St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School, Tunbridge Wells
St Barnabas CofE VA 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 November 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 16th-highest of the 23 schools in Tunbridge Wells with published results, and 7,614th of 14,452 across England. It was 97% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Kent (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School in detail
St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "St Barnabas' Primary School, Tunbridge Wells, is a Voluntary Aided Church School, with our ethos and values reflected in strong Christian tradition. As a smaller school we have the privilege of knowing every child really well, from our youngest to the oldest pupil."
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 73% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 76% in reading and 62% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 23 families put St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School as their first choice and 75 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 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 St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School are St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 88% reading, 84% maths); The Wells Free School (0.5 miles, Good, 74% reading, 84% maths); St John's Church of England Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 86% reading, 82% maths); and St Augustine's Catholic Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 67% reading, 74% maths).
St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolThe Wells Free SchoolSt John's Church of England Primary SchoolSt Augustine's Catholic Primary School
Who goes there
38.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (43%), Asian (20%) and Black (11%).
In 2026, 31 pupils (15.4%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Tunbridge Wells Rail Station, about 1160 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St James Road (opposite), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 294 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School are The Skinners' School (0.4 miles), Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School (0.6 miles), Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys (0.9 miles) and St Gregory's Catholic School (0.9 miles).
The Skinners' SchoolTunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar SchoolTunbridge Wells Grammar School for BoysSt Gregory's Catholic School
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; 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from November 2014, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2014 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
32.3%
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 improved from 76% to 80% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 62% to 73% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 66% to 70% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.6
Avg class size
29.5
Infant (KS1)
29.7
KS2
5
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School.
- SJOut570m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School is in Kent; for families living there:
Apply to Kent for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 19
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 16 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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 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
Your chances of a place at St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School
Will you get a place at St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Kent, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Kent 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
97%
Near capacity
203 pupils
210 places
7 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 Kent council
Places available
18,893
Applications
16,593
Got 1st preference
89.7%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All primary applications across Kent council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
31
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
16.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
201
Total Pupils
102
Boys
99
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
18.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,182
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,741
Per pupil
£1351k
Total funding
£100k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.7%
Overall absence
14.9%
Persistent absence
188
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Questions parents ask about St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 80% reached the expected standard in reading and 73% did so in maths.
What is St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School is oversubscribed, Kent allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School?
St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 97% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School?
Classes at St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School average 29.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School?
St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School has around 201 pupils on roll. 32% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School?
5.7% of sessions were missed at St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School in 2024/25. 14.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming St Barnabas CofE VA 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.
Does St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School: SJOut (570m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 16 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 Kent is 11 (the median across 711 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School?
St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School is at Quarry Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2EY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)