise with books "precisely matched to the sounds that they know."
- Communication systems with parents need streamlining, as some find the variety of different systems "confusing" and "frustrating."
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a culture of vigilance, regular staff training, and timely responses to concerns.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 50% |
| 2023/24 | 67% |
| 2024/25 | 56% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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