Which Primary Schools are the Best in Tunbridge Wells?

[ginajacques]

I'm really worried, my son is 4 due to start Primary school in September, we have him in the best school on the Wirral but my husband's moved to Kent for work so we have to follow. We'll be living in Tunbridge Wells but have no idea which catchment area to move to. It took me a while to sus out the best school in the area I've lived in my whole life, talking to other mums, I don't think ofstead reports are as good as parent recommendations.

I'm looking for a school with good behaviour, discipline and results. Hope someone can advise!

Sounds like you have a bit more thinking to do about where is best to live then. Once you have that sorted then sorting out schools will be easier. The village is a lovely part of Tunbridge Wells but like all areas has its downside (upside - lovely houses, lovely park, quick and easy walk to town, excellent school; downside - very little off street parking, need a permit to park, small narrow roads, expensive housing, hard to get into Claremont)

Hello! You were quite informative for me bk in march, my husband has decided he wants to live in TW, we have to find a house and school in 2wks, St Marks seems to be available what do you know about it as a local and mother??? I can't seem to get any responses about it. Your response would be greatly appreciated! Many Thanks!

St Marks seems to be the school that children were allocated if their applications to more popular schools were unsuccessful.

I have no idea if it's any good beyond what you can read on the Ofsted website. Suffice to say that there will be plenty of middle-class families there who didn't live quite close enough to their first choice schools, and can't afford to go private.

As one estate agent pointed out there aren't really any genuinely poor schools in TW, it's just that parents get very keen on some specific schools.

In year admissions are allocated solely on distance so you could always move to be on the doorstep of a school you prefer and then wait for a family to move out of the area.

Hello! I'm a newbie and this post popped up in google! My niece attends St Marks school in Tun Wells! It's an awful school. Shes a bright girl, but due to the poor teaching she's lost all interest in school! I grew up just outside tun wells, the town itself isn't the best. (I avoid it like the plague) surrounding village schools like Groombridge and Pembury are good! But difficult to get into. My best friend attended st Augustine's school (she was catholic) and they use to have a free bus that would pick the children up from the surrounding areas (not sure if they still do that)

We now live in Thanet! It's a beautiful place but again school places are difficult to get hold of! One school here has a waiting list of 31 for reception class and most of them are siblings! Villages outside canterbury are nice such as state and upstreet.. Also places outside Ashford such as Mersham, westwell, tenterden and bethersden are nice! We live in a little farming hamlet now which doesn't have a school so we have to drive 3 miles each way to school! Growing up in Tunbridge wells and listening to people I know who still live there and the issues they have! I personally would not move into the town, but live on the outskirts :) xx

We are living in the north of the England right now and planning to move to down south probably Kent area or Kingston Upon Thames area. Which area is better for the Primary, secondary and Grammar schools? My DD will start schooling next year.

Hi GirlInRed

By chance I know both these areas! Both are lovely. Kingston is more expensive but has amazing shopping and Richmond Park etc. TW is also expensive but perhaps slightly easier to get a property. It has smaller parks but they are also beautiful.

For primaries in Kingston you need to be in north Kingston. Fernhill, Latchmere, Alexandra, St Pauls, all outstanding schools and as long as you're in that area you'll almost certainly get one. I'd say TW is harder to get a primary place, as mentioned up thread the schools are often smaller with very tight catchments eg Claremont.

For secondary TW has one girls grammar school with a good sized catchment and an 11 plus exam. Kingston has Tiffin Girls Grammar school which has better results than TWIGGS but is much harder to get into - there is no set catchment area it's done purely on 11 plus scores so you've got masses of entries from Surrey and London. However Coombe Girls school is the non selective girls state school in Kingston and has an excellent reputation or there's Grey Court for mixed.

On balance I'd choose Kingston as I think you've got a better chance of a primary place - just choose a property in KT2 near the afore mentioned cluster of outstanding schools (Fernhill takes 90 and Latchmere 120!)

Thanks HoumousExpress, for such a detail explanation. Sorry for delay in reply, I was on my holidays. As you said that Tiffin is the only Grammar School near Kingston area, making me think about the Kingston twice.
On other hand Kingston is very convenient for us to travel to London for work. I am still considering both the areas, will certainly revert once I decide.