SchoolScoresThe Wells Free School
Free school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Part of THE WELLS FREE SCHOOL
King Charles Square, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8FA
01892 739075 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 19 May 2015.
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 | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 5 February 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
100 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 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 4th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 95% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 3rd highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 59% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 96% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 6th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 91% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 42 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 95% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79% | 56% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 77 parents who had raised a concern Joint 4th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 72% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 86% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 23 parents of children with SEND 1st highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 95% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 86% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 5th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94%said yes | 93% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 47%). 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
31 pupils in this year group.
68% — 6 points above the Kent average, and 6 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 68% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 6% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 74% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 71% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 84% | 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. | 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 28 |
| Of those, offered a place | 26 (93%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 84 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 1.1 · 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
| Pupils | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 9th highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 44% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.9% | 27.2%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 46% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.8% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 10th highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 46% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 13.7% | 13.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 90% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 49.5% | 15.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 10th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Lower than 72% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 5.5%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 9th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Lower than 79% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.0% | 14.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 14th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Lower than 44% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 17th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Lower than 29% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 8th highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 61% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.5 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 17th highest of 23 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 42% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.3 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 13th highest of 21 state primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Higher than 39% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 9.7% | 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 Barnabas CofE VA Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- St James' CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Peter's CofE Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Claremont Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bishops Down Primary and Nursery School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Mead School 0.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- St Augustine's Catholic Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John's CofE Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Broadwater Down Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Skinners' Temple Grove 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), some aspects weaker 2025 · 39% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Wells Free School's Ofsted rating?
The Wells Free School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 19 May 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 5 February 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did The Wells Free School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 68% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 6 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend The Wells Free School?
94% of the 100 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The Wells Free School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Wells Free School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 28 families put The Wells Free School as their first choice for 30 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 26 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 139696.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 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.