Page created: May 2026 | Last reviewed: June 2026 | Ofsted/admissions information should be checked directly with schools, Kent County Council and Ofsted before making decisions.
Whether you’re relocating to the Stour Valley with a young family, or planning ahead for secondary school options, this guide covers a selection of nurseries, primaries, secondaries, grammar schools and independent schools that may be relevant to families looking around Wye, Chilham, Godmersham, Chartham, Canterbury, Faversham and Ashford.
Nurseries & Early Years
| Setting |
Location |
Type |
Notes |
| Spring Grove School Nursery |
Wye |
Independent |
Nursery attached to Spring Grove prep school |
| The Firs Nursery |
Chartham |
Private |
Well-regarded local nursery |
| Acorns Nursery |
Canterbury |
Private |
Multiple Canterbury locations |
| Bright Horizons |
Canterbury |
Private |
Day nursery and early years |
| Faversham Nursery School |
Faversham |
State |
Part of local primary provision |
State Primary Schools
| School |
Location |
Ofsted at last review |
Notes |
| Lady Joanna Thornhill Endowed Primary |
Wye |
Outstanding |
Village primary in Wye, close to the station |
| Chilham St Mary’s CE Primary |
Chilham |
Good |
Small village school with strong community |
| Chartham Primary School |
Chartham |
Good |
Village primary near Canterbury |
| Godmersham CE Primary |
Godmersham |
Good |
Small rural primary school |
| Ethelbert Road Primary |
Faversham |
Outstanding |
Faversham primary school |
| Hernhill CE Primary |
Hernhill (Faversham) |
Outstanding |
Village school near Boughton |
| Boughton-under-Blean & Dunkirk Methodist Primary |
Boughton-under-Blean |
Good |
Primary school serving Boughton-under-Blean and Dunkirk |
| St Stephen’s Junior School |
Canterbury |
Good |
Large Canterbury primary |
| Sturry CE Primary |
Canterbury area |
Good |
Village school east of Canterbury |
Independent Prep Schools
| School |
Location |
Ages |
Notes |
| Spring Grove School |
Wye |
2–11 |
Independent nursery and prep school in Wye |
| Junior King’s School |
Canterbury (Sturry) |
3–13 |
Prep for The King’s School; boarding available |
| Kent College Junior |
Canterbury |
3–11 |
Part of Kent College family |
| St Edmund’s Junior School |
Canterbury |
3–11 |
Independent co-ed junior school in Canterbury |
| Lorenden Preparatory School |
Faversham |
2–11 |
Independent prep school near Faversham |
State Secondary & Free Schools
| School |
Location |
Ofsted at last review |
Notes |
| Wye School |
Wye |
Good |
Secondary school in Wye |
| Canterbury Academy |
Canterbury |
Good |
Large secondary school with sixth form provision |
| The Towers School |
Ashford |
Good |
Large Ashford secondary |
Grammar Schools
Kent operates a selective grammar school system. Children usually sit the Kent Test in Year 6, with registration taking place beforehand. The schools below may be relevant to families in and around the Stour Valley, but eligibility, scores, distance and admissions criteria should be checked directly.
| School |
Location |
Type |
Notes |
| Highworth Grammar School |
Ashford |
Girls |
Selective grammar school; check admissions criteria |
| Norton Knatchbull School |
Ashford |
Boys |
Selective boys’ grammar school; check admissions criteria |
| Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar |
Canterbury |
Girls |
Selective girls’ grammar school; check admissions criteria |
| Simon Langton Boys’ Grammar |
Canterbury |
Boys |
Selective boys’ grammar school; check admissions criteria |
| Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar |
Faversham |
Mixed |
Selective co-ed grammar school; check admissions criteria |
Independent Senior Schools
| School |
Location |
Ages |
Notes |
| The King’s School Canterbury |
Canterbury |
13–18 |
Independent senior school in Canterbury |
| Kent College |
Canterbury |
3–18 |
Independent co-ed day and boarding school |
| St Edmund’s School |
Canterbury |
3–18 |
Independent co-ed day and boarding school |
| Ashford School |
Ashford |
3–18 |
Co-ed; day and boarding; town centre location |
Quick Reference by Area
| Area |
Primary options |
Grammar Access |
Independent Option |
| Wye |
Lady Joanna Thornhill |
Norton Knatchbull, Highworth (Ashford) |
Spring Grove |
| Chilham |
– |
Simon Langton (Canterbury) |
Junior King’s, Kent College |
| Chartham |
– |
Simon Langton (Canterbury) |
Junior King’s, Kent College |
| Godmersham |
– |
Norton Knatchbull / Highworth (Ashford) |
Spring Grove, Ashford School |
| Canterbury |
Multiple options |
Simon Langton Boys & Girls |
King’s, Kent College, St Edmund’s |
| Faversham |
Ethelbert Road, Hernhill |
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar |
Lorenden |
| Ashford |
Multiple options |
Highworth, Norton Knatchbull |
Ashford School |
Important Notes
- Kent Test (11+): Registration opens each spring for Year 5 pupils. Test dates are typically in September of Year 6. Visit the KCC website to register.
- Admissions criteria and priority areas can change. Some schools are their own admissions authority, so always check the current published criteria with Kent County Council and the individual school before making decisions.
- Kent County Council: Check the latest school places and admissions guidance on the KCC website, or call 03000 41 21 21.
- Ofsted: Ratings shown are based on the guide review date and may change. Always check the latest report at ofsted.gov.uk.
Disclaimer: This guide is provided for general local information only. It has been compiled from publicly available sources and was last reviewed in June 2026. School admissions arrangements, Ofsted reports, inspection outcomes, catchment areas, transport, fees and availability can change. Before making any decision about schooling or a property move, please check directly with the relevant school, Kent County Council admissions and Ofsted. Chris White provides this guide in good faith but cannot guarantee that every detail remains current and accepts no liability for decisions made using this information.
