SchoolScoresBlackthorns Community Primary School
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Part of HURST EDUCATION TRUST LIMITED
3 Blackthorns Close, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, RH16 2UA
01444 454866 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 18 September 2018.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Outcomes for pupils | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 30 April 2025: Ofsted found some aspects were not as strong as at the last graded inspection.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
72 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Haywards Heath comparisons use the 9 of its 17 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 8 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Haywards Heath | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 9th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Haywards Heath. Higher than 14% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 9th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Haywards Heath. Higher than 22% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 8th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Haywards Heath. Higher than 31% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 90% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 23 parents whose child had been bullied 7th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Haywards Heath. Higher than 6% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 30% | 57% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 50 parents who had raised a concern 9th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Haywards Heath. Higher than 22% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72% | 86% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 20 parents of children with SEND 6th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Haywards Heath. Higher than 12% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 50% | 73% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 9th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Haywards Heath. Higher than 25% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83%said yes | 92% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 34%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Haywards Heath figures pool parents at the Haywards Heath schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
30 pupils in this year group.
77% — 17 points above the West Sussex average, and 15 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 77% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 13% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 93% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 77% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 93% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 111 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in West Sussex. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 21 |
| Of those, offered a place | 21 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 154 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 0.7
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 16th highest of 17 state primary schools in Haywards Heath. Higher than 4% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 15.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 17 state primary schools in Haywards Heath. Higher than 57% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.3% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 15th highest of 17 state primary schools in Haywards Heath. Higher than 36% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.4% | 14.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 9th highest of 17 state primary schools in Haywards Heath. Higher than 37% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.7% | 14.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 17 state primary schools in Haywards Heath. Lower than 96% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 17 state primary schools in Haywards Heath. Lower than 92% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.4% | 11.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 13th lowest of 17 state primary schools in Haywards Heath. Lower than 24% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.3 | 2.8 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 15th lowest of 17 state primary schools in Haywards Heath. Lower than 15% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.4% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 17 state primary schools in Haywards Heath. Higher than 77% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.0 | 21.3 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 5th highest of 17 state primary schools in Haywards Heath. Higher than 80% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.7 | 11.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 6th highest of 17 state primary schools in Haywards Heath. Higher than 65% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 17.0% | 12.8%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Lindfield Primary Academy 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2021) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Warden Park Primary Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), some aspects weaker 2025 · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Wilfrid's CofE Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Northlands Wood Primary Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Harlands Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bolnore Village Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011, before conversion), confirmed 2019 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Augustine's CofE Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Cuckfield 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 82% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Peter's CofE Primary School 3.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Blackthorns Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Blackthorns Community Primary School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 18 September 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 30 April 2025, Ofsted found some aspects were not as strong as at the last graded inspection.
How did Blackthorns Community Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 77% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 15 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Blackthorns Community Primary School?
83% of the 72 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Blackthorns Community Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Blackthorns Community Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 21 families put Blackthorns Community Primary School as their first choice for 30 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 21 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 141892.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.