School WiselyBeta

Somerhill[1]

Independent · ages 2–13

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Headline results

No headline results are published for this school in the latest two years.

Results

No published data for this school.

Ofsted

Inspected by
Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)[2]

ISI inspection

Inspection
February 2024[3]
Framework
Framework from September 2023[3]
Leadership and governance
Standards met[3]
Quality of education
Standards met[3]
Health and wellbeing
Standards met[3]
Social and economic education
Standards met[3]
Safeguarding
Standards met[3]

Social and economic education

  • ISI recommended: The school should help pupils keep building positive learning and social habits as outlined in its policy.
  • ISI recommended: The school should help pupils understand British values in modern society better.

Previous ISI inspections: 2019, 2016, 2010 (2019 report, 2016 report, 2010 report).

ISI's page for this school

Findings of the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), restated in our own words: not ISI's wording. Read the full report on ISI's website.

Competition to get in

Admissions

Sibling priority
Siblings are prioritised. Entry Sept 2026[4]
Sibling policy
If a year group is full, registered pupils are placed on a waiting list and informed when a place becomes available. Siblings are prioritised. 2026-10-14[4]

Character & practicalities

Fees

Pre-prep, day
£4,562–£5,167 a term 2026/27 · Reception; Year 1 · VAT not stated[5]
Prep, day
£7,021–£7,292 a term 2026/27 · Year 3; Year 4 · VAT not stated[5]

As published by the school on its own website for the year shown, quoted from our archived copy. Ranges run from the lowest to the highest fee the school lists for that stage. Check the school's current fees before deciding: extras (lunch, trips, exams) and bursaries are not included. Fees are never used to rank schools.

Type
Other independent school[1]
Ages
2–13[1]
Boys / girls
Mixed[1]
Admissions
Non-selective[1]
Sixth form
No[1]
Boarding
No boarders[1]
Capacity
654[1]
Local authority
Kent[1]
Website
www.somerhill.org[1]
Nursery classes
Has Nursery Classes[2]
Special classes
No Special Classes[2]
Section 41 (can be named in an EHC plan)
Not approved[2]
District
Tunbridge Wells[6]
Postcode
TN11 0NJ[1]
URN
118960[1]

School details as recorded in Get Information About Schools on 14 Oct 2026.

Pupils

Number on roll
559 2024/25[7]
SEN support
6.6% 2024/25[7]
EHC plan
0% 2024/25[7]
Free school meals in the last 6 years
0% 2024/25[7]

Practicalities

Admissions contact
The contact details for admissions at Somerhill include the email reception@somerhill.org and the phone number 01732 352124. 2026-10-14[8]
Occasional places
Somerhill accepts children into all year groups and allows them to join anytime during the school year, subject to availability. 2026-10-14[8]

Routes to senior schools

No preferential route at 11+/13+
Pupils sit the senior schools' normal competitive entrance tests (Kent Test / ISEB Pre-Test / school exams); no guarantee. Destinations include Tonbridge Grammar School, The Judd School and The Skinners’ School. Some pupils are awarded scholarships at independent schools such as Tonbridge School, Sevenoaks School, Walthamstow Hall School and Sutton Valence School at 11+/13+. 2026-10-14[9]

In the inspectors' and the school's words

Academic
Teachers have ambitious aims for pupils’ achievement in lessons.[10]
Warmth
Pupils are kind and understand the importance of treating one another and all in society with respect.[10]
Pastoral care
Pupils are taught various strategies to support positive mental health, which is given high priority. Staff are trained in drawing therapy to help those who need emotional support. The welfare of pupils is given prime importance.[10]
Behaviour
Behaviour in lessons is exemplary. Poor behaviour and bullying are rare and promptly challenged.[10]
Learning support
Pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities make rapid progress so that they are able to attain in line with their peers.[10]
Enrichment
Leaders give a high priority to providing an extensive range of clubs and activities as part of the school co-curriculum. This covers activities from robotics to beekeeping[10]
Pupil voice
They have recently introduced a trial with older pupils through interviews and discussion on their work to review teaching from the pupils’ point of view[10]
Independence
Teachers challenge pupils to think with well-chosen targeted questions, encouraging pupils to work things out for themselves. Pupils are aware of these skills and their importance but not all teachers are consistent in reinforcing these habits in lessons.[10]
Collaboration
The intent is that pupils are used to working collaboratively in groups, learning skills important to their future lives. These skills are not embedded into all lessons[10]
Structure
They experience familiar structures and procedures across lessons, and can therefore engage with the lesson quickly and maximise their learning opportunities. Governors and leaders have a well-defined policy outlining the school’s rationale for teaching male and females in separate classes from Years 3 to 6.[10]
Diversity
However, pupils have a limited understanding of the breadth of cultural influences in wider British society. English is an additional language (EAL) for 7 pupils.[10]
Sport
Leaders provide an extensive physical education programme both within the curriculum and in extra-curricular activities.[10]
Performing arts
The many opportunities to perform in front of an audience in music soirees, orchestras, concerts and plays help pupils to build their self-confidence and self-esteem.[10]
Visual arts
Pupil artists can extend drawing and painting skills to pottery and 3D design.[10]

Sources

  1. Department for Education: Get Information About Schools: all establishments. Period 2026-10-14, published 2026-10-14. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  2. Department for Education: Get Information About Schools: all establishments (independent schools' inspectorate and provision). Period 2026-10-17, published 2026-10-17. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  3. reports.isi.net: reports.isi.net document (PDF). Period 2026-10-17. Licence: copyright-quoted.
  4. somerhill.org: somerhill.org — Admissions Policy 2026-27 prjn (PDF). Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (2)
    Siblings are prioritised. (p. 2)
    If a year group is full, registered pupils are placed on a waiting list and informed when a place becomes available. Siblings are prioritised. (p. 2)
  5. somerhill.org: somerhill.org — 2026-27 fees zdny (PDF). Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (4)
    Reception £4,562 £5,475 (p. 1)
    Year 1 £5,167 £6,200 (p. 1)
    Year 3 £7,021 £8,425 (p. 1)
    Year 4 £7,292 £8,750 (p. 1)
  6. Office for National Statistics: Parish to Ward to Local Authority District (May 2026) Lookup in EW. Period 2026-05-01. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  7. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: School census. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  8. somerhill.org: somerhill.org — Joining us. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (2)
    Somerhill, Tudeley Road, Tonbridge, Kent. TN11 0NJ | 01732 352 124 | reception@somerhill.org (p. 1)
    Our three most common entry points at Somerhill are Nursery, Reception and Year 3; however, we accept children into all year groups and, subject to availability, children can join us anytime during the school year. (p. 1)
  9. somerhill.org: somerhill.org — Destinations scholarships and results. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quote
    Destinations include Tonbridge Grammar School, The Judd School and The Skinners' School. Some pupils are awarded scholarships at independent schools such as Tonbridge School, Sevenoaks School, Walthamstow Hall School and Sutton Valence School at 11+/13+ (p. 1)
  10. reports.isi.net: reports.isi.net document (PDF). Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (19)
    Leaders provide an extensive physical education programme both within the curriculum and in extra-curricular activities (p. 9)
    Pupils are kind and understand the importance of treating one another and all in society with respect (p. 9)
    Teachers have ambitious aims for pupils' achievement in lessons (p. 7)
    Pupils are taught various strategies to support positive mental health, which is given high priority. Staff are trained in drawing therapy to help those who need emotional support (p. 9)
    The welfare of pupils is given prime importance (p. 3)
    Behaviour in lessons is exemplary (p. 8)
    Poor behaviour and bullying are rare and promptly challenged (p. 9)
    However, pupils have a limited understanding of the breadth of cultural influences in wider British society (p. 11)
    English is an additional language (EAL) for 7 pupils (p. 15)
    They experience familiar structures and procedures across lessons, and can therefore engage with the lesson quickly and maximise their learning opportunities (p. 3)
    Governors and leaders have a well-defined policy outlining the school's rationale for teaching male and females in separate classes from Years 3 to 6 (p. 5)
    Leaders give a high priority to providing an extensive range of clubs and activities as part of the school co-curriculum. This covers activities from robotics to beekeeping (p. 8)
    They have recently introduced a trial with older pupils through interviews and discussion on their work to review teaching from the pupils' point of view (p. 7)
    Pupil artists can extend drawing and painting skills to pottery and 3D design (p. 8)
    Teachers challenge pupils to think with well-chosen targeted questions, encouraging pupils to work things out for themselves (p. 7)
    Pupils are aware of these skills and their importance but not all teachers are consistent in reinforcing these habits in lessons (p. 3)
    The intent is that pupils are used to working collaboratively in groups, learning skills important to their future lives. These skills are not embedded into all lessons (p. 11)
    The many opportunities to perform in front of an audience in music soirees, orchestras, concerts and plays help pupils to build their self-confidence and self-esteem (p. 9)
    Pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities make rapid progress so that they are able to attain in line with their peers (p. 7)