Cobham Primary School Review 2026: Outstanding village primary with top-tier KS2 outcomes

A listed flint school building, a rural Kent village setting, and KS2 results that sit comfortably above England averages. Cobham Primary School is one-form entry (capacity 216) and, for families who secure a place, it offers a blend that is hard to find locally: very high academic expectations alongside a deliberately rich programme of trips, clubs, and character opportunities.

Leadership has recently changed. Dr Polly Crowther was appointed to begin as headteacher from September 2024, following a full graded inspection in late April and early May 2024 that confirmed Outstanding across all key areas.

This is a state school, so there are no tuition fees. Costs are mainly the usual state-school extras such as uniform, wraparound care, and trips.

The school’s setting is part of its identity. The current school building opened in 1874 and is a listed village building, with its history tied to the Earl of Darnley, whose coat of arms appears on the crest. The site description on the school’s own materials also points to the practical benefits of the layout, including separate outdoor areas for younger pupils and distinct infant and main-school classroom spaces.

Day-to-day culture is described in clear, consistent terms in official writing. The most recent inspection describes a calm, purposeful feel, with pupils attentive in lessons, confident to speak about learning, and guided by routines that make expectations easy to understand. The school also uses a defined set of values language, including TRUST and the Beacon values, as a shared vocabulary for behaviour and belonging.

A leadership transition can sometimes unsettle a school; here, the timing matters. The April to May 2024 inspection was conducted during the previous headteacher’s tenure, while Dr Polly Crowther’s appointment began in September 2024. For parents, that means the strongest external evidence is very recent, and the current head has stepped into a school that had already been judged at the highest level.

Cobham’s primary outcomes are a core strength, and the numbers are unusually high.

In 2024, 92.3% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 35.7% reached greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, well above the England average of 8%.

Scaled scores add detail to what those headline percentages look like in practice. Average scaled scores were 108 in reading, 107 in mathematics, and 107 in grammar, punctuation and spelling.

FindMySchool’s rankings, based on official data, place the school 2576th in England for primary outcomes and 1st in the Gravesend local area. That combination, high performance and a top local position, is consistent with the oversubscription picture for Reception entry.

Parents comparing options nearby can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page to view results side by side with other local primaries using the Comparison Tool.

The curriculum intent is clearly articulated on the school website. Language and vocabulary are treated as central, with explicit teaching of key words and concepts built into lessons. Subjects are planned around “golden thread” concepts that are revisited and extended year on year, so pupils are not just covering content but building long-term knowledge that supports later learning.

The practical implication for families is that teaching is designed to be cumulative. When this works well, pupils who miss a piece of knowledge do not simply move on and hope it resolves later; the planning model is built to connect learning across weeks and terms. That is reinforced by a strong emphasis on checking what pupils remember over time, not just what they can do immediately after a unit has been taught.

Reading is positioned as a whole-school priority, with systematic phonics teaching in the early years and careful book matching to pupils’ phonics knowledge. Older pupils are exposed to ambitious texts, which matters because it is often the ceiling, not the floor, that determines progress for high-attaining cohorts.

As a 4 to 11 primary, Cobham’s main transition point is Year 6 into secondary. The school’s published materials and external review both frame this as a maturity and character journey as well as an academic one, with older pupils encouraged to take on responsibility and to act as role models for younger children.

Kent families also need to consider the selective context. Some children across the county pursue grammar entry at 11, while others move into non-selective secondary schools. What matters here is readiness rather than labels. A child who has thrived in a high-expectations primary may still prefer a secondary that balances academic pace with pastoral structure, or one that offers a particular strength in sport, arts, or technical pathways.

For families building a shortlist, the FindMySchool Saved Schools feature can help track which secondaries are realistic based on travel time and admissions rules.

Reception admissions are coordinated through Kent’s online primary admissions process rather than direct offers from the school. For September 2026 entry, Kent’s published timeline shows applications opening on 7 November 2025 and closing on 15 January 2026, with offers released on 16 April 2026.

Cobham is heavily oversubscribed for Reception. For the most recent admissions data provided, there were 154 applications for 30 offers, which is about 5.13 applications per place. The first-preference demand was also high, with first preferences running at 1.7 times the number of first-preference offers.

The school’s own admissions page flags sibling association points that families sometimes miss, including conditions linked to a family’s address history. Because these details can be technical, families should read Kent’s primary admissions guide carefully and, if relevant, ask the school to explain how sibling criteria are interpreted in practice.

If you are weighing distance-sensitive options, use FindMySchool Map Search to check your precise home-to-school distance against the last offered distances for comparable local schools (distances vary annually and are specific to each school’s criteria and applicant pattern).

A strong academic offer only works if pupils feel safe, supported, and able to concentrate. The most recent official review describes pupils as well cared for and highlights the consistency of routines and relationships, including older pupils acting as positive role models.

Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is described as a major strength, including close work with external professionals and staff adapting learning and resources so pupils can achieve well from their starting points. The same review also references tailored counselling for pupils who need more significant emotional support, which is a practical indicator that wellbeing is treated as part of the school’s core work rather than an add-on.

Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

The school’s enrichment offer is best understood as two strands: structured clubs and the wider programme of events, trips, and pupil leadership.

For clubs, the school publishes termly examples that include specific options rather than generic lists. Recent examples include Strive PE, Book Club, Creepy Claws for Key Stage 1, and Computing for Key Stage 2. The implication is that the school is not relying on a single after-school pattern, it rotates themes so different interests get a turn across the year.

The wider programme shows up clearly in school communications. Examples referenced in official material include participation in the London Mini-Marathon at scale, plus initiatives such as book week and visiting theatre performances. For families, this matters because it suggests learning is supported by memorable shared experiences, which often benefits confidence, vocabulary, and motivation across the curriculum.

Pupil responsibility is another thread. The school runs a house system, with houses named Fire, Water, Air and Earth, and uses house points to build a sense of collective effort. Older pupils also have defined leadership moments, which helps Year 6 pupils practise the transition skills they will need in secondary settings.

The school day runs Monday to Friday, 8.50am to 3.20pm, with pupils able to go into classrooms from 8.40am.

Wraparound care is clearly set out. Breakfast club starts at 7.30am, and after-school provision runs 3.20pm to 6.00pm on weekdays in term time. Published session prices include £5.00 for breakfast club, and after-school options listed at £6.00, £12.00, and £7.00 depending on session length.

For travel and drop-off, the school notes limited on-site parking and asks families to treat the shared car park sensibly as it is also used by local sports clubs.

• Very high demand for Reception places. With 154 applications for 30 offers in the most recent data, competition is the limiting factor. Families should keep realistic backup options in mind.

• A leadership change after a major inspection. The current headteacher began in September 2024, while the graded inspection took place in April to May 2024. That is a positive starting point, but families who value continuity should use open events and conversations to understand what is changing and what is staying the same.

• Wraparound costs can add up. Breakfast and after-school provision is well specified, but regular use will be a meaningful ongoing cost for some families.

• Village access constraints. Parking is shared and spaces are limited at peak times, so families relying on car drop-off should plan for time and consider walking options when possible.

Cobham Primary School combines a recent, fully graded Outstanding inspection with KS2 outcomes that sit well above England averages, and it does so in a small, one-form entry setting with a clear curriculum model and strong routines. It suits families who want a high-expectations primary with structured wraparound care and a steady emphasis on character, responsibility, and enrichment. The biggest barrier is admission, so shortlisting needs a practical Plan A, Plan B approach.