SchoolScoresSt Matthew's High Brooms CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Powder Mill Lane, High Brooms, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9DY
01892 528098 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 26 March 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
45 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Tunbridge Wells comparisons use the 11 of its 23 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 12 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 | Tunbridge Wells | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 11th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 95% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 10th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 10% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 96% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 10th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 7% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69% | 91% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 18 parents whose child had been bullied 7th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 36% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 50% | 56% | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 38 parents who had raised a concern 10th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 10% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63% | 86% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 10th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 7% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67%said yes | 93% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Tunbridge Wells figures pool parents at the Tunbridge Wells 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
59 pupils in this year group.
59% — 3 points below the Kent average, and 3 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 59% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 8% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 71% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 73% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 63% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 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 | 22 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 19 |
| Of those, offered a place | 19 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 54 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 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.
This is a Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 89% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 49.0% | 27.2%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 5th highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 50% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.0% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 11th highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 42% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 13.2% | 13.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 9th highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 69% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.3% | 15.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 20th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Lower than 11% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.9% | 5.5%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 19th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Lower than 12% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 20.7% | 14.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 19th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Lower than 27% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 18th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Lower than 27% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 15th highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 30% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.9 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 20th highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 28% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.5 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 19th highest of 21 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 32% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 8.1% | 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.
Nearby primary schools
- St John's CofE Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Augustine's Catholic Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Southborough CofE Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Skinners' Temple Grove 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), some aspects weaker 2025 · 39% met expected standard (KS2)
- Skinners' Kent Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Wells Free School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2025 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- St James' CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bishops Down Primary and Nursery School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Peter's CofE Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Matthew's High Brooms CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Matthew's High Brooms CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 26 March 2024.
How did St Matthew's High Brooms CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 59% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 3 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Matthew's High Brooms CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
67% of the 45 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend St Matthew's High Brooms CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Matthew's High Brooms CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 19 families put St Matthew's High Brooms CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice for 22 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 19 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 118709.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
- 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.