Penshurst Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Tonbridge, TN11 8BX · Kent · primary school
Check the area around this school
289th of 425 primary schools in Kent we can score, 460 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 4,123 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.8/10 among them, against 3.4/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 50.0 · 19 | 40% | 0.76 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 8.0 · 57 | 25% | 1.43 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Penshurst Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 50.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. For the higher standard, the school recorded 8.0% against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2023. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.8 out of 10 among them, against 3.4 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club for wraparound care.
Getting in
The published school roll is 79 pupils against a stated capacity of 105. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to bridge the gap between the 50.0% expected standard and the national median? What specific strategies are used to raise attainment in the core subjects? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating while addressing the lower performance in the similar-intake comparison?
What Ofsted said about Penshurst Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Overview
Penshurst Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School continues to be a good school, offering a nurturing environment where pupils are happy and feel safe. Leaders maintain an ambitious drive for academic success alongside personal development, rooted in the school’s Christian ethos. The report highlights strong relationships between staff and pupils, with parents viewing the school as a supportive ‘family’.
Strengths
- Staff have positive relationships with pupils, helping them to be happy and enjoy learning in a ‘caring place’.
- Leaders have implemented an ‘ambitious and well-designed curriculum’ that equips pupils with essential skills and knowledge.
- Phonics is planned and taught well, with early reading given high priority and taught daily from the start of Reception.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are identified well and achieve well due to ‘comprehensive and accurate understanding’ of their needs.
- Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with a ‘strong culture of safeguarding’ and thorough record-keeping.
Areas to improve
- Teachers’ subject knowledge is not strong enough in some areas, meaning pupils do not learn consistently well in all subjects.
- Leaders should provide effective support to improve teachers’ subject knowledge so they deliver the intended curriculum to a consistently high standard.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders training staff to identify risks, reporting concerns quickly, and working with outside agencies to keep pupils safe.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 60% |
| 2023/24 | 71% |
| 2024/25 | 50% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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