SchoolScoresSt Mary's CofE Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
School Lane, Washington, Pulborough, RH20 4AP
01903 892401 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 13 February 2019.
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 | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 8 May 2024: 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
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Pulborough comparisons use the 6 of its 8 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 2 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 | Pulborough | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pulborough. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 96% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pulborough. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pulborough. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 90% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 15 parents who had raised a concern Joint 1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pulborough. Higher than 95% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 90% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pulborough. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%said yes | 95% | 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. Pulborough figures pool parents at the Pulborough 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
15 pupils in this year group.
53% — 7 points below the West Sussex average, and 9 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 53% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 13% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 80% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 67% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 73% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 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 | 15 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 9 |
| Of those, offered a place | 9 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 45 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 0.6
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 8 state primary schools in Pulborough. Higher than 3% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 15.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 6th highest of 8 state primary schools in Pulborough. Higher than 30% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.1% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 8 state primary schools in Pulborough. Higher than 73% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.1% | 14.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 7th highest of 8 state primary schools in Pulborough. Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 14.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 8 state primary schools in Pulborough. Lower than 55% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 5th lowest of 8 state primary schools in Pulborough. Lower than 50% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 11.7% | 11.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 8 state primary schools in Pulborough. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.8 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 8 state primary schools in Pulborough. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 5th highest of 8 state primary schools in Pulborough. Higher than 17% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 17.1 | 21.3 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 8 state primary schools in Pulborough. Higher than 46% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.5 | 11.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 4th highest of 7 state primary schools in Pulborough. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 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
- Thakeham Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2024 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ashington CofE Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011), confirmed 2022 · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Storrington Primary School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John the Baptist CofE Primary School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Mary's CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Mary's CofE Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 13 February 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 8 May 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did St Mary's CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 53% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 9 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Mary's CofE Primary School?
100% of the 17 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend St Mary's CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Mary's CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 9 families put St Mary's CofE Primary School as their first choice for 15 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 9 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 125999.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.