Voluntary aided school · West Sussex

St Mary's Church of England Primary School

4–11Ages
295Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
126048URN

Link Lane, Pulborough, RH20 2AN · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Sep 2022 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.6per place

0.8 below West Sussex median (2.5)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in West Sussex

50 applications for 31 places · 171st of 180 in West Sussex

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

39%met the expected standard

West Sussex 61% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 21 September 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		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

1.6applications per place, Reception

0.8 below West Sussex median (2.5) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

50 applications · 31 places offered · 30 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 1.6; West Sussex median median 2.5
2025 1.8; West Sussex median median 2.5
2024 1.6; West Sussex median median 2.6
2023 1.5; West Sussex median median 2.6
2022 1.5; West Sussex median median 2.7
2021 1.7; West Sussex median median 2.7
2020 1.7; West Sussex median median 2.8
2019 1.8; West Sussex median median 2.8
2018 1.6; West Sussex median median 2.8
2017 1.8; West Sussex median median 2.5
2016 1.9; West Sussex median median 2.7
2015 1.7; West Sussex median median 2.8
2014 1.5; West Sussex median median 2.6

More applications per place than the West Sussex median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
West 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	31	50	1.6	30	0.97
Sep 2025	31	57	1.8	28	0.90
Sep 2024	42	67	1.6	41	0.98
Sep 2023	34	50	1.5	33	0.97
Sep 2022	28	41	1.5	26	0.93
Sep 2021	36	62	1.7	35	0.97
Sep 2020	34	57	1.7	33	0.97
Sep 2019	38	68	1.8	37	0.97
Sep 2018	45	70	1.6	45	1.00
Sep 2017	44	79	1.8	40	0.91
Sep 2016	43	82	1.9	43	1.00
Sep 2015	58	98	1.7	56	0.97
Sep 2014	52	80	1.5	52	1.00

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 58% · Writing 63% · Maths 56% → all three 39% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard39%171st of 188 in West Sussex

West Sussex 61% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard58%

West Sussex 80% England 78%

Higher standard19%

West Sussex 33% England 33%

Average scaled score 102 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard63%

West Sussex 72% England 75%

Greater depth2%

West Sussex 9% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard56%

West Sussex 74% England 77%

Higher standard11%

West Sussex 21% England 24%

Average scaled score 101 (100 = expected standard)

This school
West Sussex median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	39%	2%	102	101
2023/24	55%	7%	105	104
2022/23	52%	4%	104	102

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 Mary's Church of England Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2022

1.6applications per place 39%met the SATs standard
West Chiltington Community Primary School
3.8 km · West Sussex

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.7applications per place 56%met the SATs standard
St James' CofE Primary School, Coldwaltham
3.9 km · West Sussex

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.6applications per place 20%met the SATs standard
Fittleworth CofE Village School
4.2 km · West Sussex

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.2applications per place 42%met the SATs standard
Storrington Primary School
5.3 km · West Sussex

Good2024

1.4applications per place 53%met the SATs standard
Thakeham Primary School
6.2 km · West Sussex

Remains Good2024

5.7applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
Amberley CofE Primary School
6.3 km · West Sussex

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.5applications per place
Wisborough Green Primary School
7.1 km · West Sussex

Remains Good2023

3.4applications per place 48%met the SATs standard
Billingshurst Primary Academy
7.3 km · West Sussex

Requires improvement2023

1.4applications per place 74%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Voluntary aided school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 126048 · 938/3342
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 420 pupils · 295 on roll
Free school meals: 22.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Link Lane, Pulborough, RH20 2AN
Local authority: West Sussex · Horsham

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