Primary school

Palm Bay Primary School

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 5–11
  • Mixed
  • Kent
  • CT9 3PP
Ofsted areas (no overall grade) · inspected Jan 2025

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 9,605 of 15,057 primaries in England · top 64%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 58%58%2016/17: top 67%2017/18: top 63%2018/19: top 70%2022/23: top 80%2023/24: top 36%36% · 2023/242024/25: top 64%No exams

Against South EastArrows: South East rank change since 2018/19

Expected standard, RWM59% · South East 64%4/10 Below+10 pts
Higher standard, RWM3% · South East 7%2/10 Well below South East−16.2 pts
Reading score107 · South East 1066/10 Middle+30.4 pts
Maths score105 · South East 1055/10 Middle−6.6 pts
Show KS2 results by year

No exams 2019/20–21Not published 2021/22

Expected standard, RWM
2015/16: 51% · 45 pupils · South East 57%2016/17: 56% · 62 pupils · South East 65%2017/18: 62% · 61 pupils · South East 68%2018/19: 59% · 61 pupils · South East 68%2022/23: 48% · 61 pupils · South East 61%2023/24: 68% · 62 pupils · South East 62%2024/25: 59% · 59 pupils · South East 64%68%48%No exams
Higher standard, RWM
2015/16: 7% · 45 pupils · South East 5%2016/17: 6% · 62 pupils · South East 8%2017/18: 8% · 61 pupils · South East 10%2018/19: 8% · 61 pupils · South East 10%2022/23: 5% · 61 pupils · South East 7%2023/24: 10% · 62 pupils · South East 7%2024/25: 3% · 59 pupils · South East 7%10%3%No exams
Reading score
2015/16: 102 · 45 pupils · South East 1032016/17: 103 · 62 pupils · South East 1052017/18: 103 · 61 pupils · South East 1062018/19: 104 · 61 pupils · South East 1052022/23: 105 · 61 pupils · South East 1062023/24: 107 · 62 pupils · South East 1062024/25: 107 · 59 pupils · South East 106107102No exams
Maths score
2015/16: 103 · 45 pupils · South East 1032016/17: 102 · 62 pupils · South East 1042017/18: 103 · 61 pupils · South East 1052018/19: 106 · 61 pupils · South East 1052022/23: 99 · 61 pupils · South East 1042023/24: 105 · 62 pupils · South East 1042024/25: 105 · 59 pupils · South East 10510699No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in81.9%
59 of 72 who put it first2014 · 61.1%2026 · 81.9%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st7259
2nd751
3rd540

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2007–2025

  • Personal developmentOutstanding
  • Quality of educationGood
  • Behaviour and attitudesGood
  • Early years provisionGood
  • Leadership and managementGood
  • SafeguardingEffective
  1. 2007Goodas predecessor
  2. 2010Goodas predecessor
  3. 2014Goodas predecessor
  4. 2018Remains Goodas predecessor
  5. 2025Lowest Good

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026407
Free school meals (past 6 years)30.2%
First language not English8.0%
SEN support20.8%
EHC plan1.9%
Absence (sessions missed)5.8%
Persistently absent pupils13.6%

Girls 49.3%Boys 50.7%

95.1% full · 428 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 1 Sep 2025 · 113 responses (27.3% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school86.7% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school90.3% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved86.7% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 63.7% not applicable51.2% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year88.5% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 16.8% not applicable67% agree
  • Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?32.7% yes
  • My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 32.7% who said Yes above56.8% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child77% agree
  • My child does well at this school78.8% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing75.2% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school89.4% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school92.9% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development69% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent77% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher19.2
Pupils per adult10.4
  • Classroom teachers 17.4
  • Leadership 3.8
  • Teaching assistants 16.1
  • Other support 6.1

Teachers 21.2 FTE · Whole workforce 43.3 · 55 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£6,237
Spend per pupil£6,196
Staff spend per pupil£5,019
Reserve per pupil£739
  • +£306,000revenue reserve
  • +£17,000in-year balance

Grants £6,196 · self-generated £41 · premises £215 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: EKC SCHOOLS TRUST LIMITED (9 academies) · trust reserve £2,333,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it