Academy converter · West Sussex

Blackthorns Community Primary School

4–11Ages
203Pupils
PrimaryPhase
141892URN

3 Blackthorns Close, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, RH16 2UA · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Jun 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

5.1per place

2.7 above West Sussex median (2.5)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in West Sussex

154 applications for 30 places · 4th of 180 in West Sussex

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

77%met the expected standard

West Sussex 61% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 23 June 2026Published 8 September 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Strong standard	Expected standard
Inclusion			Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching			Expected standard
Achievement		Strong standard
Attendance and behaviour			Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing			Expected standard
Early years			Expected standard
Post-16 provision	Does not apply to this school
Leadership and governance			Expected standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

23 June 2026
Report card · 1 Strong standard, 6 Expected standard
30 April 2025
Ungraded inspection: Some aspects not as strong

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

5.1applications per place, Reception

2.7 above West Sussex median (2.5) 2.9 above England median (2.2)

154 applications · 30 places offered · 21 named it first

2026 5.1; West Sussex median median 2.5
2025 5.6; West Sussex median median 2.5
2024 6.8; West Sussex median median 2.6
2023 6.5; West Sussex median median 2.6
2022 7.3; West Sussex median median 2.7
2021 7.9; West Sussex median median 2.7
2020 6.9; West Sussex median median 2.8
2019 7.1; West Sussex median median 2.8
2018 6.6; West Sussex median median 2.8
2017 6.6; West Sussex median median 2.5
2016 5.6; West Sussex median median 2.7
2015 7.5; West Sussex median median 2.8; as the previous school
2014 6.2; West Sussex median median 2.6; as the previous school

More applications per place than the West Sussex median in 11 of 11 years.

This school
West Sussex median

Dashed bars: as Blackthorns Community Primary School, Lindfield (URN 125946), the previous school.

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	30	154	5.1	21	0.70
Sep 2025	30	168	5.6	34	1.13
Sep 2024	30	204	6.8	39	1.30
Sep 2023	30	196	6.5	33	1.10
Sep 2022	30	220	7.3	49	1.63
Sep 2021	30	238	7.9	46	1.53
Sep 2020	30	208	6.9	54	1.80
Sep 2019	30	212	7.1	29	0.97
Sep 2018	30	198	6.6	36	1.20
Sep 2017	30	197	6.6	40	1.33
Sep 2016	30	168	5.6	40	1.33
Sep 2015 *	30	226	7.5	46	1.53
Sep 2014 *	30	187	6.2	46	1.53

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 93% · Writing 77% · Maths 93% → all three 77% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard77%17th of 188 in West Sussex

West Sussex 61% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard93%

West Sussex 80% England 78%

Higher standard67%

West Sussex 33% England 33%

Average scaled score 111 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard77%

West Sussex 72% England 75%

Greater depth17%

West Sussex 9% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard93%

West Sussex 74% England 77%

Higher standard43%

West Sussex 21% England 24%

Average scaled score 109 (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	77%	13%	111	109
2023/24	67%	7%	109	105
2022/23	79%	11%	111	107

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

Blackthorns Community Primary SchoolThis school
This school

2026

5.1applications per place 77%met the SATs standard
Lindfield Primary Academy
0.3 km · West Sussex

2026

2.9applications per place 70%met the SATs standard
Warden Park Primary Academy
1.2 km · West Sussex

Some aspects not as strong2025

2.7applications per place 60%met the SATs standard
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
1.5 km · West Sussex

Good2023

2.2applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
St Wilfrid's CofE Primary School
1.5 km · West Sussex

Standards maintained2025

2.4applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
Northlands Wood Primary Academy
1.6 km · West Sussex

Standards maintained2025

3.0applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Harlands Primary School
1.7 km · West Sussex

Remains Good2023

2.8applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Bolnore Village Primary School
2.9 km · West Sussex

Remains Good2019

1.9applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
St Augustine's CofE Primary School
3.0 km · West Sussex

Good2023

1.6applications per place 75%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 141892 · 938/2221
Trust: Hurst Education Trust Limited
Capacity: 210 pupils · 203 on roll
Free school meals: 3.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 April 2015
Replaced: Blackthorns Community Primary School, Lindfield (URN 125946)
Address: 3 Blackthorns Close, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, RH16 2UA
Local authority: West Sussex · Mid Sussex

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources