Balfour Infant School, based in Rochester, provides primary education, serving pupils aged 5 to 7. The school is a community school and operates as a mixed school. It follows a not applicable admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school.
Balfour Infant School currently has around 260 pupils on roll, which is about 96% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 50.8% boys and 49.2% girls. Around 23.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The student population reflects a mixed community across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 6%. Persistent absence is recorded at 16.6%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (55.8%).
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
| Address: | Pattens Lane, Rochester, ME1 2QT |
| Website: | http://www.balfourinf.medway.sch.uk |
| Telephone: | 01634338280 |
| School Type: | Community school |
| Education phase: | Primary |
| Local authority: | Medway |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mr Joseph Pomeroy |
| Religious character: | Does not apply |
| Admissions policy: | Not applicable |
| Unique reference: | 118329 |
Ofsted inspection date: 15/10/2024
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 5 - 7 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 270 |
| Number of Pupils: | 260 |
| Number of Boys: | 132 |
| Number of Girls: | 128 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 6% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 16.6% | 8.2% |
| White British | 55.80% | 145 |
| Indian | 9.60% | 25 |
| Other White | 8.10% | 21 |
| African | 6.90% | 18 |
| Other Asian | 3.50% | 9 |
| Other Mixed | 3.10% | 8 |
| Pakistani | 2.70% | 7 |
| Bangladeshi | 2.70% | 7 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 1.90% | 5 |
| White and Asian | 1.90% | 5 |
| White and Black African | 1.20% | 3 |
| Caribbean | 0.80% | 2 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 0.80% | 2 |
| Unclassified | 0.80% | 2 |
| Other Black | 0.40% | 1 |
| Chinese | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish | 0.00% | 0 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balfour Infant School Pattens Lane , ME1 2QT | - not rated | 0 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Balfour Junior School Balfour Road , ME4 6QX | - not rated | 385 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Balfour Junior School Balfour Road , ME4 6QX | 3out of 4 | 385 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Crest Infant School Fleet Road , ME1 2QA | 3out of 4 | 565 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Delce Academy The Tideway , ME1 2NJ | - not rated | 687 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holcombe Grammar School Holcombe , Maidstone Road ME4 6JB | 3out of 4 | 639 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Boys | More About School |
| Chatham Grammar School for Boys Holcombe , Maidstone Road ME4 6JB | - not rated | 639 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Boys | More About School |
| Chatham South School Letchworth Avenue , ME4 6NT | - not rated | 861 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School City Way , ME1 2FA | - not rated | 949 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Rochester Grammar School Maidstone Road , ME1 3BY | 3out of 4 | 1,000 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oasis Restore 1 Kennington Road , SE1 7QP | - not rated | 1,730 yd | Academy secure 16 to 19 | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Skies School 126 Maidstone Road , ME4 6DQ | - not rated | 713 yd | Other independent special school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Redvers Centre Redvers Road , ME4 5UU | - not rated | 1,113 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Cedars School 70 Maidstone Road , ME1 3DE | - not rated | 1,427 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ripplevale School Rochester 9-13 New Road , Rochester ME1 1BG | - not rated | 1,611 yd | Other independent special school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Rochester Independent College 254 St Margaret's Banks , ME1 1HY | - not rated | 1,722 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.