Tonbridge Schools Named Among England's Safest for 2025

Two Tonbridge Schools Named Among Safest in England

2025-10-16

Two Tonbridge schools have been recognised among the top 20 safest in England, according to a new national analysis of parental feedback.

Tonbridge Grammar School and Weald of Kent Grammar School both featured in the Great British Schools Guide’s list of the safest state schools in England for 2025 — an accolade based entirely on how secure parents say their children feel.

The data comes from Ofsted’s official Parent View survey, where parents rate various aspects of school life, including whether their child feels safe. The analysis, which included more than 6,500 schools nationwide, focused on those with at least 30 responses and a minimum 20 per cent participation rate to ensure reliability.

Both Tonbridge schools achieved exceptionally high safety ratings, with more than 97% of parents agreeing or strongly agreeing that their child feels safe at school. This placed them alongside other leading grammar and comprehensive schools from across the country — and made Tonbridge one of only a handful of towns with two schools in the national top 20.

The findings underline a strong connection between school safety and parental satisfaction. Researchers found that safety perceptions correlated almost perfectly (0.96) with parents’ likelihood of recommending their child’s school — showing that a sense of security remains one of the most important factors for families.

Both schools have been recognised for their strong focus on pastoral care and student wellbeing, in addition to their academic performance.

A statement from the Weald of Kent School expresses pride in the acknowledgement.

The report notes that schools where children feel safe tend to be happier and more successful learning environments overall.

As concerns about wellbeing and emotional safety grow nationwide, Ofsted is reportedly considering a new “wellbeing” category in its future inspections — suggesting that schools like Tonbridge Grammar and Weald of Kent may be setting the standard for what a safe and supportive school looks like in 2025.