Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School, Tunbridge Wells
Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Tunbridge Wells. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 11th-highest of the 23 schools in Tunbridge Wells with published results, and 5,071st of 14,452 across England. It was 62% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to East Sussex (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 84% of Year 6 pupils at Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 79% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 72% in East Sussex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 90% in reading and 85% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 13 families put Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 33 named it as one of their preferences, for 15 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School are Langton Green Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 95% reading, 92% maths); St Michael's Primary School (2 miles, Requires improvement, 71% reading, 71% maths); Fordcombe Church of England Primary School (2.2 miles, Good, 77% reading, 69% maths); and Rusthall St Paul's CofE Primary School (2.6 miles, 75% reading, 65% maths).
Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Langton Green Primary SchoolSt Michael's Primary SchoolFordcombe Church of England Primary SchoolRusthall St Paul's CofE Primary School
Who goes there
7.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 17 pupils (14.5%) received SEN support and 2 (1.7%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Staffing
Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School had 10 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Groombridge (Spa Valley Railway), about 350 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 5 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, burglary and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in East Sussex (65).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its April 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
7.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 90% to 84% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 85% to 79% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 79% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
22.0
Avg class size
22.0
Infant (KS1)
1
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School
Term dates
Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see East Sussex's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School is in East Sussex; for families living there:
Apply to East Sussex for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from East Sussex, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in East Sussex got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
62%
Available places
131 pupils
210 places
79 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Tunbridge Wells
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Tunbridge Wells
Across East Sussex council
Places available
5,501
Applications
4,559
Got 1st preference
91.1%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All primary applications across East Sussex council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
17
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
16.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
117
Total Pupils
65
Boys
52
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
11.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,313
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,444
Per pupil
£778k
Total funding
£9k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.9%
Overall absence
4.2%
Persistent absence
120
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 84% reached the expected standard in reading and 79% did so in maths.
What is Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2009 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School is oversubscribed, East Sussex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School?
Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 62% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School?
Classes at Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School average 22 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School?
Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School has around 117 pupils on roll. 8% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School?
3.9% of sessions were missed at Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 4.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School?
Apply through East Sussex's coordinated admissions process, naming Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School?
Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School is at Corseley Road, Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 9SF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)