SchoolScoresSt Paul's CofE Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Part of DIOCESE OF CHICHESTER ACADEMY TRUST
Horntye Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN37 6RT
01424 424530 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 9 January 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 12 June 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good and may be improving, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
97 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
St Leonards-on-Sea comparisons use the 3 of its 9 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 6 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 | St Leonards-on-Sea | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Leonards-on-Sea. Higher than 69% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 92% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Leonards-on-Sea. Higher than 82% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 92% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Leonards-on-Sea. Higher than 71% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 81% | 78% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 15 parents whose child had been bullied 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Leonards-on-Sea. Higher than 65% of 329 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 53% | 49% | 43% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 87 parents who had raised a concern 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Leonards-on-Sea. Higher than 73% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 83% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 12 parents of children with SEND 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Leonards-on-Sea. Higher than 71% of 552 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 74% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Leonards-on-Sea. Higher than 79% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98%said yes | 91% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 15%). 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. St Leonards-on-Sea figures pool parents at the St Leonards-on-Sea 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
90 pupils in this year group.
72% — 11 points above the East Sussex average, and 10 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 72% | 61% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 10% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 84% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 79% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 80% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 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 East 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 90 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 89 |
| Of those, offered a place | 89 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 174 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
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. 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 | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 9 state primary schools in St Leonards-on-Sea. Higher than 78% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 38.3% | 25.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 6th highest of 9 state primary schools in St Leonards-on-Sea. Higher than 18% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.5% | 2.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 9 state primary schools in St Leonards-on-Sea. Higher than 72% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.9% | 16.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 9 state primary schools in St Leonards-on-Sea. Higher than 64% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.1% | 9.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 9 state primary schools in St Leonards-on-Sea. Lower than 26% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.9% | 5.7%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 5th lowest of 9 state primary schools in St Leonards-on-Sea. Lower than 24% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 16.9% | 14.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 3rd lowest of 9 state primary schools in St Leonards-on-Sea. Lower than 45% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 9 state primary schools in St Leonards-on-Sea. Lower than 37% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.1% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 6th highest of 9 state primary schools in St Leonards-on-Sea. Higher than 44% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.1 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 9 state primary schools in St Leonards-on-Sea. Higher than 53% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.9 | 10.9 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 9 state primary schools in St Leonards-on-Sea. Higher than 47% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 11.4% | 15.0%* | 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
- Christ Church CofE Primary and Nursery Academy 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ark Blacklands Primary Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2016), confirmed 2023 · 92% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mulberry Silverdale Primary 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Leonards CofE Primary Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mulberry Baird Primary 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hollington Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2022, before conversion) · 35% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ark Castledown Primary Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 1 exceptional, 6 strong · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mulberry West St Leonards Primary 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 4 expected · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Paul's CofE Academy's Ofsted rating?
St Paul's CofE Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 9 January 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 12 June 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good and may be improving, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.
How did St Paul's CofE Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 72% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 10 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Paul's CofE Academy?
98% of the 97 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend St Paul's CofE Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Paul's CofE Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 89 families put St Paul's CofE Academy as their first choice for 90 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 89 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 143034.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- 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.