Academy converter · West Sussex

Balcombe Cofe Primary School

4–11Ages
140Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
150828URN

London Road, Balcombe, Haywards Heath, RH17 6HS · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Apr 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.1per place

0.4 below West Sussex median (2.5)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in West Sussex

41 applications for 20 places · 136th of 180 in West Sussex

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

63%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 · 19 April 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
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

2.1applications per place, Reception

0.4 below West Sussex median (2.5) close to England median (2.2)

41 applications · 20 places offered · 19 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.1; West Sussex median median 2.5
2025 1.7; West Sussex median median 2.5
2024 1.6; West Sussex median median 2.6; as the previous school
2023 1.6; West Sussex median median 2.6; as the previous school
2022 2.0; West Sussex median median 2.7; as the previous school
2021 2.2; West Sussex median median 2.7; as the previous school
2020 2.9; West Sussex median median 2.8; as the previous school
2019 2.4; West Sussex median median 2.8; as the previous school
2018 2.6; West Sussex median median 2.8; as the previous school
2017 2.9; West Sussex median median 2.5; as the previous school
2016 1.9; West Sussex median median 2.7; as the previous school
2015 2.9; West Sussex median median 2.8; as the previous school
2014 2.2; West Sussex median median 2.6; as the previous school

This school
West Sussex median

Dashed bars: as Balcombe CofE Controlled Primary School (URN 126006), 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	20	41	2.1	19	0.95
Sep 2025	23	40	1.7	23	1.00
Sep 2024 *	26	42	1.6	29	1.12
Sep 2023 *	19	30	1.6	16	0.84
Sep 2022 *	20	40	2.0	22	1.10
Sep 2021 *	20	44	2.2	24	1.20
Sep 2020 *	16	47	2.9	14	0.88
Sep 2019 *	26	63	2.4	29	1.12
Sep 2018 *	20	51	2.6	18	0.90
Sep 2017 *	16	47	2.9	15	0.94
Sep 2016 *	20	37	1.9	18	0.90
Sep 2015 *	20	58	2.9	22	1.10
Sep 2014 *	20	44	2.2	24	1.20

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 95% · Writing 74% · Maths 74% → all three 63% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard63%78th of 188 in West Sussex

West Sussex 61% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard95%

West Sussex 80% England 78%

Higher standard47%

West Sussex 33% England 33%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard74%

West Sussex 72% England 75%

Greater depth5%

West Sussex 9% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard74%

West Sussex 74% England 77%

Higher standard21%

West Sussex 21% England 24%

Average scaled score 104 (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	63%	5%	108	104
2023/24	71%	7%	111	106
2022/23	50%	6%	107	103

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

Balcombe Cofe Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.1applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
St Peter's CofE Primary School
3.7 km · West Sussex

Standards maintained2024

2.6applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
St. Mark's CofE Primary School
3.8 km · West Sussex

Remains Good2024

3.4applications per place 47%met the SATs standard
Handcross Primary School
4.5 km · West Sussex

Remains Good2023

2.8applications per place 79%met the SATs standard
Brook Infant School and Nursery
5.0 km · West Sussex

Good2024

3.6applications per place
Woodgate Primary Academy
5.0 km · West Sussex

2026

2.5applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
Maidenbower Junior School
5.3 km · West Sussex

Remains Good2022

63%met the SATs standard
Maidenbower Infant School and Nursery
5.4 km · West Sussex

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.4applications per place
The Oaks Primary School & Nursery
5.5 km · West Sussex

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.5applications per place 72%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: 150828 · 938/3051
Trust: Hurst Education Trust Limited
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 150 pupils · 140 on roll
Free school meals: 7.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 July 2024
Replaced: Balcombe CofE Controlled Primary School (URN 126006)
Address: London Road, Balcombe, Haywards Heath, RH17 6HS
Local authority: West Sussex · Mid Sussex

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