Graffham CofE Infant School (Voluntary Controlled)

Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 7 · Mixed · Church of England

Graffham, Petworth, GU28 0NJ

01798 867324 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card1 strong, 6 expectedSafeguarding met · 6 May 2026
Pupils44Room for 60 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 54 in 2019, 59 in 2021, 57 in 2022, 54 in 2023, 57 in 2024, 47 in 2025, 44 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.813 for 17 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 3 state primary schools in Petworth.
Higher than 6% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 6 May 2026 , published 24 June 2026.

In short: 1 strong, 6 expected, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Early yearsNursery and reception classes. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.

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 offered17
Families who put it first13
Of those, offered a place13 (100%)
Families who listed it at all31

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.8

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.

This is a Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.

Admissions dates and schools in West Sussex

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolWest SussexEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
3rd highest of 4 state primary schools in Petworth.
Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
6.4% 15.8%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
3rd highest of 4 state primary schools in Petworth.
Higher than 30% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.1% 3.0%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
1st highest of 4 state primary schools in Petworth.
Higher than 68% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
17.0% 14.9%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
3rd highest of 4 state primary schools in Petworth.
Higher than 30% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.3% 14.7%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
4th lowest of 4 state primary schools in Petworth.
Lower than 14% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
6.7% 5.2%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
4th lowest of 4 state primary schools in Petworth.
Lower than 27% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
16.2% 11.7%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
4th lowest of 4 state primary schools in Petworth.
Lower than 5% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
10.6 2.8 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
4th lowest of 4 state primary schools in Petworth.
Lower than 5% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
4.3% 1.2% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.04% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Petworth.
Higher than 7% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
14.6 21.3 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Petworth.
Higher than 11% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
8.1 11.4 10.6

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.

Nearby primary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Graffham CofE Infant School (Voluntary Controlled)'s Ofsted rating?

Graffham CofE Infant School (Voluntary Controlled) was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 6 May 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 1 strong, 6 expected, and safeguarding was met.

Is Graffham CofE Infant School (Voluntary Controlled) oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 13 families put Graffham CofE Infant School (Voluntary Controlled) as their first choice for 17 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 13 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.