Royal Rise Primary School, Tonbridge

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades Royal Rise Primary School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "In the early years, purposeful interactions between staff and children help to develop children's language and vocabulary securely."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils develop their core skills in reading, writing and mathematics securely through the school."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils' attendance is now in line with national averages."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The curriculum has been thoughtfully shaped to meet the needs of pupils."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Pupils' needs are identified and understood well by staff."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, including those from the trust, know the school well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school provides a well-designed personal development offer that responds effectively to the needs of its pupils, including those who are disadvantaged."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should maintain a sharp focus on the attendance of key groups of pupils, including robust analysis of patterns and trends, to improve their attendance and reduce persistent absence"; "Leaders should ensure that handwriting is taught consistently well across the school so that pupils develop accurate writing skills".

In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at Royal Rise Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 87% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 63% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 18 families put Royal Rise Primary School as their first choice and 67 named it as one of their preferences, for 22 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Royal Rise Primary School are Bishop Chavasse Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 69% reading, 76% maths); Slade Primary School and Attached Unit for Children with Hearing Impairment (0.7 miles, Good, 74% reading, 67% maths); Sussex Road Community Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 92% reading, 94% maths); and Cage Green Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 67% reading, 60% maths).

Royal Rise Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Royal Rise Primary School is one of 8 schools run by Cygnus Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 68% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

55 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Royal Rise Primary School (as of April 2026): 87% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 25% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (87%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (25%).

35.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 27.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (58%), Asian (14%) and Mixed (9%).

In 2026, 31 pupils (15.2%) received SEN support and 2 (1%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Royal Rise Primary School had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Tonbridge Rail Station, about 710 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hectorage Road (e-bound), 80 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 156 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Royal Rise Primary School issued 11 suspensions, 5.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Royal Rise Primary School are Hillview School for Girls (0.2 miles), Weald of Kent Grammar School (0.3 miles), Tonbridge Grammar School (0.4 miles) and The Judd School (0.7 miles).