Woodlands Primary School, Tonbridge
Woodlands Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Tonbridge. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 7th-highest of the 22 schools in Tonbridge with published results, and 4,096th of 14,452 across England. It was 90% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- 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 26 Oct 2026
Woodlands Primary School in detail
Woodlands Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "Our core values are important to us and are developed through everyday conversations, as well as explicit teaching."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include karate, judo and dance.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at Woodlands Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 85% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 80% in reading and 75% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Woodlands Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 50 families put Woodlands Primary School as their first choice and 102 named it as one of their preferences, for 55 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 Woodlands Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Woodlands Primary School are Cage Green Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 67% reading, 60% maths); Long Mead Community Primary School (1 mile, Good, 68% reading, 63% maths); St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary School (1 mile, Good, 92% reading, 90% maths); and Slade Primary School and Attached Unit for Children with Hearing Impairment (1.5 miles, Good, 74% reading, 67% maths).
Woodlands Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Cage Green Primary SchoolLong Mead Community Primary SchoolSt Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary SchoolSlade Primary School and Attached Unit for Children with Hearing Impairment
What parents say
206 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Woodlands Primary School (as of September 2025): 87% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 59% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (59%).
Who goes there
9.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (83%) and Mixed (5%).
In 2026, 70 pupils (13%) received SEN support and 9 (1.7%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Tonbridge Rail Station, about 1.9 miles away in a straight line.
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Turner Road (opposite), 140 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Woodlands Primary School issued 47 suspensions, 8.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Woodlands Primary School are Leigh Academy Hugh Christie (0.5 miles) and Hadlow Rural Community School (1.6 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from June 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a happy, caring school where your child will be known well by staff who are ambitious for their success. The school excels at teaching reading and has invested in a fantastic library that children love. With strong pastoral support, focus on building resilience, and lots of leadership opportunities, your child will develop both academically and as a confident, well-rounded person.
Key Strengths
- Strong emphasis on reading with a well-stocked library and systematic phonics teaching that helps most pupils become fluent readers
- Well-designed curriculum with high expectations for all pupils, including those with SEND, delivered by staff with strong subject knowledge
- Positive pupil behaviour and attitudes to learning, with effective pastoral support for those who need it
- Rich personal development curriculum covering healthy relationships, online safety, and cultural diversity
- Leadership opportunities including eco council, school council, house captains, and playtime buddies
Areas for Improvement
- Early writing skills not sufficiently developed - pupils in Key Stage 1 and lower Key Stage 2 need more practice with sounds from phonics and teachers should correct spelling and handwriting errors
- Persistent absence remains too high, particularly among disadvantaged pupils, despite some improvements to overall attendance rates
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports competitions, eco council, school library activities, school council, house captains, playtime buddies
Woodlands Primary School places great importance on pupils' enjoyment and happiness with warm, caring relationships between staff and pupils. The school has maintained good standards and pupils feel safe, supported, and encouraged to be respectful, responsible, and resilient.
At a Glance
25.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
206 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 82% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 75% to 85% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 82% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.3
Avg class size
26.8
Infant (KS1)
29.0
KS2
15
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Woodlands Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Woodlands Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Woodlands 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
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Woodlands Primary School
Will you get a place at Woodlands Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Woodlands Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Woodlands Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Woodlands 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 Woodlands Primary School for 2017 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
90%
Near capacity
564 pupils
630 places
66 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Tonbridge
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Tonbridge
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(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
70
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
14.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
540
Total Pupils
281
Boys
259
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
31
Teachers
17.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,172
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,053
Per pupil
£3114k
Total funding
£200k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.1%
Overall absence
13.7%
Persistent absence
531
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
Woodlands Primary School
Questions parents ask about Woodlands Primary School
What are SATs results like at Woodlands Primary School?
Of the pupils at Woodlands Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 82% reached the expected standard in reading and 85% did so in maths.
What is Woodlands Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Woodlands Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Woodlands Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Woodlands 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 Woodlands Primary School?
Woodlands Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 90% of its 630 places.
How big are the classes at Woodlands Primary School?
Classes at Woodlands Primary School average 28.3 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 Woodlands Primary School?
Woodlands Primary School has around 540 pupils on roll. 25% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Woodlands Primary School?
5.1% of sessions were missed at Woodlands Primary School in 2024/25. 13.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Woodlands Primary School?
Apply through Kent's coordinated admissions process, naming Woodlands 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.
How many road collisions happen near Woodlands Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Woodlands Primary School?
Woodlands Primary School is at Higham School Lane, Hunt Road, Tonbridge, Kent, TN10 4BB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)