Shipbourne School
98%
Capacity
58
Pupils
21.0x
Demand
About Shipbourne School
Shipbourne School is a small state primary in Kent that punches well above its weight academically. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 86% of its pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — a full 23 percentage points higher than the local authority average of 63%. That places the school third out of 41 primary schools in Tonbridge and Malling, putting it in the top 5% nationally. The school also achieved strong average scaled scores of 107 in maths and 105 in reading, and 14% of pupils reached the higher standard across all three subjects. Given that the school has just 58 pupils and a capacity of 59, these results suggest a focused, high-performing environment where individual attention may play a part.
The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in July 2024, confirmed it remains Good — a significant improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2015, when it was rated Requires Improvement. The leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness were all judged Good. The school’s Progress 8 data is not available, but the strong KS2 outcomes and high ranking within the local authority suggest effective teaching. For a school of this size, the consistency of results is notable, and the absence of a sixth form or nursery provision keeps the focus squarely on the primary years.
Shipbourne offers a range of facilities including an art studio, library, playing fields, outdoor playground, sensory room and even a chapel. Sports provision covers football, cricket, rounders, swimming, dance, tennis and athletics, while clubs include choir, film club, book club, gardening and eco club. The school has identified SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was oversubscribed with 21 applications for just one place, and only one first-preference offer was made. This is a small, high-demand village school that suits families seeking strong academic outcomes in an intimate setting, but securing a place is extremely competitive.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Stumble Hill, Tonbridge, Tonbridge and Malling, TN11 9PB |
| Headteacher | Terri Daters |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 58 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 8.6% |
| School Capacity | 58 / 59 (98% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
9 Jul 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (9 Jul 2024): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 15 May 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (86%)
631st of 13,686
Nationally
85th of 2,034
In South East
3rd of 41
In Tonbridge and Malling
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
86%
Expected Standard
14%
Higher Standard
'22/23
57%
'23/24
86%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed1
21
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
1 families put this school as their 1st choice (5% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British75.9%
- White (other)10.3%
- Mixed10.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Shipbourne School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Stumble Hill, Tonbridge
Tonbridge and Malling, TN11 9PB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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