Balfour Junior Academy

Balfour Junior Academy is a primary school in Chatham for children aged 7 to 11, teaching boys and girls. Around 480 pupils are on roll. It is an academy rather than a council-run school, though Medway still coordinates the application process. Mrs Zoe Mayston leads the school.

Inspection at a glance

At its most recent Ofsted inspection on 23 May 2024, Balfour Junior Academy was judged Good. The full inspection report is linked from this page so you can read the inspectors' own words.

How the school is performing

The latest published key stage 2 figures show 71% met expected standard in reading, writing and maths (2024/25). Overall absence stands at 5.5%, which is attendance of about 94.5% (2024/25). Around 30.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Figures come from the Department for Education's published school performance data and are shown in full further down this page.

Getting a place at Balfour Junior Academy

You apply for a place at Balfour Junior Academy on the primary common application form through Medway, with the national deadline of 15 January. Where there are more applications than places, the school's published oversubscription criteria decide who is offered a place, typically starting with looked-after children and siblings. There is no separate entrance assessment. Always check the current admissions policy on the school's own website before you apply, because criteria can change year to year.

SEND at a glance

Balfour Junior Academy is a mainstream school, supporting pupils with SEND alongside their classmates through the graduated approach of assess, plan, do, review. The school's SEN information report is the authoritative source and is linked in the SEND section below.

Balfour Junior Academy contact details and location

You will find Balfour Junior Academy at Balfour Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 6QX. The school office can be reached on 01634 843833. A map, directions and the school's own website link are on this page.