The Discovery School is a mainstream primary school in West Malling, Kent, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 62 of its 634 pupils (9.8%) were getting SEN support and 9 (1.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 634 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Kent.
9.8% get SEN support
62 of 634 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
1.4% have an EHC plan
9 of 634 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health15
- Speech, language and communication14
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia12
- Autism8
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Council-run school
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 634 (places for 630)
- Headteacher
- Miss Tina Gobell (Interim Headteacher)
- Free school meals
- 8.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Kent
- School reference (URN)
- 134057
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Kent council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Outstanding, February 2023
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in February 2023.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Discovery Drive, Kings Hill, West Malling, ME19 4GJ
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Valley Invicta Primary School At Kings Hill Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 0.9 miles
- The Malling School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
- Bower Grove School Special school · Ages 4–16 · Ofsted: Outstanding 3.1 miles
- Sports Connect Independent · Ages 16–24 3.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Kings Hill School Primary and Nursery Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 8.9%, EHC plans 2.3% 0.9 miles
- Wateringbury Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 13.4%, EHC plans 3% 1.5 miles
- More Park Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 27.3%, EHC plans 2.7% 1.6 miles
Questions about The Discovery School
How many pupils at The Discovery School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 62 of the 634 pupils (9.8%) were getting SEN support and 9 (1.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at The Discovery School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (15 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (14 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (12 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Discovery School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at The Discovery School?
Through Kent council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to The Discovery School?
You can ask for The Discovery School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does The Discovery School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Valley Invicta Primary School At Kings Hill, about 0.9 miles away.
Where is The Discovery School?
Discovery Drive, Kings Hill, West Malling, ME19 4GJ, in Kent.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.