The Mead School, Tunbridge Wells
The Mead School is an independent school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Tunbridge Wells. It has a Christian religious character. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in January 2026.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
The Mead School in detail
The Mead School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "The Mead School is academically ambitious, nurturing and happy prep school in Tunbridge Wells in Kent and a key part of the community of this beautiful town. We are a proudly academic school. Our pupils are ambitious, our teaching is rigorous, and our result allow consistent success at entrance exams for both grammar and leading independent senior schools."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to The Mead School are Rose Hill School (1.3 miles); Beechwood School (1.5 miles); Holmewood House School (1.9 miles); and Kent College Pembury (4 miles, selective).
Rose Hill SchoolBeechwood SchoolHolmewood House SchoolKent College Pembury
Who goes there
In 2026, 14 pupils (6.9%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Tunbridge Wells West (Spa Valley Railway), about 380 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Montacute Road (adjacent), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Mead School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 217 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: 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
6 January 2026
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
28 February 2023
Regulatory Compliance
2 May 2018
Integrated
17 June 2014
Fees for 2026/27
Day fees, per year
£16,020 to £17,985
depending on year group
| Reception-Year 2 | £16,020 a year |
| Years 3-6 | £17,985 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
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby schools
Latest from The Mead School
U11A Footballers Reach ISA National Finals for Second Consecutive Year
29 Sep 2026
The Mead Named National Finalist for Excellence in Performing Arts
22 Sep 2026
The Mead School: Benefits of being the school of Tunbridge Wells
17 Sep 2026
How our children are supported through the Kent Test and ISEB
14 Sep 2026
It’s All Happening at The Mead This Autumn!
3 Sep 2026
The Sound of Music - A Spectacular End to the School Year
9 Jul 2026
From The Mead School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with The Mead School
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 26
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 23 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
3 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
81%
Available places
203 pupils
250 places
47 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
14
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
6.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
203
Total Pupils
102
Boys
101
Girls
2026 academic year
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Questions parents ask about The Mead School
When was The Mead School last inspected?
The Mead School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in January 2026.
How many pupils go to The Mead School?
The Mead School has around 203 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to The Mead School?
The Mead School 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 The Mead School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 23 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 3 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 The Mead School?
The Mead School is at 16 Frant Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5SN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)