St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School
Quarry Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2EYOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School is a primary school in Tunbridge Wells for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 692 schools in Kent. It ranks 15th of 22 primary schools in Tunbridge Wells. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2014.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 27 November 2014, report published 19 December 2014
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Requires improvement
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 23 January 2024
Pupils are proud to attend this welcoming, safe and inclusive school. They value their caring teachers, who work hard to make learning both interesting and enjoyable. The school values of 'aspiration, love, trust, perseverance, compassion and reconciliation' are well understood by pupils. Everyone has a strong sense of belonging to their school community. As one pupil said, 'Everyone is kind here, and I try to return that kindness.' The school has an ambitious curriculum. It has high expectations of what pupils will learn right from the start of early years. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well. They always try hard to do their best. Pupils enjoy attending a variety of extra-curricular activities such as boxing, cheerleading, drama and basketball. These help to develop pupils' talents and interests well. The school offers a rich set of wider experiences within its curriculum. Trips to theatres, galleries and historical sites help to bring learning to life. Pupils value the many faiths and cultures in their school. They are curious to learn more about each other and about different ways of life. Parents also endorse the school's work and inclusive nature. One parent commented, 'My child has a richness given to her'.
What the school should improve
- The support that the school uses to help the weakest readers to catch up is not as effective as it could be because adults do not focus on the specific gaps in pupils' knowledge. This means that pupils who struggle with reading do not catch up as quickly as they could. The school should ensure that support in phonics is precisely targeted to the sounds that pupils do not know.
- A minority of pupils do not attend school regularly enough. This means that they miss valuable learning and develop gaps in their knowledge. The school should continue to seek out the most effective strategies to ensure that all pupils attend regularly.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
30 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
201 pupils on roll, with places for 210
Schools near St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 72% met the expected standard |
| The Wells Free School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 68% met the expected standard |
| St John's Church of England Primary School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 70% met the expected standard |
| St Augustine's Catholic Primary School | 0.7 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 56% met the expected standard |
| St Peter's Church of England Primary School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | 70% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Moira Duncombe
- Phone
- 01892522958
- Address
- Quarry Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2EY
- Local authority
- Kent
- URN
- 118724
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.