SchoolScoresBishops Down Primary and Nursery School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Rydal Drive, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9SU
01892 520114 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 31 March 2026 , published 17 May 2026.
In short: 2 strong, 5 expected, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
92 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Kent comparisons use the 33 of its 459 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 426 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 4th highest of 33 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent. Higher than 69% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 91% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 5th highest of 33 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent. Higher than 77% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 92% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 3rd highest of 33 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent. Higher than 86% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 86% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 79 parents who had raised a concern Joint 5th highest of 32 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent. Higher than 76% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 81% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 26 parents of children with SEND 13th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent. Higher than 49% of 552 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 72% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 8th highest of 33 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent. Higher than 70% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96%said yes | 90% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 46%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Kent figures pool parents at the Kent schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
30 pupils in this year group.
67% — 5 points above the Kent average, and 5 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 67% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 87% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 70% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 73% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Kent. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 15 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 13 |
| Of those, offered a place | 13 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 46 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.6 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 8 places for physical disability. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 10th highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 39% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.0% | 27.2%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 81% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 16th highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 17% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.5% | 13.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 14th highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 64% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.0% | 15.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 16th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Lower than 55% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 5.5%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 13th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Lower than 70% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 8.5% | 14.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 13th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Lower than 51% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 14th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Lower than 39% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 13th highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 31% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.0 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 19th highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 30% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.6 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 21 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 98% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 45.1% | 14.4%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Rusthall St Paul's CofE Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Wells Free School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2025 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Southborough CofE Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Augustine's Catholic Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Speldhurst CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John's CofE Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mark's CofE Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Mead School 1.3 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Broadwater Down Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Bishops Down Primary and Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Bishops Down Primary and Nursery School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 31 March 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 2 strong, 5 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did Bishops Down Primary and Nursery School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 5 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Bishops Down Primary and Nursery School?
96% of the 92 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Bishops Down Primary and Nursery School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Bishops Down Primary and Nursery School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 13 families put Bishops Down Primary and Nursery School as their first choice for 15 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 13 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 118468.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.