SchoolScoresSt John's Catholic Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Blackbridge Lane, Horsham, RH12 1RR
01403 265447 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 March 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 | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 21 September 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
49 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Horsham comparisons use the 17 of its 30 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 13 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 | Horsham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 5th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Horsham. Higher than 70% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 95% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 4th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Horsham. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 1st highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Horsham. Higher than 83% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 90% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 15 parents whose child had been bullied 16th highest of 16 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Horsham. Higher than 1% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 20% | 54% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 31 parents who had raised a concern Joint 8th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Horsham. Higher than 52% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 82% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 4th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Horsham. Higher than 72% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96%said yes | 90% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Horsham figures pool parents at the Horsham 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.
60% — about the same as the West Sussex average, and 2 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 60% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 73% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 67% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 77% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 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 | 22 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 18 |
| Of those, offered a place | 18 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 66 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.7 · 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 Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 22nd highest of 30 state primary schools in Horsham. Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.5% | 15.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 30 state primary schools in Horsham. Higher than 68% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 27th highest of 30 state primary schools in Horsham. Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.5% | 14.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 30 state primary schools in Horsham. Higher than 77% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 29.0% | 14.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 21st lowest of 30 state primary schools in Horsham. Lower than 50% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 22nd lowest of 30 state primary schools in Horsham. Lower than 57% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.6% | 11.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 15th lowest of 30 state primary schools in Horsham. Lower than 61% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5 | 2.8 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 16th lowest of 30 state primary schools in Horsham. Lower than 56% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 14th highest of 30 state primary schools in Horsham. Higher than 56% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.1 | 21.3 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 20th highest of 30 state primary schools in Horsham. Higher than 55% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.0 | 11.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 21st highest of 27 state primary schools in Horsham. Higher than 24% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 5.6% | 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
- Arunside School, Horsham 0.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Greenway Junior School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary's CofE (Aided) Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Trafalgar Community Infant School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024
- Shelley Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kingslea Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 strong · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- North Heath Community Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Heron Way Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 95% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holbrook Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Warnham CofE Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St John's Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St John's Catholic Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 March 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 21 September 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did St John's Catholic Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 60% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 2 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St John's Catholic Primary School?
96% of the 49 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend St John's Catholic Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St John's Catholic Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 18 families put St John's Catholic Primary School as their first choice for 22 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 18 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 126039.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- 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.