Kent's best and worst primary schools for reading, writing and mathematics

Worth Primary School is the best primary school in Kent, new results data shows.

The school, in Deal, achieved well above average progress scores for Key Stage 2 in reading, writing and mathematics.

Schools are awarded scores reflecting their pupils’ progress between KS1 and KS2 exams in three key subjects, taken at the ages of seven and 11.

Worth Primary School replaces Bredhurst Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in Gillingham, Kingsdown and Ringwould CofE Primary School, Deal, as the highest-ranking school in Kent – though last year’s winner remains one of the best in the area.

Christ Church Cep Academy, Folkestone and St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School in Faversham also performed well.

At the other end of the scale, Copperfield Academy was bottom of the progress score rankings for last year.

Worth Primary School, in Deal, is a community school which accepts children aged four to 11.

It has 69 registered pupils. Of them, 11 were 11 year olds eligible to take Key Stage 2 exams last year: seven girls and four boys.

Pupils are expected to achieve scores of at least 100 in their Key Stage 2 exams. In Worth Primary School, the average grade awarded for reading was 110, for grammar, punctuation and spelling 110, and for maths 106.

The results mean that 82% of pupils achieved the expected standard across the three subjects, and 9% were high achievers.

As a result, the school achieved progress scores of 8.1 for reading, 4.6 for writing and 5.6 for mathematics, recognising the improvement students achieved in their final years of primary education. Scores of zero reflect average progress across schools, with positive and negative scores awarded for better or worse improvement in students' grades.

Factors in the school's impressive performance included its better than average pupil to teacher ratio (14.9 pupils to each teacher) for the area.

It did, however, have relatively low teacher salaries (average £33,065).

Despite the school's impressive performance, it had relatively low teacher salaries (average £33,065) for the area.

Ranking is based on progress in three subjects. Stock picture (6001789)Ranking is based on progress in three subjects. Stock picture (6001789)

The top 10 schools in Kent, according to their progress scores, were:

1) Worth Primary School (8.1 in reading, 4.6 in writing and 5.6 in mathematics)

2) Christ Church Cep Academy, Folkestone (reading: 7.7, writing: 4.5, maths: 5.8)

3) St Mary of Charity CofE (Aided) Primary School (reading: 5.5, writing: 6.7, maths: 4.5)

4) Preston Primary School, Canterbury (reading: 5.3, writing: 4.2, maths: 5.0)

5) Folkestone, St Peter's Church of England Primary School (reading: 5.9, writing: 2.3, maths: 5.7)

6) Oaks Primary Academy, Maidstone (reading: 3.9, writing: 5.0, maths: 4.8)

7) South Borough Primary School, Maidstone (reading: 4.8, writing: 3.1, maths: 5.3)

8) Selsted Church of England Primary School (reading: 6.8, writing: 3.5, maths: 2.8)

9) West Minster Primary School, Sheerness (reading: 3.4, writing: 3.0, maths: 6.4)

10) Seal Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sevenoaks (reading: 4.3, writing: 5.5 and maths: 2.7)

Meanwhile, at Copperfield Academy in Gravesend, average grades of 99 for reading, 100 for grammar, punctuation and spelling and 96 for mathematics meant the school received the lowest average progress scores in Kent. In reading, writing and mathematics the school was awarded well below average progress scores.

The worst five schools in Kent, according to their average progress scores, were:

420) Copperfield Academy, Gravesend (-4.8 in reading, -7.0 in writing and -7.2 in mathematics)

419) Thistle Hill Academy, Minster-on-Sea (reading: -4.2, writing: -8.9, maths: -5.6)

418) Bethersden Primary School (reading: -4.8, writing: -4.6, maths: -5.3)

417) Adisham Church of England Primary School (reading: -6.7, writing: -0.6, maths: -7.0)

416) Parkside Community Primary School, Sturry (reading: -1.2, writing: -7.1, maths: -5.0)

Pupils across Kent achieved Key Stage 2 results broadly in line with other places in England.

Average scores of 106 in reading, 105 in grammar, punctuation and spelling and 104 in mathematics meant the local authority ranked 95th of England’s 152 authorities.

This was a drop from 77th in 2016-17.

For the best and worst schools in Medway please click here.