Horton Kirby Church of England Primary School Review 2026: High KS2 attainment with Forest School in on site woodland

The headline here is outcomes, alongside a carefully structured day that starts early and uses routines to keep learning purposeful. In 2024, 90% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, well above the England average of 62%. A third also reached the higher standard, which is far above the England figure. These results sit behind a clear emphasis on reading, strong classroom routines, and a curriculum that has been deliberately sequenced across subjects.

Horton Kirby is a Church of England primary within Aletheia Academies Trust (the school joined in 2017). It is also one of those village schools where identity and community links are not an add on, collective worship is daily and classes visit the local church at least once a term. Glenn Pollard has led the school since April 2010.

A consistent thread in official reviews is ambition coupled with clear expectations. Pupils are expected to know the routines, follow classroom structures, and contribute to a culture where learning is taken seriously. That sense of shared expectation is strengthened by pupil leadership, which is unusually developed for a primary. The School Parliament model elects class representatives and then forms a cabinet with roles such as Shadow Head Teacher and Shadow Deputy Head, with meetings scheduled across the year. For families who value pupil voice and responsibility, this is a concrete, visible mechanism rather than a vague promise.

The Church of England character shows up in daily practice. Collective worship runs every day and is sometimes led by staff, pupils, or visitors. The school hall has an altar and pupil made artwork as a focal point for worship, and the school follows the Christian calendar across the year. Links with St Mary’s, Horton Kirby extend this beyond school. The church is described as a Grade II* listed building, completed circa 1225. That matters because it anchors Christian distinctiveness in a real local setting, not only classroom teaching.

There is also a strong “experience culture” built into the way the school describes childhood. The “100 Things Before I Leave Horton Kirby” programme lists a long set of practical experiences, from pond dipping and Bike Ability in Year 6 to singing at the O2 as part of Young Voices, plus themed workshops such as African drumming and Chinese New Year dance. The point is not to tick boxes, it is to make sure pupils leave Year 6 with a bank of shared memories and skills.

Horton Kirby’s 2024 Key Stage 2 results are notably strong across the core suite. 90% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 33% reached greater depth across reading, writing and mathematics, compared with 8% across England. Reading outcomes are especially strong, with an average scaled score of 109 and 95% reaching the expected standard in reading. Mathematics is also high, with an average scaled score of 107 and 91% reaching the expected standard. Grammar, punctuation and spelling is solid, with an average scaled score of 106. (All figures are 2024 outcomes.)

On FindMySchool’s primary rankings (based on official data), Horton Kirby ranks 2,759th in England for primary outcomes and 8th locally in Dartford. That places it comfortably within the top 25% of primary schools in England.

Demand data also suggests the school is popular. For the main intake route, there were 50 applications for 27 offers, which is about 1.85 applications for each place offered.

Early reading is a centrepiece. The most recent graded inspection describes phonics teaching as highly effective and emphasises targeted support for pupils who need it, so that weaker readers keep pace. That matters for parents because it tends to reduce later gaps across the curriculum, especially in subjects that rely on vocabulary and comprehension.

Across the wider curriculum, leaders have been working to improve sequencing, especially in foundation subjects. A good example is computing, where learning is described as moving from programming simple machines to controlling more complex devices, a clear progression model rather than isolated projects. Inspectors also note that teachers set challenging work, explain concepts clearly, and use checks for understanding to adjust teaching.

There are two useful caveats for families who are academically focused. First, official findings flag that in some subjects, leaders have not consistently addressed gaps in older pupils’ prior learning, which can limit how deep pupils’ knowledge becomes by the end of Key Stage 2. Second, the personal development curriculum is described as strong in many areas but not always designed with disadvantaged pupils fully in mind, so planned opportunities are not yet as consistently equitable as they could be. Those points do not undermine the overall picture, but they are the right questions to probe in conversation with the school.

As a Kent primary, transition is shaped by county wide secondary admissions, with families typically choosing between non selective secondary schools and selective grammar routes (via the Kent Test) depending on the child and family preferences. The school’s published approach to transition is practical, it supports the move to each child’s chosen secondary school through communication and transfer of records, with additional support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities when needed.

A distinctive element in the lead up to Year 6 is how much of the “100 Things” programme is explicitly framed around readiness for secondary. Bike Ability, safety events for increasing independence, and experiences that build confidence away from home all sit under that umbrella. For many pupils, these experiences provide a useful bridge between a small primary setting and larger secondary expectations.

Admissions are coordinated through Kent County Council for Reception entry, with a Published Admission Number of 30 for September 2026 entry. If applications exceed places, the oversubscription criteria prioritise children with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school, then looked after and previously looked after children, then siblings, then children living within the ecclesiastical parish boundary of Horton Kirby, followed by distance from home to school measured as a straight line using the National Land and Property Gazetteer address point system.

Key dates for 2026 to 2027 entry are clearly set out. Online applications open Friday 7 November 2025 and the national closing date is Thursday 15 January 2026. National Offer Day is Thursday 16 April 2026, with accept or decline responses due by Thursday 30 April 2026. Appeals have a stated deadline of Tuesday 19 May 2026. Open days for the September 2026 intake were scheduled in mid November 2025, which suggests an autumn open event pattern in most years, with exact dates confirmed annually.

The demand data reinforces that entry can be competitive. With 50 applications for 27 offers in the most recent admissions snapshot provided, families should treat this as an oversubscribed school and plan accordingly, especially if they are outside the parish boundary and do not have sibling priority. Families comparing options often find it helpful to use FindMySchool’s Map Search tool to understand how their address sits relative to local alternatives, particularly where distance and boundary factors matter.

Pastoral systems here blend structure with a clear emphasis on wellbeing. The most recent inspection describes calm behaviour supported by clear routines embedded early, with pupils feeling safe and confident to speak to staff if issues arise. Bullying is described as not tolerated, with leaders following up concerns. Safeguarding is reported as effective, with staff training and procedures described as clear.

Support is also framed as tiered. Pupils can use “calm corners” for regulation, and there is reference to more specialist counselling provision when needed. The Church school inspection adds that wellbeing is prioritised and refers to counselling services and dedicated reflection spaces, plus regular opportunities for pupils to pause and reflect during the day. For families who want pastoral care to be explicit rather than informal, those details matter.

Attendance is an area the school has been working on, with official reporting noting that leaders are engaging with families and persistent absence is declining. That is a sensible sign of direction, but it also signals that families should expect consistent communication about attendance and punctuality expectations.

The school offers a set of free clubs across lunchtimes and after school, and the list is specific enough to give a realistic sense of breadth rather than generic claims. Current named options include Well being Club (running across the week), Lego Club with year group targeting, Dance Club, KS2 Choir, Calm Club, Forest School Club, Mixed Football Club for Years 5 and 6, Gym Club, and Film Club. For pupils, the practical implication is that enrichment can be a normal part of the week, not a rare treat. For parents, it can also help children settle socially, especially if they are quieter or new to the area.

Forest School is a particular strength because it is not described as occasional woodland visits, it is planned on the school grounds with a natural native woodland on site. The programme names two base areas, Beech Tree Base and Robin’s Roost Base, and describes activities such as den building, environmental art, and hand tool skills. That kind of named, mapped provision usually signals something embedded into staffing and planning, rather than dependent on one enthusiastic adult.

The “100 Things” framework adds another layer, with enrichment extending into trips, performances, and practical life skills. Examples include singing at the O2 with Young Voices, swimming for Years 4 to 6, Bike Ability in Year 6, residential visits (including Bowles), plus enterprise activities such as designing and selling a product during Enterprise Week. Families looking for a school that treats experiences as part of education, not an optional extra, will find this approach appealing.

The school day is clearly structured. Registration starts at 08:45 and registers close at 08:50, with a 15:15 finish for the main day. Breakfast Club runs 07:30 to 08:50 during term time, and After School Club runs 15:15 to 18:00. Breakfast Club is priced at £5.50 per day and After School Club at £13.50 per day, with both operated by West Hill Life Ltd.

For travel, Horton Kirby sits in the Darent Valley and families often combine walking and local bus routes. The nearest rail link for the village area is commonly referenced as Farningham Road, and local bus services connect Horton Kirby with Dartford and surrounding villages. Always check current timetables and stop locations against your own commute times.

• Entry priorities are values and geography linked. Oversubscription criteria include parish boundary priority (after looked after children and siblings), then distance. Families outside the parish, without a sibling link, should plan on competition for places.

• Curriculum depth is still being tightened in places. Official findings highlight that some older pupils can have gaps in learning in certain subjects, which can limit depth by the end of Key Stage 2. It is worth asking how subject leaders are addressing this across year groups.

• The Church school identity is real and visible. Daily collective worship and regular church links suit many families, but those strongly preferring a fully secular setting should read the school’s ethos carefully and ask about day to day expectations, including worship participation.

• Attendance and punctuality are taken seriously. Registers close promptly and the school is actively working with families to improve attendance, so expect consistent monitoring and communication.

Horton Kirby Church of England Primary School offers a strong mix of academic outcomes, structured teaching, and a distinctive enrichment programme, with Forest School provision that reads as properly embedded rather than occasional. With a Good Ofsted judgement in May 2023 and Outstanding early years provision, the overall quality picture is reassuring, and the most recent Church school inspection adds detail about wellbeing, values, and worship practice.

Best suited to families who want a high attaining primary with clear routines, an active Church of England ethos, and plenty of planned experiences alongside day to day learning. For many families, the main constraint is admission rather than the education itself.