About our school...

"At Staplehurst School we believe that academic excellence will be achieved by developing positive attitudes towards a learning culture together with high expectations and a commitment to all aspects of life at school."

A brief history of Staplehurst village and its school

Staplehurst School has hugely benefited from the appointment of a new headteacher in September 2004 with a significantly improved Ofsted report and excellent recent Sats results. Well placed for continued positive development, Staplehurst's success is not limited to Ofsted with a new catering company now providing 'Jamie Oliver' style meals and a new multi purpose Junior Hall completed in February 2007. Although the website provides a flavour of Staplehurst, the school and its long history, to truly appreciate what Staplehurst School can offer your children, please contact Mrs Annemarie Bolt to arrange a visit. Telephone 01580 891765 or email headteacher@staplehurst.kent.sch.uk.

Staplehurst is a fairly large village, situated south of Maidstone, in the countryside on a stretch of an old Roman road (now known as the A229). The village has had a long history stretching back to the 12th Century, when the All Saint's Church (on the top of the hill) was built. By the 19th Century Staplehurst had become an established village and a desirable place to live, especially after being included on the new London-Dover train line This train line through Staplehurst became famous in 1865 after the fatal train crash, which involved author Charles Dickens who saved several people's lives after the train derailed due to a signal failure. 

Staplehurst School was established in 1873. The original school building, pictured on the left is now the Village Centre The school was in this building for over 100 years including during the War - the old air raid shelters still remain on the grounds! During the 1960s the population of Staplehurst increased with the construction of many new houses, and the old school building could no longer accommodate the growing numbers of children in the village A new school was built. Today's school (seen below from across the large school field) was completed in 1988.

The school now lies in the centre of the village and has around 400 pupils There are eighteen classrooms, infant and junior halls and a modern computer suite. There are two libraries, four well-equipped playgrounds (including 'Zoneparc' adventure playgrounds and two dedicated 'quiet' areas) and a large sports' field.

Our pupils move on from Staplehurst School to a variety of secondary schools and grammar schools in surrounding towns and villages, including Cranbrook, Maidstone and Tonbridge.