St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School vs The Wells Free School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in South East, England, 773 m apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School
Tunbridge Wells · Local authority primary · Ages 4–11
201 students
The Wells Free School
Tunbridge Wells · Academy primary · Ages 4–11
213 students
| Measure | St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School Tunbridge Wells, South East | The Wells Free School Tunbridge Wells, South East |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 49 Lower 50% | 55 Top 50% |
| Region rank | #1427 of 2,471 | #1225 of 2,471 |
| National rank | #8254 of 15,697 | #6930 of 15,697 |
| Sector | Local authority | Academy |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | Ages 4–11 | Ages 4–11 |
| Students | 201 | 213 |
| Pupils on roll | 201 | 213 |
| Free school meals | 32.3% | 17.8% |
| Capacity filled | 95.7% | 101.4% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 67% | 68% |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | 7% | 6% |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | – | – |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | – | – |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | – | – |
| EBacc average points | – | – |
| A level points per entry | – | – |
| town | Tunbridge Wells | Tunbridge Wells |
| region | South East | South East |
| Website | www.st-barnabas.kent.sch.uk/ | www.thewellsfreeschool.co.uk/ |
The verdict
- •The Wells Free School scores higher on the Success Index (England) (54.9 vs 48.9).
- •The Wells Free School does better on ks2: reading, writing & maths expected standard (68% vs 67%).
- •St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School does better on ks2: higher standard (7% vs 6%).
- •The Wells Free School is the larger school with 213 students compared with 201.
- •St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School is a local authority school while The Wells Free School is a academy school, so fees and admission rules differ.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School better than The Wells Free School?
On the Success Index (England), The Wells Free School ranks higher (54.9 vs 48.9 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School and The Wells Free School?
About 773 m in a straight line, between Tunbridge Wells and Tunbridge Wells in South East.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School: 201. The Wells Free School: 213. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School and The Wells Free School rank in South East?
St Barnabas CofE VA Primary School is 1427th of 2,471 and The Wells Free School is 1225th of 2,471 among primary schools in South East on the 2025 Success Index (England).