Whitfield Aspen School

Dover · CT16 3LJ

General information Primary School · 4-11 years Who goes here 662 pupils, 36% FSM

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN Resourced provision · 14.2% on SEN support Behaviour Higher incident record Staff 9.5% turnover Financials £12,207 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

FOI Transparency How openly this school shares data

Cooperative 70 /100

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Whitfield Aspen School

General Information

Address: Mayfield Road, Whitfield, Dover, CT16 3LJ – View on map
Phone: 01304821526
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Mr Jason Cook
Age range: 4-11 years
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 92 families put it first for 78 places – 12 for every 10 places. 85% of them were offered a place. No places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2023 11 · 2024 10 · 2025 10 · 2026 12
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Does not apply
Nursery provision: No

Who goes here

662 pupils out of 682 places At or near capacity

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 238
% eligible for free school meals: 36.0%
Pupil mix: 3 in 10 (similar to the Dover average)
English as an additional language: 4% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 9.5% a year (Dover 13.6%, typical in England 13.9%) Low turnover
Where they went: about 22% moved to another school, 78% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (average of 3 years, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house. "Low turnover" means it's among the quarter of similar schools in England where teachers are most likely to stay.

Supply and cover teaching

Classes taught mainly by supply or cover staff for half a term or more: 1 (a full term or more: 1)
Teaching posts vacant or only temporarily filled during the year: 0
Days of supply or agency teacher cover: 120
Data year: 2025/26 (from the school, under Freedom of Information)

Government figures only count teachers on contracts of 28 days or more, so a class covered by a run of supply teachers doesn't show up in them – which is why we ask schools directly.

Behaviour

Higher incident record 2025/26

About this Behaviour status

Based on real data requested under Freedom of Information, compared against other schools of the same type that have also responded - not a judgement on any single figure alone.

Reading the numbers: higher figures below often mean a school records thoroughly and takes concerns seriously, rather than more incidents happening. A school reporting unusually low figures sometimes has a reporting gap rather than a problem-free intake. If a figure stands out, it's worth asking the school how it records.

Data year: 2025/26
Bullying incidents: 4
Physical aggression / violence incidents: 807
Child protection referrals: 106
Safeguarding concerns: 751
Racist incidents: 7
Suspensions (fixed-term exclusions): 1
Permanent exclusions: 0
Sexual harassment or sexual violence between pupils (recorded incidents): 29 (led to a suspension or exclusion: 0; referred to social care or police: 3) – a higher number can mean a school takes reports seriously and records them carefully

See the bullying figures for every school in Dover →

Figures may show "<5" for some schools.

What does "<5" mean?

A figure shown as "<5" means the real number is below 5 - the standard convention for this kind of data, used to avoid identifying individual pupils. Different schools may also record and define incidents differently, so read comparisons with care.

10th of 11 primary schools in Dover for behaviour

#8Eastry Church of England Primary School40%
#9Northbourne Church of England Primary School28%
#10Whitfield Aspen School22%
#11Sholden Church of England Primary School14%

Click to see the full ranking

Behaviour ranking

Each school's score (out of 100) reflects how it compares to other schools in the area across all reported behaviour metrics — bullying, physical aggression, safeguarding referrals and racist incidents. A higher score means fewer reported incidents relative to peers. Ranked by real FOI-reported figures. Schools that have declined to provide this data sit at the bottom — refusing a legal request is treated as worse than any honestly-reported result.

Rank School Score

#1St Margaret's-at-Cliffe Primary School92%
#2Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School72%
#3Green Park Community Primary School64%
#4Lydden Primary School60%
#5Sandown School54%
#6Hornbeam Primary School52%
#7River Primary School52%
#8Eastry Church of England Primary School40%
#9Northbourne Church of England Primary School28%
#10Whitfield Aspen School22%
#11Sholden Church of England Primary School14%

Across Kent: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 21 (0.2 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 1
Suspensions for bullying: 32 (0.2 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 1 (0.0 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.0)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state primary schools in Kent (the council area this school is in), not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 6.4%
Persistently absent pupils: 18.2%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

Resourced provision for Profound and multiple learning difficulties 202 places · 202 pupils at the last count

Places are usually for children with an EHC Plan and are arranged through the council, not the normal school application.

Pupils on SEN Support: 14.2%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 31.0%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Other difficulty or disability: 41 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 23 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 13 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 11 pupils
Physical disability: 4 pupils

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Autistic spectrum disorder: 129 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 23 pupils
Other difficulty or disability: 20 pupils
Profound and multiple learning difficulty: 7 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 7 pupils

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

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Ability to Deal with Problems

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Headteacher Approval

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SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

This score reflects how openly the school responded to our Freedom of Information request. Schools that withhold information are rated lower — even the act of hiding data tells parents something about a school’s openness.

Response: Full response (+60)
Timeliness: Response date not recorded (+10)
Optional data: No optional data (+0)

Exemplary (80–100) · Cooperative (60–79) · Reluctant (40–59) · Obstructive (20–39) · Opaque (0–19)

Educational Attainment

Good 2019 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted changed how it rates schools in the last couple of years, so ratings from different years aren't always on the same scale - that's why we show the year alongside every rating.

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 46% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 5% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 13 percentage points below the Dover average (59%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: Below (3-year average 45% against an expected 56%)
3-year average (expected standard): 45%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 61% · Writing 61% · Maths 55% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 50%
Average test scores: reading 106, maths 105
Based on: 80 Year 6 pupils, 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's SATs results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

SATs results over time

This schoolDover averageEngland→ Broadly steady No clear rise or fall since 2022/23 (changes this small are normal from one year group to the next). In 2024/25 this school was 13 percentage points below the Dover average (59%).

Year 6 SATs: joint 29th of 37 junior and primary schools in the area

#28The Downs Church of England Primary School48%
=29Aycliffe Community Primary School46%
=29Whitfield Aspen School46%
#31Charlton Church of England Primary School45%
#32Warden House Primary School42%

Click to see the full ranking

Year 6 SATs ranking

Junior and primary schools in this area, ranked by the % of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (official DfE results, 2024/25). Schools with the same result share a place (shown as =). In small schools one or two children can move a school several places, so treat close positions as roughly equal.

Rank School Score

=1Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School82%
=1Shepherdswell Church of England Primary School82%
#3Temple Ewell Church of England Primary School81%
#4Northbourne Church of England Primary School80%
#5Langdon Primary School79%
#6Wingham Primary School77%
#7Lydden Primary School75%
=8Sandwich Junior School73%
=8Sholden Church of England Primary School73%
#10St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Aylesham71%
#11St Martin's School70%
=12Deal Parochial Church of England Primary School69%
=12St Mary's Catholic Primary School69%
=12St Richard's Catholic Primary School69%
#15Eythorne Elvington Community Primary School68%
#16Barton Junior School66%
#17Eastry Church of England Primary School64%
#18Preston Primary School63%
#19River Primary School62%
#20Vale View Community School60%
#21Hornbeam Primary School58%
#22White Cliffs Primary and Nursery School57%
#23Ash Cartwright and Kelsey Church of England Primary School54%
#24Priory Fields School53%
#25St Margaret's-at-Cliffe Primary School52%
=26Capel-le-Ferne Primary School50%
=26Sandown School50%
#28The Downs Church of England Primary School48%
=29Aycliffe Community Primary School46%
=29Whitfield Aspen School46%
#31Charlton Church of England Primary School45%
#32Warden House Primary School42%
=33Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School35%
=33Green Park Community Primary School35%
#35Goodnestone Church of England Primary School33%
#36Worth Primary School14%
#37Nonington Church of England Primary School0%

View full Ofsted inspection report

29th of 30 primary schools in Dover for Ofsted rating

#27Vale View Community SchoolGood
#28White Cliffs Primary and Nursery SchoolGood
#29Whitfield Aspen SchoolGood
#30Worth Primary SchoolGood

Click to see the full ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Based on real Ofsted ratings (via official DfE data) for schools on the same four-word grading scale.

Rank School Score

#1Eythorne Elvington Community Primary SchoolOutstanding
#2Green Park Community Primary SchoolOutstanding
#3Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary SchoolOutstanding
#4Ash Cartwright and Kelsey Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#5Aycliffe Community Primary SchoolGood
#6Aylesham Primary SchoolGood
#7Capel-le-Ferne Primary SchoolGood
#8Charlton Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#9Deal Parochial Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#10Eastry Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#11Goodnestone Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#12Guston Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#13Hornbeam Primary SchoolGood
#14Langdon Primary SchoolGood
#15Lydden Primary SchoolGood
#16Northbourne Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#17Preston Primary SchoolGood
#18Priory Fields SchoolGood
#19Sandown SchoolGood
#20Sholden Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#21St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, AyleshamGood
#22St Martin's SchoolGood
#23St Mary's Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#24St Richard's Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#25Temple Ewell Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#26The Downs Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#27Vale View Community SchoolGood
#28White Cliffs Primary and Nursery SchoolGood
#29Whitfield Aspen SchoolGood
#30Worth Primary SchoolGood

Financials

Spending per pupil: £12,207 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

2nd of 36 primary schools in Dover for spending per pupil

#1Goodnestone Church of England Primary School£12,500
#2Whitfield Aspen School£12,207
#3Aycliffe Community Primary School£11,522
#4Nonington Church of England Primary School£10,933

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1Goodnestone Church of England Primary School£12,500
#2Whitfield Aspen School£12,207
#3Aycliffe Community Primary School£11,522
#4Nonington Church of England Primary School£10,933
#5St Mary's Catholic Primary School£10,006
#6Worth Primary School£9,800
#7Eythorne Elvington Community Primary School£8,581
#8White Cliffs Primary and Nursery School£8,572
#9Lydden Primary School£8,427
#10Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School£8,250
#11Eastry Church of England Primary School£8,133
#12Langdon Primary School£7,885
#13Sholden Church of England Primary School£7,736
#14Deal Parochial Church of England Primary School£7,498
#15Green Park Community Primary School£7,309
#16Ash Cartwright and Kelsey Church of England Primary School£7,209
#17St Margaret's-at-Cliffe Primary School£7,190
#18Hornbeam Primary School£7,102
#19Priory Fields School£6,938
#20Preston Primary School£6,885
#21The Downs Church of England Primary School£6,855
#22St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Aylesham£6,822
#23Northbourne Church of England Primary School£6,763
#24Capel-le-Ferne Primary School£6,649
#25Sandown School£6,563
#26Wingham Primary School£6,562
#27River Primary School£6,545
#28Charlton Church of England Primary School£6,490
#29Shepherdswell Church of England Primary School£6,403
#30Warden House Primary School£6,298
#31Temple Ewell Church of England Primary School£6,227
#32St Martin's School£5,866
#33Vale View Community School£5,835
#34St Richard's Catholic Primary School£5,734
#35Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School£5,706
#36Aylesham Primary School£3,934

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

Environment

Data received 2025/26

About this Environment status

Based on real information requested under Freedom of Information, covering step-free access, specialist facilities, classroom climate, and technology provision.

Accessibility

Step-free for pupils, staff and visitors: No
Overall accessibility: Fully
Lifts for pupil use: Yes
Accessible toilets: Yes
Changing Places facility: Yes
Sensory room: Yes

Climate

Classrooms with air conditioning: 54.1%
Mechanical ventilation: Yes - some classrooms
Air cooling units: No
Shaded outdoor areas: Yes
Heatwave procedures: Yes - informal arrangements

Technology

Pupil devices (approx.): 150
Pupils per device: 4:1
Digital display in every classroom: Yes
Interactive whiteboards: Yes - all classrooms
1:1 pupil device programme: No
Coding / robotics equipment: Yes - Busy Bees
Assistive technology for SEND pupils: Yes - Many and varied.

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