Bishops Down Primary and Nursery School, Tunbridge Wells
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
This is a genuinely inclusive school where every child feels valued and supported to thrive. The school excels at helping children with additional needs make rapid progress, while all pupils develop strong reading skills and positive attitudes to learning. Staff build nurturing relationships and create a warm, caring environment where children are happy and confident.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional inclusion culture where diversity is celebrated and every pupil is valued and feels a sense of belonging
- Excellent behaviour and attendance with pupils having happy, respectful attitudes to learning
- Highly effective support systems for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils who make rapid progress
- Strong phonics teaching with pupils becoming fluent, independent readers
- Ambitious, well-designed curriculum that builds knowledge coherently over time
Areas for Improvement
- Pupils do not always apply their basic skills in spelling, writing and number well enough across different subjects
- Teachers occasionally miss opportunities to correct misconceptions in spelling, writing and number knowledge with sufficient precision
- Early years staff occasionally miss chances to ensure children embed vocabulary and communication skills across all areas of learning
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports clubs, arts clubs, games clubs, outdoor learning, school council, house captains, school librarians, visits from professionals including artists, politicians, engineers and architects, trips and community events
Bishops Down Primary and Nursery School is an inclusive school where pupils experience a warm, happy and caring welcome. The school has established strong systems for attendance, behaviour, and support for all learners, including those with special educational needs.
At a Glance
19.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
PD - Physical Disability
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 97% to 87%. Maths has declined from 93% to 73%. Writing has remained stable at around 70%.
Class Sizes
25.0
Avg class size
23.7
Infant (KS1)
27.8
KS2
8
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
92%
Near capacity
194 pupils
210 capacity
16 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Tunbridge Wells
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Tunbridge Wells
Admissions Demand - Kent
Places available
19,144
Applications
16,524
Got 1st preference
90.6%
Got preferred school
98.5%
Primary admissions across Kent (2025/26)
Inspection History(19)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.8218%
Overall absence
8.48485%
Persistent absence
165
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Bishops Down Primary and Nursery School
Nearby Schools
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