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St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

Tunbridge Wells, TN2 3PRPrimary School·Ages 4-11
Goodby Ofsted

100%

Capacity

632

Pupils

2.7x

Demand

About St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is a state-funded Church of England primary school serving the Tunbridge Wells community, welcoming children from age 4 to 11. The school has 632 pupils on roll and is near full capacity (100% of 630 places).

Ofsted has rated St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School "Good", the school is led by headteacher John Tutt, it falls under Kent local authority.

In terms of academic performance, 72% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths at KS2 — above the national average. Additionally, ranked 3587th out of 13,686 schools in England. Additionally, 12th out of 31 in Tunbridge Wells.

St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is a popular choice with families — it received 239 applications for 90 places, making it 2.7x oversubscribed. Of these, 105 were first-preference applications.

For children with special educational needs, the school offers support across 6 areas, including Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia), Social, Emotional & Mental Health, Speech, Language & Communication and 3 more. Parents should contact the school's SENCO for specific details about provision.

On-site facilities at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School include Outdoor Playground, Forest School, Art Studios, ICT Suite, Dining Hall, Sports Hall, Gymnasium, Sensory Room, Chapel.

Beyond the classroom, pupils can take part in sports such as Swimming, Cricket, Athletics, Cross Country and 2 more, as well as clubs including Eco Club, Gardening, Film Club, Book Club.

The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 9.8%, which is well below the national average for primary schools in England.

For families exploring primary schools in Tunbridge Wells, St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is one of the options available in the South East region. Use Classpot to compare it side-by-side with nearby alternatives and find the best fit for your child.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressSandrock Road, Tunbridge Wells, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 3PR
HeadteacherJohn Tutt
Local AuthorityKent
Number of Pupils632
Free School Meals (FSM)9.8%
School Capacity632 / 630 (100% full)

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

5 Mar 2024
View Report

Overall Effectiveness

Good

Declined
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Additional Provisions

Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 24 Apr 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

League Table Position

Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (72%)

3587th of 13,686

Nationally

Top 50%

484th of 2,034

In South East

Top 25%

12th of 31

In Tunbridge Wells

Top 50%

Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data

KS2 SATs Results

2023/24

Reading, Writing & Maths Combined

72%

Expected Standard

12%

Higher Standard

ReadingAvg Score: 109
Expected:90%
Higher:47%
Writing
Expected:90%
Higher:19%
MathsAvg Score: 106
Expected:82%
Higher:24%
RWM Expected Standard % over timeStable -3%

'22/23

75%

'23/24

72%

Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

Facilities

9
Outdoor PlaygroundForest SchoolArt StudiosICT SuiteDining HallSports HallGymnasiumSensory RoomChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

SwimmingCricketAthleticsCross CountryRoundersFootball

Clubs & Activities

Eco ClubGardeningFilm ClubBook Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

Admissions

2025/26Oversubscribed
Places

90

Applications

239

Good Demand

Popular school with more applications than places

Applications to places ratio2.7x
0x1x2x3x5x+

105 families put this school as their 1st choice (44% of all applications)

Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.

Frequently Asked Questions About St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.

Contact Information

01892523006st-james.kent.sch.uk

Sandrock Road, Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells, TN2 3PR

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Sandrock Road, Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells, TN2 3PR

Journey to School

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Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.

Opening Hours

Monday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Tuesday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Wednesday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Thursday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Friday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed

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