St John's Church of England Primary School, Tunbridge Wells
St John's 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 November 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 9th-highest of the 23 schools in Tunbridge Wells with published results, and 3,885th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2017)
- 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 Kent (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
St John's Church of England Primary School in detail
St John's Church of England Primary School in its own words
Coming up: an open day on Wednesday 11 November 2026 and an open evening on Tuesday 17 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 86% of Year 6 pupils at St John's Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (89% in reading, 80% in maths).
Getting a place at St John's Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 79 families put St John's Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 212 named it as one of their preferences, for 89 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 John's Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St John's Church of England Primary School are St Augustine's Catholic Primary School (0.1 miles, Good, 67% reading, 74% maths); St Matthew's High Brooms Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (0.3 miles, Requires improvement, 71% reading, 63% maths); St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 80% reading, 73% maths); and Skinners' Temple Grove (0.8 miles, Good, 55% reading, 48% maths).
St John's Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
St Augustine's Catholic Primary SchoolSt Matthew's High Brooms Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolSt Barnabas CofE VA Primary SchoolSkinners' Temple Grove
Who goes there
9.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 44 pupils (7%) received SEN support and 12 (1.9%) 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
St John's Church of England Primary School had 40 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is High Brooms Rail Station, about 650 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 210 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.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St John's Church of England Primary School issued 10 suspensions, 1.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St John's Church of England Primary School are Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys (0.3 miles), St Gregory's Catholic School (0.4 miles), Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School (0.5 miles) and The Skinners' School (0.5 miles).
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for BoysSt Gregory's Catholic SchoolTunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar SchoolThe Skinners' 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; 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 agoThis judgement is from November 2017, 8 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 2017 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
9.6%
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 remained stable at around 86% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 82% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 72% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.2
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
30.3
KS2
19
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from St John's Church of England Primary School
Newsletter - Issue 36 2025-26
17 Jul 2026
Newsletter - Issue 35 2025-26
10 Jul 2026
Newsletter - Issue 34 2025-26
3 Jul 2026
Newsletter - Issue 33 2025-26
26 Jun 2026
Newsletter - Issue 32 2025-26
19 Jun 2026
Newsletter - Issue 31 2025-26
12 Jun 2026
From St John's Church of England Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with St John's Church of England Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St John's Church of England Primary School.
- Southeast Kids CampsAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St John's Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St John's Church of England 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
- 22
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 18 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
6 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 John's Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at St John's Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St John's Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St John's Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St John's Church of England 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 John's Church of England 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
101%
Over capacity
631 pupils
630 places
1 pupil over capacity 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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
44
SEN Support
12
EHC Plans
8.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
633
Total Pupils
317
Boys
316
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
40
Teachers
15.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,602
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,045
Per pupil
£3449k
Total funding
£97k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.6%
Overall absence
5.7%
Persistent absence
547
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 John's Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at St John's Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at St John's Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 86% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% did so in maths.
What is St John's Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St John's Church of England Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St John's Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St John's Church of England 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 John's Church of England Primary School?
St John's Church of England Primary School was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at St John's Church of England Primary School?
Classes at St John's Church of England Primary School average 30.2 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St John's Church of England Primary School?
St John's Church of England Primary School has around 633 pupils on roll. 10% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St John's Church of England Primary School?
3.6% of sessions were missed at St John's Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 5.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St John's Church of England Primary School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming St John's 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.
Does St John's Church of England Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Southeast Kids Camps (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 John's Church of England Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 18 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 6 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 John's Church of England Primary School?
St John's Church of England Primary School is at Cunningham Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 9EW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)