Tunbridge Wells Primaries

[SweetGrapes]

I am looking to move somewhere for the schools and was looking here - thing is the schools all seem C of E. Any idea how it works if we are NOT CofE? Will ds get a community school miles away?
Also, he's soon to be 6 and already in year 1 so would need space somewhere... is it hopeless or will there be children moving to independants at 7 and anyway we aren't cofe so is there any point even considering it?
Thanks...

There are some good non CofE primaries in Tunbridge Wells . Claremont and Bishops Down are good schools. I do not think you have to be CofE to go to most of the CofE primaries so it would be definitely worth giving them a call to check. St James, St Johns, St Peters all have a good reputation. Woodlands junior school in Southborough is also very good from what I have heard.

From what I have seen there is a quite a bit of movement between private and state at all ages. It is also worth knowing that the class sizes increase to 32 when the children move into the juniors in year 3.

You do need to move as close to your preferred school as possible to maximise your chances on the waiting list.

When they get to secondary school age it is not easy either though there is plenty of time for things to improve if your child is only in year 1.

I really couldn't say this enough- don't move to Tunbridge Wells for the schools!
Claremont, Bishops Down, Broadwater Down and Sherwood (I think) are the only non CofE or Catholic schools in TW. Broadwater Down and Sherwood are not great schools. Claremont and Bishops Down are fantastic schools (although i've heard Claremont is going downhill somewhat) but are impossible to get into. I really do mean that. We live less than 5 mins walk away from Claremont and DS didn't get in. He's on the waiting list for yr1 and last time i checked we're 15th! We had to send him to a CofE school in the end, which is fine, but not really for him.
We're moving to crowborough next month. It has far better schools.