Voluntary controlled school · East Sussex

St Michael's Church of England Primary School

5–11Ages
75Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
114520URN

Houghton Green Lane, Playden, Playden Rye, TN31 7PJ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Apr 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.0per place

0.8 above East Sussex median (2.2)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in East Sussex

15 applications for 5 places

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

0%met the expected standard

East Sussex 64% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 23 April 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education		Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes	Good
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management		Requires improvement
Early years provision	Good

Inspection history

23 April 2025
Graded inspection, no overall grade
26 November 2019
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

3.0applications per place, Reception

0.8 above East Sussex median (2.2) 0.8 above England median (2.2)

15 applications · 5 places offered · 5 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 3.0; East Sussex median median 2.2
2025 2.3; East Sussex median median 2.2
2024 1.9; East Sussex median median 1.9
2023 1.8; East Sussex median median 2.0
2022 2.2; East Sussex median median 2.0
2021 2.0; East Sussex median median 1.9
2020 2.7; East Sussex median median 2.0
2019 1.5; East Sussex median median 1.9
2018 2.4; East Sussex median median 1.9
2017 2.2; East Sussex median median 2.0
2016 1.6; East Sussex median median 1.8
2015 1.7; East Sussex median median 1.7
2014 2.3; East Sussex median median 1.8

This school
East Sussex median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	5	15	3.0	5	1.00
Sep 2025	6	14	2.3	6	1.00
Sep 2024	9	17	1.9	9	1.00
Sep 2023	15	27	1.8	14	0.93
Sep 2022	9	20	2.2	9	1.00
Sep 2021	15	30	2.0	17	1.13
Sep 2020	13	35	2.7	12	0.92
Sep 2019	15	23	1.5	17	1.13
Sep 2018	9	22	2.4	8	0.89
Sep 2017	15	33	2.2	21	1.40
Sep 2016	14	22	1.6	10	0.71
Sep 2015	15	26	1.7	14	0.93
Sep 2014	15	34	2.3	16	1.07

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 33% · Writing 0% · Maths 33% → all three 0% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard0%129th of 129 in East Sussex

East Sussex 64% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard33%

East Sussex 78% England 78%

Higher standard11%

East Sussex 30% England 33%

Average scaled score 97 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard0%

East Sussex 76% England 75%

Greater depth0%

East Sussex 10% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard33%

East Sussex 75% England 77%

Higher standard0%

East Sussex 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 96 (100 = expected standard)

This school
East Sussex median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	0%	0%	97	96
2023/24	38%	0%	101	102
2022/23	55%	0%	101	101

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

St Michael's Church of England Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.0applications per place 0%met the SATs standard
Rye Community Primary School
2.0 km · East Sussex

Good2023

1.3applications per place 32%met the SATs standard
Peasmarsh Church of England Primary School
3.8 km · East Sussex

Good2024

1.9applications per place
Wittersham Church of England Primary School
5.3 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.3applications per place 79%met the SATs standard
St Thomas' Church of England Aided Primary School
5.8 km · East Sussex

Remains Good2023

2.0applications per place 78%met the SATs standard
Brookland Church of England Primary School
7.1 km · Kent

Good2023

2.2applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Beckley Church of England Primary School
7.6 km · East Sussex

Remains Good2024

2.1applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
Icklesham Church of England Primary School and Nursery
8.0 km · East Sussex

Remains Good2024

1.6applications per place 80%met the SATs standard
Brenzett Church of England Primary School
8.9 km · Kent

Standards maintained2024

2.9applications per place 64%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Voluntary controlled school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 114520 · 845/3051
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 105 pupils · 75 on roll
Free school meals: 26.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Houghton Green Lane, Playden, Playden Rye, TN31 7PJ
Local authority: East Sussex · Rother

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources