Tunbridge Wells primaries

[Osakagirl]

Hello,
We have just moved to Tunbridge Wells and are applying for in year admissions for our children in year 3 and year 6. Although the closest primary is Claremont, there is no space in the school, or St Peter's which is also close by.

There seem to be places at Broadwater Down, St Matthew's High Brooms, and places for one of them (but not both) at St Augustine's and Temple Grove. All will be at least a ten minute drive away, or possibly a cycle ride if the weather is ok.

I spoke to one Mum who lives down there who was slightly dismissive of Broadwater Down and St Matthew's, implying that they were a bit rough round the edges, although my kids are transfering from an inner London primary which has its fair share of issues so I'm not sure whether it would be much different.

I wondered whether people have any feedback about these schools? My children are fairly academic - the older one is in year 6 and has passed the Kent test, and the younger one is working at greater depth in most areas.

Any feedback would be very helpful.

I'm following the thread as I went to Broadwater Down, although that was in 1976 so of no use to the OP.

year 6 in year is going to be tricky

i don’t see a space being forthcoming

have you applied for the grammar schools for next year? deadline was end of october

Yes, we have our application in already and have switched our address to Kent.

i think your first focus is to ring around and find out where you’d be in the wait lists of the schools and go from them. Your children are presumably not attending school atm? are you home educating?

They are still at their old school til the end of term, and we will move them over at the start of next term. My current game plan is to try to get them into the best feasible option, but keep the younger one on the waitlists of the closer schools in case a place comes up later on. There are a couple of options, but I'd love to get some feedback on the above schools so that I can try to make a decision. For instance, the younger one could get a place at St Augustine's but not the older one, so I'd like to understand whether it is a significantly better school than St Matthew's which would be a far easier option logistically.

they’re old school in lewisham?

are they commuting their from TW?

their

op

i have to be honest - there’s not going to be much of a decision. TW primaries are heavily oversubscribed and in year place are gold dust

Groombridge school! It’s fab - a proper village school with really high standards and a ten minute drive on country roads. It is just over the boarder in East Sussex but most of the kids take the Kent test and pass it. Because it is a village school it hadn’t got the pressure on numbers that the schools in town have so you may well get a place.

my boys are there and I can’t praise it enough

I don't know St Matthews but High Brooms is certainly rough around the edges. In your shoes I would go for Broadwater Down which is supposed to have a good head and teaching staff. Then get on the waiting list for Claremont, St Peter's, St James and the Wells for your youngest. The Broadwater area is supposed to be having a regeneration but it hasn't started yet so who knows how long that would be. Have they any spaces at St Marks? Bit further out but possibly better than your other options.

To add to @Koala3d there are lots of great schools outside of town - Speldhurst, Groombridge, Langton Green etc

Hi - I'm a similar position, although we haven't found anywhere to live yet. Clearly, we have to move very close to the school. I need place for year 1 and year 3.
My question is: How close would you need to be to secure an in-year place at Claremont? Is it totally hopeless unless you are living in the school playground?!
The school isn't able to give much clarity on this, understandably.
I'm trying to work out if it's worth the risk (and expense) to move very close to Claremont or to choose a different school and move closer to that....
Any help really gratefully received! Thank you

I think it's really hard to say as an in-year place in an over-subscribed school is reliant on someone leaving AND you being top of the criteria list. So if someone lived in the same street but had a sibling at the school they would get priority. Most of the schools in TW are oversubscribed so your chance at Claremont is as good as any. Although St James is larger with 3 form entry so maybe easier there. The Claremont catchment is a lovely area to live but unless you have huge budget you may have to compromise on smaller garden etc. But it's a great location, close to town, parks, station etc. The catchment is pretty small and taken from the back entrance of the school so Farmcombe rd (end closest to the school) is a good bet. Good luck!

Just to say that my kids were both offered places at one of the faith schools and have settled well there. But since then, we've been offered places for both kids at Southborough primary and my year 3 son has been offered a place at Claremont. We're going to keep them at the school they're at, but it seems to be the luck of the draw.

thanks so much for your super helpful replies!
how close are you living to Claremont to have been offered a place?

Would also love to hear people’s experience of St James’ primary school! Thanks

Also, sorry, if we were to get places at a school in town but then moved outside (which is what we want to do long term) would it be a nightmare to drive the kids in to TW to school? I’ve heard the traffic can be really bad coming in at rush hour…………

Less than half a mile

If you want to live out of town why don't you look at Langton Green? The school there is fantastic - on par if not better than Claremont. The catchment is much bigger so you could be in Langton Green or one of the lovely surrounding villages. Less competitive to get into a village school so you could also look at Speldhurst, Groombridge or Fordecombe. Then you also wouldn't have to drive into town (although might want to consider how your kids would get to secondary school).

Thank you @stillthinking22 ! I was literally just looking at Langton Green!
It hasn't been inspected for a while and not since the current head joined. Is it still a great school with happy kids? On another thread someone said it had gone 'done downhill' but of course that's just one person's opinion.....
And how bad is driving in to TW from outside at rush hour really? I've heard it's horrendous.
Mmmm..... I'm not sure how my current year 5 kid will get to secondary. Bus or train?

We have just applied and put Langton as first choice. We also looked at Claremont, st Marks and The Wells. We liked them all but I don't want a CofE school so St Marks is out. Langton was our favourite and also more likely to get in there but I think you probably need to go and look at it to decide for yourself. At the moment we drove to nursery north of the station from the south side of town, it's ok - sometimes bad. We know people who drive to Langton from our area and say it's fine. HTH!

@stillthinking22 this is so helpful thanks. Are you doing in-year entry? It's so hard to say how close we would need to be to Langton Green to get places in y1 and 3....

No, applying for reception. You could try calling Langton to see if they have spaces? Have you seen any houses you like?