The Judd School
119%
Capacity
1,499
Pupils
4.4x
Demand
About The Judd School
The Judd School is a boys' secondary in Tonbridge that is significantly oversubscribed, reflecting its strong local reputation. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 782 applications for just 178 places, an oversubscription ratio of 4.39 to one. Of those, 290 families put it as their first preference, and 164 first-preference offers were made. The school currently has 1,499 pupils on roll, well above its stated capacity of 1,261, which suggests it is operating at high demand. Just 2.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, a figure notably lower than the national average and indicative of a relatively affluent intake. The school is a state-funded grammar, though it has no religious character, and the headteacher is Jonathan Wood. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, rated it Outstanding across all four graded categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
Academically, the school's results are exceptionally strong. At Key Stage 4, pupils achieved a Progress 8 score of 0.85, meaning they progress nearly a grade more per subject than the average pupil nationally. This is a huge positive compared to the Kent local authority average of -0.13. The Attainment 8 score sits at 78.5, and 98.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 7.37, and 64.6% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. At A-level, the school's average points per entry is 45.69, equivalent to a grade A-, and 53.6% of A-level entries were graded AAB or higher. The sixth form value-added score is 0.01, which is in line with expectations. Nationally, the school ranks 162nd out of 3,141 schools for Progress 8, placing it in the top 5% of schools in the country.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a sports hall, swimming pool, theatre, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. Clubs and activities are plentiful, with options like Model UN, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, orchestra, and debate. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 95% of respondents would recommend the school, and 97% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy. The school has a range of SEND provisions, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, and speech and language needs, though only 16% of parents responding said their child has SEND. With its selective intake and high academic outcomes, The Judd School is best suited to academically able boys who thrive in a competitive, high-expectation environment. The oversubscription means families need to be prepared for a rigorous admissions process, and the school's location in Tonbridge places it within easy reach of families across west Kent.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Brook Street, Tonbridge, Tonbridge and Malling, TN9 2PN |
| Headteacher | Jonathan Wood |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 1,499 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 2.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,499 / 1,261 (119% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Mar 2025Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 29 Apr 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.85)
162nd of 3,141
Nationally
23rd of 461
In South East
1st of 10
In Tonbridge and Malling
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
45.9
'22/23
44.5
'23/24
45.7
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2395%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 159 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)95%
- FE college1%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Not sustained1%
99% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2379%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 230 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
71%
Russell Group
84%
Top-third HE
10%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)79%
- Employment7%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship3%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics161
- Biology106
- Economics91
- Chemistry83
- Physics83
- History46
- Mathematics (Further)38
- English Literature32
- Government and Politics26
- Computer Studies / Computing25
- Logic / Philosophy23
- Geography22
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
520 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed178
782
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
290 families put this school as their 1st choice (37% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:15
Source: judd.online. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half 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 British54.2%
- Asian18.4%
- Mixed14.1%
- White (other)8.5%
- Black0.1%
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 half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half 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.
8
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
3
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 The Judd School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Brook Street, Tonbridge
Tonbridge and Malling, TN9 2PN
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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