Kent College Pembury, Tunbridge Wells
Kent College Pembury is an independent school for pupils aged 2 to 20 in Tunbridge Wells. It has a Methodist religious character. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in April 2026.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Kent College Pembury in detail
Kent College Pembury in its own words
In its own words: "Kent College Pembury was founded in 1886 and was originally based at Folkestone. September 1938 brought the Munich Crisis and with it the need to relocate. The decision was made to move the school from Folkestone to Pembury in 1939 due to WW2 as conditions would be difficult due to the school’s location in a channel port."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Kent College Pembury can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Kent College Pembury are Somerhill (1.9 miles); Beechwood School (2.5 miles); Tonbridge School (3.3 miles); and Hilden Grange School (3.6 miles, selective).
SomerhillBeechwood SchoolTonbridge SchoolHilden Grange School
Where pupils go next
Of the 39 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 69% went on to university or other higher education and 10% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 185 pupils (52.6%) received SEN support and 6 (1.7%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is High Brooms Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 7 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
28 April 2026
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
20 June 2023
Regulatory Compliance
30 January 2019
Integrated
1 December 2015
Fees for 2026/27
Day fees, per year
£14,643 to £33,621
depending on year group
Boarding fees, per year
£54,549
| Day Pupil Reception | £14,643 a year |
| Day Pupil Years 1-2 | £18,444 a year |
| Day Pupil Years 3-6 | £22,791 a year |
| Day Student Years 7-13 | £33,621 a year |
| Full Boarder | £54,549 a year |
Including VAT. From the school's own fee schedule; check with the school before you rely on it.
Private school fees in Tunbridge Wells - 4 schools' published fees side by side
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Kent College Pembury can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 1 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby all-through school
Keep up with Kent College Pembury
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Kent is 11 (the median across 711 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
52%
Available places
352 pupils
678 places
326 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Tunbridge Wells
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Tunbridge Wells
Across Kent council
Places available
19,539
Applications
18,644
Got 1st preference
78.9%
Got preferred school
96.2%
All secondary applications across Kent council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
185
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
54.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
352
Total Pupils
26
Boys
326
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Kent College Pembury
Questions parents ask about Kent College Pembury
What are GCSE results like at Kent College Pembury?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Kent College Pembury can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Kent College Pembury last inspected?
Kent College Pembury is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in April 2026.
How many pupils go to Kent College Pembury?
Kent College Pembury has around 352 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Kent College Pembury?
Kent College Pembury is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Kent College Pembury?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Kent is 11 (the median across 711 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Kent College Pembury?
Kent College Pembury is at Old Church Road, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4AX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)