Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School

Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School has transitioned from an outstanding rating in its previous inspection to a good rating in the latest assessment, which is its first routine inspection in over 14 years. The school demonstrates a strong commitment to high educational standards, with leaders focused on improving the curriculum and fostering an inclusive environment where pupils thrive. Staff and leaders maintain positive relationships with pupils that contribute to high levels of respect, safety, and motivation among students. Despite these strengths, there are areas identified for improvement, particularly in the sequencing of knowledge across a few subjects, which needs further development.

Strengths

• Strong leadership with clear direction from the new headteacher.
• High levels of pupil happiness and pride in school values.
• Effective teaching of early reading that promotes a love of reading.
• Strong relationships between pupils and staff fostering a nurturing environment.
• Inclusive school culture that benefits all pupils, including those with SEND.
• Commitment to staff well-being and workload management.
• Good progress in the core subjects of mathematics, reading, and writing.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent curriculum sequencing in some subjects, affecting knowledge retention.
• Some teachers lack the confidence and knowledge needed for lower-performing subjects.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School attended 96.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 4.2% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.8% of pupils at Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School had 19.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 18.8% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 14.5% of pupils at Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School received £6,781 and spent £6,555 for each of its 132 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £83,000 (£631 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Tunbridge Wells · East Sussex local authority: places and applications

What is Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School is Good, from an inspection in June 2023.

When was Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School was last inspected in June 2023.

How many pupils does Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School have?

Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School has 117 pupils on roll.

What age range does Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School cover?

Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 74% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School?

Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School is at Corseley Road, Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 9SF.