St Nicholas CofE Infant School
London Road, Rochester, ME2 3HU
Ofsted inspection
Rated across 5 areas
Inspected 17/06/2025 · Ofsted no longer gives a single grade
See the Ofsted ratingsPupils
148
Ages
4 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Age range
4 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Pupils
148
Headteacher
Mrs Katie Forghani-Ashrafi
Type
Primary
Ofsted
Rated across 5 areas
Faith
Church of England
Local authority
Medway
About St Nicholas CofE Infant School
St Nicholas CofE Infant School is a primary school in Strood, near Rochester for children aged 4 to 11, teaching boys and girls. Around 148 pupils are on roll. On our figures that is below the typical size for a primary school in Rochester. It has a Church of England religious character. It is a maintained school within the Medway local authority area. Mrs Katie Forghani-Ashrafi leads the school.
Inspection at a glance
Under Ofsted's report card framework, St Nicholas CofE Infant School was graded Good and Requires Improvement across the areas inspected, following the inspection on 17 June 2025. Each area is now graded separately, so there is no single headline judgement. The full inspection report is linked from this page so you can read the inspectors' own words.
How the school is performing
Overall absence stands at 4.4%, which is attendance of about 95.6% (2024/25). Around 26.9% 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 St Nicholas CofE Infant School
You apply for a place at St Nicholas CofE Infant School 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
St Nicholas CofE Infant School 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.
St Nicholas CofE Infant School contact details and location
You will find St Nicholas CofE Infant School at London Road, Strood, Rochester, Kent, ME2 3HU. The school office can be reached on 01634 717120. A map, directions and the school's own website link are on this page.
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted did not give a single overall grade at this inspection (its policy from September 2024).
Quality of Education
How well pupils are taught and what they learn
Behaviour and Attitudes
How pupils behave and their attitude to learning
Personal Development
Support for pupils' wider growth and wellbeing
Leadership and Management
How well the school is run
Early Years
Quality of nursery and Reception
Based on the Ofsted inspection of 17/06/2025.
St Nicholas CofE Infant School admissions and catchment area
No entrance test - you apply on the common application form
St Nicholas CofE Infant School does not run its own entrance test. Places are allocated by Medway Council using published oversubscription criteria. Oversubscription criteria usually cover looked-after children, siblings, distance from the school, and (for faith schools) faith criteria. As a Church of England school, faith-based criteria may apply in oversubscription - a supplementary information form is usually required.
Dates and criteria change each year - always confirm with the school and Medway Council. Medway school admissions →
How to apply
1. Apply on the common application form (autumn term before Reception)
Complete the Primary Common Application Form on the Medway Council website by mid-January - for September 2026 entry the window ran from Friday 7 November 2025 to Thursday 15 January 2026, and offers were emailed on Thursday 16 April 2026.
2. National Offer Day (mid-April)
You'll be told your allocated school by email - for 2026 entry KCC emailed offers on Thursday 16 April 2026 after 4pm, with offers visible online from 5pm.
3. Accept and, if needed, appeal
Accept your place by the given date. If you didn't get your preferred school, you have the right to appeal.
4. In-year admissions
Moving mid-year? Apply directly through Medway Council's in-year admissions team, or in some cases direct to the school.
Didn't get a place? You can appeal
If St Nicholas CofE Infant School is not offered on National Offer Day, you can appeal the decision. The appeal is heard by an independent panel and is free to submit.
How to appeal a school offerSt Nicholas CofE Infant School results and attendance
KS2 results
Not published
A-Level results
N/A
Attendance
Free school meals
SEND support at St Nicholas CofE Infant School
SEND setting
Mainstream school
For full details, visit the school's SEND information page.
Wraparound care and nursery at St Nicholas CofE Infant School
Nursery
No
Breakfast club
Please check with the school
After-school club
Please check with the school
St Nicholas CofE Infant School term dates: Medway standard term dates for 2026/27
These are Medway Council's standard term dates. Your school may use different dates and INSET days, so check the school's website before making plans.
Autumn 1 · 2026
1 Sep-23 Oct
Autumn 2 · 2026
2 Nov-18 Dec
Spring 1 · 2027
4 Jan-12 Feb
Spring 2 · 2027
22 Feb-25 Mar
Summer 1 · 2027
12 Apr-28 May
Summer 2 · 2027
7 Jun-21 Jul
St Nicholas CofE Infant School: frequently asked questions
How do I apply for a place at St Nicholas CofE Infant School?
Apply through Medway on the primary common application form by 15 January, naming St Nicholas CofE Infant School as one of your preferences. Offers are made in April.
What is St Nicholas CofE Infant School's Ofsted rating?
Under Ofsted's report card framework St Nicholas CofE Infant School was graded Good and Requires Improvement across the areas inspected, following the inspection on 17 June 2025. You can open the full report from the inspection section of this page.
How big is St Nicholas CofE Infant School and what ages does it take?
St Nicholas CofE Infant School has around 148 pupils on roll and covers ages 4 to 11. It is a mixed school taking boys and girls.
What SEND support does St Nicholas CofE Infant School offer?
St Nicholas CofE Infant School is recorded as a mainstream school. The school's SEN information report has the current detail and is linked in the SEND section of this page.
What are St Nicholas CofE Infant School's term dates and INSET days?
St Nicholas CofE Infant School follows the standard Medway pattern for 2026/27, set out term by term on this page. INSET days are set by the school itself, so confirm them on the school's own calendar.
Where is St Nicholas CofE Infant School and how do I contact the school?
St Nicholas CofE Infant School is at London Road, Strood, Rochester, Kent, ME2 3HU. The office number is 01634 717120. A map and directions are on this page.
About this information. Compiled from published sources including the Department for Education, Ofsted and the school's own website. Last reviewed Summer 2026.
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