Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9XB · Kent · Grammar school
Check the area around this school
13th of 99 secondary schools in Kent we can score, 103 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 228 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.0/10 among them, against 9.0/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 84 | 35% | 2.93 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 88.4 · 96 | 30% | 2.88 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.46 · 82 | 25% | 2.05 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 64.5 · 95 | 10% | 0.95 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 91.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 63.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.46 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.3 out of 10 among them, against 9.1 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted inspected the school in March 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh and Can Sat clubs, or participate in football, rugby, cricket, cross country, basketball, tennis, table tennis, and pickleball. Trips include a music tour to Europe, history visits to Ypres and Berlin, language trips to Paris and Madrid, a ski trip, and geography visits to Iceland and a residential field trip. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,875 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,308. 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 manage class sizes when operating significantly above its designated capacity
What Ofsted said about Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils "thrive" and "enjoy their learning," achieving outcomes "significantly above the national average." Leaders have established high expectations for attendance and behaviour, resulting in a positive culture where disruption is rare and pupils feel safe.
Strengths
- Pupils achieve "consistently well" with examination results "significantly above the national average," including disadvantaged pupils who outperform their peers nationally.
- Attendance is "well above national averages" due to leaders’ "resoundingly successful" work and prompt action on issues.
- Behaviour is excellent; staff are "courteous but firm," and bullying or harassment is "rare" and "sorted out quickly."
- Personal development is supported by a "highly effective approach," including comprehensive guidance on future careers and relationships.
- The sixth form offers a "very wide range" of subjects, with students acting as "excellent role models" for younger pupils.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should strengthen support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities by ensuring teachers have a "detailed understanding" of needs and apply strategies consistently.
- Leaders should ensure best practice in checking pupils’ understanding of new learning is "consistent across the school" to address gaps in knowledge more quickly.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 64.2 |
| 2024/25 | 63.7 |
| 2025/26 | 64.5 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 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
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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