White Cliffs Primary and Nursery School
Dover, CT17 0LB · Kent · primary school
Check the area around this school
338th 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 — 3.5/10 against 517 of them, against 2.4/10 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 | 57.0 · 32 | 40% | 1.29 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 25% | 0.26 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
White Cliffs Primary and Nursery School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 57.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 0.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in June 2024. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.4 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils enjoy Christmas craft days, Indian and African drumming sessions, and Salsa. Trips include visits to Dover Castle, the Transport Museum, and South Foreland Lighthouse. Both breakfast and after-school clubs are available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 277 pupils against a stated capacity of 360. 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 to progress from the expected standard to the higher standard? What specific strategies are used to improve reading outcomes for the majority of the cohort?
What Ofsted said about White Cliffs Primary and Nursery School
Overview
White Cliffs Primary and Nursery School is described as a “caring school” where pupils develop “high aspirations” and feel “happy and safe.” The report highlights an “ambitious curriculum” that is well-matched to pupil needs, resulting in strong attitudes to learning and excellent conduct.
Strengths
- The early years provision is rated “Outstanding,” with a curriculum designed with “precision” to ensure children get a “very strong start.”
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported effectively, allowing them to “achieve well” and learn in line with their needs.
- Teachers possess “sound subject knowledge” and explain learning clearly, helping pupils use vocabulary confidently and build on prior learning.
- The school prioritises “oracy,” providing regular opportunities for discussion, which is noted as “particularly strong in early years.”
- Leaders have successfully improved reading standards, fostering a “strong culture of reading” and ensuring children learn phonics with “increasing fluency and confidence.”
Areas to improve
- In some wider curriculum subjects, teachers do not assess pupils’ understanding well enough, meaning “gaps in learning” are not identified consistently and some pupils do not retain important knowledge.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 46% |
| 2023/24 | 71% |
| 2024/25 | 57% |
| 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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