Report card · inspected Mar 2026
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
Safeguarding standards met
This schoolOther secondary schools in KentSelective
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026| Area | Exceptional | Strong standard | Expected standard | Needs attention | Urgent improvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inclusion | Expected standard | ||||
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard | ||||
| Achievement | Strong standard | ||||
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard | ||||
| Personal development and wellbeing | Strong standard | ||||
| Early years | Does not apply to this school | ||||
| Post-16 provision | Strong standard | ||||
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard | ||||
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
- Does not apply
Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.
Inspection history
- 17 March 2026Report card · 4 Strong standard, 3 Expected standard
- 25 November 2021Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades
About these grades
Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.
How hard is it to get a place?
DfE · Sept 2026 entry1,179 applications · 300 places offered · 297 named it first
SelectiveApplications include children who did not pass the entrance test.
- 2026 3.9; Kent median median 3.1
- 2025 3.5; Kent median median 3.0
- 2024 3.6; Kent median median 3.2
- 2023 3.6; Kent median median 3.2
- 2022 3.2; Kent median median 2.9
- 2021 3.6; Kent median median 3.6
- 2020 3.8; Kent median median 3.1
- 2019 3.1; Kent median median 2.9
- 2018 3.0; Kent median median 3.1
- 2017 3.4; Kent median median 3.0
- 2016 3.6; Kent median median 3.3
- 2015 3.5; Kent median median 3.2
- 2014 3.4; Kent median median 3.1
- This school
- Kent median
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council
Selective: register for the entrance test with the school first, usually by the summer before (dates vary). Dates
How this is measured
Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 300 | 1,179 | 3.9 | 297 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2025 | 299 | 1,059 | 3.5 | 291 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2024 | 300 | 1,091 | 3.6 | 293 | 0.98 |
| Sep 2023 | 301 | 1,086 | 3.6 | 325 | 1.08 |
| Sep 2022 | 300 | 972 | 3.2 | 236 | 0.79 |
| Sep 2021 | 300 | 1,083 | 3.6 | 203 | 0.68 |
| Sep 2020 | 208 | 798 | 3.8 | 132 | 0.63 |
| Sep 2019 | 240 | 739 | 3.1 | 130 | 0.54 |
| Sep 2018 | 240 | 730 | 3.0 | 200 | 0.83 |
| Sep 2017 | 210 | 715 | 3.4 | 161 | 0.77 |
| Sep 2016 | 180 | 655 | 3.6 | 149 | 0.83 |
| Sep 2015 | 180 | 623 | 3.5 | 132 | 0.73 |
| Sep 2014 | 180 | 618 | 3.4 | 191 | 1.06 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 292 | 64.5 | 88% | 97% | – |
| 2024/25 | 217 | 63.7 | 91% | 96% | – |
| 2023/24 | 235 | 64.2 | 88% | 98% | +0.46 |
| 2022/23 | 227 | 60.8 | 83% | 95% | +0.25 |
Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.
Schools nearby
The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority
- Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for BoysThis schoolThis school20263.9applications per place 64.5Attainment 8 Selective
- 0.1 km · KentGraded · no overall grade20243.4applications per place 44.8Attainment 8
- 0.7 km · KentOutstanding20234.5applications per place 72.5Attainment 8 Selective
- 0.9 km · Kent20265.5applications per place 72.7Attainment 8 Selective
- 1.3 km · KentOutstanding20233.9applications per place 53.4Attainment 8
- 2.5 km · KentGood20233.6applications per place 43.8Attainment 8
- 3.9 km · KentStandards maintained20245.4applications per place 77.0Attainment 8 Selective
- 3.9 km · KentGraded · no overall grade20243.3applications per place 69.3Attainment 8 Selective
- 4.2 km · KentGood20223.6applications per place 43.9Attainment 8
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
- Does not apply
Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.
School details
- Type
- Community school
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 118790 · 886/4045
- Admissions policy
- Selective
- Capacity
- 1,308 pupils · 1,875 on roll
- Free school meals
- 5.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Address
- St John's Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9XB
- Local authority
- Kent · Tunbridge Wells
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources