Lamberhurst St Mary's CofE (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School

About Lamberhurst St Mary's CofE (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School

Lamberhurst St Mary's CofE Primary School is clearly a popular choice among local families. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 56 applications for just 22 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.55. Of those applications, 19 were first-preference requests, and all 19 were offered places. This level of demand suggests the school has a strong reputation in the Tunbridge Wells area. The school is a Church of England voluntary controlled primary, with Charlotte Vickery-Booth as headteacher, and currently has 207 pupils on roll, just shy of its capacity of 210. Around 9.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is below the national average. The most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in 2023, confirmed the school remains Good, a rating it has held consistently since its previous graded inspection in 2013.

Academically, the school's Key Stage 2 results for 2023/24 paint a mixed picture. The proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined was 61%, which is slightly below the Kent local authority average of 63%. The school ranks 26th out of 31 primary schools in Tunbridge Wells on this measure, placing it in the bottom half locally. However, individual subject results are stronger: 84% of pupils met the expected standard in writing, and 77% in reading. Maths was the weakest area, with 71% at the expected level and an average scaled score of 104. At the higher standard, 35% achieved in reading, 26% in maths, and just 10% across all three subjects. Nationally, the school sits around the 54th percentile, meaning it performs broadly in line with the middle of schools across England.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a sports hall, gymnasium, art studios, a sensory room and a chapel. Sports provision covers athletics, cross country, netball, swimming, tennis and football, while extracurricular clubs include science, gardening, choir, drama, film and chess. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication difficulties. Given its oversubscribed status, families should be prepared to apply early and likely need to live within the catchment area or meet the faith-based admissions criteria. This is a well-regarded village primary that suits families seeking a Church of England school with a strong community feel and a broad range of activities, though those prioritising top-tier academic results may want to look at higher-performing schools in the area.

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