School profile

The Wells Free School

Primary · Free schools · Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8FA

Good

Map showing The Wells Free School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

Key stage 2 2024/25

#6,055 of 15,057

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

The Wells Free School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 19 May 2015

Ofsted rating
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years
Good

School facts

PhasePrimary
TypeFree schools
Ages4 to 11
Pupils213
GenderMixed
Head teacherMrs Katharine Le Page
TrustTHE WELLS FREE SCHOOL
Local authorityKent
Opened01 Sept 2013
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 139696.

Key stage 2 results

2024/25

Year 6 results in national curriculum tests and teacher assessments. The expected standard is the level pupils should reach by the end of primary school.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Expected standard in reading, writing and maths68%, better than England, better than Kent62%63%
Higher standard in reading, writing and mathsScore of 110 or more in reading and maths, greater depth in writing.6%, similar to England, worse than Kent10%8%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.106, similar to England, similar to Kent106106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.106, similar to England, better than Kent104105
Average grammar, punctuation and spelling scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.106, similar to England, better than Kent104105
Expected standard in reading74%, similar to England, similar to Kent75%76%
Expected standard in writing71%, similar to England, similar to Kent74%73%
Expected standard in maths84%, better than England, better than Kent71%75%
Pupils taking tests31--

Source: DfE, Compare school performance, Compare school performance 2024-2025.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils213
Girls99
Boys114
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.17.8%
First language not English54%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.210
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.0%
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.30
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.6
Average class size30.4

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
41.3%
Other White
18.8%
Indian
14.1%
Other mixed
5.6%
Other Asian
4.2%
Other ethnic group
4.2%
White and Asian
3.3%
African
2.3%
Pakistani
1.9%
Bangladeshi
1.4%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher21.5
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.10.3
Teachers (FTE)9.9
Teaching assistants (FTE)10.83
Support staff (FTE)14.37
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2511.3
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2510.2
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/250
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/251.1

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Reception)Places offered on national offer day.30
Applications (Reception)Includes every preference parents listed.84
First preference applications (Reception)Families who put this school as their first choice.28
First preference offers (Reception)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.26
Applications from another local authority (Reception)0

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Overall absence4.7%, similar to England, better than Kent5.4%5.1%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.12.4%, similar to England, better than Kent14.4%13.2%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.0.5%, better than England, better than Kent1.2%1%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate1.4%
Pupils with one or more suspensions1.4%
Permanent exclusion rate0%
Permanent exclusions0

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near The Wells Free School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.5 miSecondaryThe Skinners' SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.5 miPrimarySt Barnabas CofE VA Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good
0.6 miSecondaryTunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar SchoolFoundation school
Outstanding
0.6 miPrimarySt James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good
0.7 miNot applicableRose Hill SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
0.7 miSecondaryBennett Memorial Diocesan SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding
0.7 miPrimarySt Peter's Church of England Primary SchoolVoluntary controlled school
Good
0.8 miPrimaryClaremont Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.8 miPrimaryBishops Down Primary and Nursery SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.9 miNot applicableThe Mead SchoolOther independent school
Unrated

Frequently asked questions about The Wells Free School

What is The Wells Free School's Ofsted rating?

The Wells Free School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 19 May 2015.

How does The Wells Free School rank in England?

The Wells Free School ranks 6,055 of 15,057 schools in England for Key stage 2 2024/25 (similar to most schools).

What are The Wells Free School's SATs results?

In 2024/25, 68% of pupils at The Wells Free School met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (England 63%).

How hard is it to get into The Wells Free School?

For Reception entry in 2026/27, The Wells Free School made 30 offers from 84 applications (2.8 per offer), and 26 of 28 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Wells Free School?

The Wells Free School has 213 pupils aged 4 to 11.

What is the capacity of The Wells Free School?

The Wells Free School had 210 school places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Wells Free School?

At The Wells Free School, the average class had 30.4 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 21.5 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Wells Free School?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Wells Free School missed 4.7% of sessions (England 5.1%), and 12.4% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 13.2%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.