Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #141 in Kent public Top 51% UK

Rusthall St Paul's CofE VA Primary School

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

personMrs Lyndsay Smurthwaite

location_onTunbridge Wells, TN4 8RZ

language Visit Website phone 1892520582

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

138

school

Expected Standard

61%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

Rusthall St Paul's CofE VA Primary School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Tunbridge Wells, serving ages 4-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 51% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

Rusthall St Paul's CofE VA Primary School is a voluntary aided school in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 138 pupils on roll.

In 2024, 61% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #141 of 451 primaries in Kent and #4,793 of 15,713 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, 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 18.7:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy. Teacher turnover in the previous year was 15.4%.

In the 2023/24 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.0 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)

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

61%

LA 60%England 61%

Reading83% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing83% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths61% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

40%

LA 58%England 60%

Reading50% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing57% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths50% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.7

Read

LA -0.4

-6.1 to -1.3

-3.0

Write

LA -0.2

-5.3 to -0.8

-3.6

Maths

LA -1.2

-5.9 to -1.4

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

51%

LA 67%England 65%

Reading57% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing77% LA 81% · Eng 78%

Maths69% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.8

Read

LA 0.0

-3.0 to 1.3

0.2

Write

LA 0.1

-1.8 to 2.1

-1.9

Maths

LA -0.6

-3.8 to 0.0

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

50%

LA 65%

Reading71% LA 76%

Writing76% LA 80%

Maths61% LA 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.1

Read

LA 0.0

-2.1 to 1.9

1.7

Write

LA 0.4

-0.2 to 3.6

-0.8

Maths

LA -0.5

-2.6 to 1

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

Inspection Report

31 August 2024

Inspection Report

19 April 2023

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

21 January 2020

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

29 June 2016

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

09 June 2014

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

12 March 2014

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

25 June 2012

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

13 November 2008

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-04-19

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2016-06-29

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2014-03-12

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

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

1.8%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.8%(2 pupils)

Summer term 2024

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

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.063% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Summer term of 2024, this school served a headcount of 113 pupils. During this period, there were 2 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.8%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2023/24 (Summer term)	113	2	1.8%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	118	2	1.7%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	117	3	2.6%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	138	0	0.0%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	138	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	138	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	164	1	0.6%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	159	3	1.9%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	154	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	158	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	160	0	0.0%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	164	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	177	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	177	1	0.6%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	175	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	195	1	0.5%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	198	1	0.5%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	199	1	0.5%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	218	4	1.8%	0.5%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	215	1	0.5%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	219	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	222	3	1.4%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	228	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	229	0	0.0%	0.5%	0

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

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.

95.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

100.0%Positive

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

13.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree54%

agree41%

disagree3%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree54%

agree33%

disagree10%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree51%

agree28%

disagree5%

strongly disagree3%

not applicable13%

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.

strongly agree38%

agree46%

disagree10%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree64%

agree26%

disagree8%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree67%

agree31%

disagree3%

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

strongly agree49%

agree49%

disagree3%

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

strongly agree59%

agree36%

disagree5%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree49%

agree44%

disagree8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes92%

no8%

Top Primary Schools in Kent

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Westgate Primary School

Good

location_on Dartford, DA1 2LP

emoji_events #1 in LA

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

Outstanding

location_on Ebbsfleet, DA10 1AD

emoji_events #2 in LA

Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Deal, CT14 8DD

emoji_events #3 in LA

Thornden Wood Primary School

Good

location_on Herne Bay, CT6 7RS

emoji_events #4 in LA

Leigh Academy Paddock Wood

Good

location_on Tonbridge, TN12 6JE

emoji_events #5 in LA

The Discovery School

Outstanding

location_on West Malling, ME19 4GJ

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Kent 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)

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

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Kent

Westgate Primary School

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School

Thornden Wood Primary School

Leigh Academy Paddock Wood

The Discovery School