Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #42 in East Sussex public Top 24% UK

Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMs Caroline Powell

location_onTunbridge Wells, TN3 9SF

language Visit Website phone 1892864305

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

178

school

Expected Standard

74%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Tunbridge Wells, serving ages 4-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 24% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School is a voluntary aided school in Tunbridge Wells, East Sussex, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 132 pupils on roll, of whom 5% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 74% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 11% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #42 of 129 primaries in East Sussex and #6,241 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.0:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.4 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

74%

LA 58%

Reading84% LA 72%

Writing79% LA 69%

Maths79% LA 68%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

75%

LA 56%England 61%

Reading90% LA 71% · Eng 74%

Writing80% LA 69% · Eng 72%

Maths85% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

63%

LA 55%England 60%

Reading91% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing72% LA 68% · Eng 71%

Maths75% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.8

Read

LA -0.9

-1.4 to 3.1

-2.4

Write

LA -1.5

-4.6 to -0.2

-1.9

Maths

LA -2.0

-4.0 to 0.3

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

78%

LA 63%England 65%

Reading85% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing78% LA 78% · Eng 78%

Maths85% LA 74% · Eng 79%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.4

Read

LA -0.4

-0.9 to 3.8

-1.8

Write

LA -0.7

-4.0 to 0.3

-0.3

Maths

LA -1.2

-2.3 to 1.8

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

93%

LA 65%

Reading100% LA 77%

Writing93% LA 79%

Maths100% LA 74%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

111

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.5

Read

LA 0.5

1.3 to 5.7

1.8

Write

LA -0.3

-0.3 to 3.9

4.8

Maths

LA -0.4

2.8 to 6.8

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

25 April 2023

Inspection Report

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20 February 2018

Inspection Report

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19 May 2009

Inspection Report

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24 May 2006

Inspection Report

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30 October 2000

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-04-25

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2018-02-20

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2009-05-19

S8 Deemed S5 Pilot Inspection (08-09) Historic Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2006-05-24

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 132 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	132	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	132	1	0.8%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	146	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	146	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	149	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	178	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	178	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	175	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	183	1	0.5%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	187	4	2.1%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	182	2	1.1%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	199	2	1.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	204	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	200	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	203	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	203	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	199	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	200	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	201	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	193	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	206	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	207	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	205	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	203	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	205	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	204	0	0.0%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 8 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 2 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

91.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

94.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

12.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree56%

agree34%

disagree5%

strongly disagree1%

don't know4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree48%

agree38%

disagree12%

strongly disagree2%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree48%

agree15%

disagree9%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

not applicable23%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes20%

no80%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree42%

agree31%

disagree8%

strongly disagree15%

dont know4%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree47%

agree40%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know7%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree65%

agree24%

disagree7%

strongly disagree1%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree56%

agree33%

disagree8%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree59%

agree30%

disagree7%

don't know4%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree62%

agree32%

disagree5%

strongly disagree1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree54%

agree30%

disagree10%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes88%

no12%

Top Primary Schools in East Sussex

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Breakwater Academy

Good

location_on Newhaven, BN9 9UT

emoji_events #1 in LA

Sandown Primary School and Nursery

Good

location_on Hastings, TN34 2AA

emoji_events #2 in LA

Ark Blacklands Primary Academy

Outstanding

location_on Hastings, TN34 2HU

emoji_events #3 in LA

Pevensey and Westham CofE Primary School

Requires improvement

location_on Pevensey, BN24 5LP

emoji_events #4 in LA

Peacehaven Heights Academy

Requires improvement

location_on Peacehaven, BN10 7QY

emoji_events #5 in LA

St Peter and St Paul CofE Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Bexhill-on-Sea, TN40 1QE

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in East Sussex arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in East Sussex

Breakwater Academy

Sandown Primary School and Nursery

Ark Blacklands Primary Academy

Pevensey and Westham CofE Primary School

Peacehaven Heights Academy

St Peter and St Paul CofE Primary School