The Skinners' School

Grammar school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Boys only · Sixth form

Part of SKINNERS' ACADEMIES TRUST

St John's Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9PG

01892 520732 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card6 strong, 1 expectedSafeguarding met · 27 January 2026
Grade 5 or above in English and maths93%England 45% · 2024/25
2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 97% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,149Room for 945 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,068 in 2019, 1,114 in 2021, 1,114 in 2022, 1,118 in 2023, 1,118 in 2024, 1,141 in 2025, 1,149 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.4232 for 160 places, September 2026
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 92% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 27 January 2026 , published 23 March 2026.

In short: 6 strong, 1 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.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than 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. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Post-16 provisionSixth form or other study after 16. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

603 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

Kent comparisons use the 11 of its 104 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 93 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.

StatementThis schoolKentEngland
My child is happy at this school
1st highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent.
Higher than 96% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
98% 83% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
1st highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent.
Higher than 95% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
99% 87% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
1st highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent.
Higher than 98% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
98% 80% 78%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 56 parents whose child had been bullied
1st highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent.
Higher than 99% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
84% 51% 43%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 442 parents who had raised a concern
1st highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent.
Higher than 99% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
95% 75% 74%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 75 parents of children with SEND
1st highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent.
Higher than 92% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
87% 61% 63%
I would recommend this school to another parent
1st highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Kent.
Higher than 94% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
99%said yes 84% 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 53%). 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.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

167 pupils in this year group.

93% — 46 points above the Kent average, and 48 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 93% 47% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 70.8 46.7 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 6.8 4.2 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 97%This school 2023/24: 99%This school 2024/25: 93% This school England 45% 2022/23 97% 2023/24 99% 2024/25 93%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

161 pupils in this year group.

99% — 6 points above the Kent average, and 7 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 98%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 99% 93% 92%
School sixth form 98% 56% 34%
Sixth form college 0% – 13%
Further education college 0% 28% 37%
Apprenticeship 0% 3% 3%
Work 0% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
99%99%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

158 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Average A level grade B+ C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 46% 26% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 74% 53% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 42.7 34.9 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 45 50 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 43.2This school 2023/24: 46.0This school 2024/25: 42.7 This school England 35 2022/23 43.2 2023/24 46.0 2024/25 42.7

A level subjects, 2024/25

23 subjects, 511 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Mathematics 86 34% 69% 40%
Economics 53 13% 42% 26%
Physics 46 33% 54% 31%
Chemistry 41 24% 51% 30%
History 29 14% 34% 23%
Mathematics (Further) 29 41% 69% 59%
Biology 27 15% 33% 27%
Geography 26 4% 23% 23%
Government and Politics 24 21% 58% 26%
Logic / Philosophy 24 4% 25% 19%
English Literature 23 9% 30% 23%
Business Studies:Single 21 5% 14% 16%
Design and Technology (Product Design) 13 8% 15% 15%
Computer Studies / Computing 12 8% 17% 24%
German 9 11% 33% 42%
Psychology 9 0% 0% 19%
Classical Civilisation 8 0% 38% 23%
Drama and Theatre Studies 8 13% 50% 19%
French 8 25% 63% 38%
Art and Design 7 71% 100% 34%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Music, Russian, Spanish.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

156 students in this year group.

92% — 12 points above the Kent average, and 13 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 92% 80% 79%
Apprenticeship 1% 6% 7%
Work 13% 30% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
91%92%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

160 students in this year group.

86% — 28 points above the Kent average, and 26 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 86% 58% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 68% 20% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
94%86%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered160
Families who put it first232
Of those, offered a place105 (45%)
Families who listed it at all887

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.5 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.4

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 grammar school: places depend on passing an entrance test (the 11 plus), usually taken in September of Year 6.

Admissions dates and schools in Kent

Pupils, staff and SEND

Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 2 places for visual impairment; Autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolKentEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
5th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 3% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.8% 25.1%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 0% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
0.1% 2.8%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 33% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
11.6% 11.5%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 64% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
18.3% 12.7%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
1st lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Lower than 100% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
3.4% 8.0%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
1st lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Lower than 99% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
5.1% 22.9%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
1st lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Lower than 96% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
1.1 13.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
1st lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Lower than 95% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
1.1% 6.0% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.03% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 71% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.8 16.9 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 89% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
14.0 12.0 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells.
Higher than 24% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
9.3% 13.6%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary 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 secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is The Skinners' School's Ofsted rating?

The Skinners' School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 27 January 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 strong, 1 expected, and safeguarding was met.

How did The Skinners' School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 93% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 48 points above the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend The Skinners' School?

99% of the 603 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend The Skinners' School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is The Skinners' School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 232 families put The Skinners' School as their first choice for 160 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 105 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.