Sussex Road Community Primary School, Tonbridge

Ofsted's report card from its 31 March 2026 inspection grades Sussex Road Community Primary School on 7 areas: 5 strong standard and 2 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Leaders ensure that pupils achieve highly across all year groups and key stages."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have a secure and accurate understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching."

Early years - Strong standard. "Children flourish joyfully in early years."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have established a strong culture of inclusion, underpinned by precise identification and assessment of pupils' needs."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have established a well-sequenced and highly effective personal development programme that supports pupils' emotional and wider development across all year groups."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Attendance for most pupils is above the national average."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and areas for improvement."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders and governors should strengthen their work to improve attendance for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who are disadvantaged".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Sussex Road Primary School is a large, two-form entry school in South Tonbridge. We strive to ensure all children excel in our highly inclusive environment."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, hockey, basketball, multi-sports, dance, drama, choir, Lego, cooking and art.

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:40am and after-school care.

Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 3 November 2026, an open day on Tuesday 10 November 2026, an open day on Tuesday 17 November 2026 and an open day on Tuesday 24 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 92% of Year 6 pupils at Sussex Road Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 94% 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 (92% in reading, 97% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 74 families put Sussex Road Community Primary School as their first choice and 158 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 19 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Sussex Road Community Primary School are Slade Primary School and Attached Unit for Children with Hearing Impairment (0.7 miles, Good, 74% reading, 67% maths); Royal Rise Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 80% reading, 87% maths); Bishop Chavasse Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 69% reading, 76% maths); and Stocks Green Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 66% reading, 69% maths).

Sussex Road Community Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

217 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Sussex Road Community Primary School (as of April 2026): 94% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 61% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (95%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (61%).

8.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 51 pupils (12.1%) received SEN support and 5 (1.2%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Tonbridge Rail Station, about 510 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Leigh Academy Tonbridge (outside), 320 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Sussex Road Community Primary School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Sussex Road Community Primary School issued 12 suspensions, 2.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Sussex Road Community Primary School are The Judd School (0.1 miles), Leigh Academy Tonbridge (0.2 miles), Tonbridge Grammar School (0.6 miles) and Weald of Kent Grammar School (0.9 miles).