Arundel CofE Primary School

About Arundel CofE Primary School

Parents considering Arundel CofE Primary School will find strong signals that it is a popular choice locally. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 84 applications for just 30 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.8, meaning nearly three families applied for every available spot. Of those, 42 put the school as their first preference, and 29 first-preference offers were made. This level of demand suggests a school that local families actively seek out. While the data does not include a specific parent recommendation percentage, the high application numbers and the fact that the school is oversubscribed are practical indicators of its standing in the community. The school is a Church of England primary for mixed genders aged 4 to 11, with a capacity of 210 pupils and currently 209 on roll, so it is running almost full. The headteacher is A D Simpson.

Academically, Arundel CofE Primary performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 81% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a West Sussex local authority average of 56%. This places the school 2nd out of 27 primary schools in the Arun district and in the top 10% nationally. In individual subjects, 97% met the expected standard in maths, 94% in reading and 84% in writing. Higher-standard attainment was also strong: 63% achieved a higher score in reading, 56% in maths and 25% in writing. The average scaled scores were 109 in maths and 111 in reading. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024, the school was judged to remain Good overall, with leadership and management rated Outstanding. The early years provision was rated Good, and the previous graded inspection in 2015 also rated overall effectiveness as Good.

The school offers a solid range of facilities and support. On site there is a library, music rooms, art studios, a sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields and a forest school area, plus a chapel. Sports include rounders, swimming, gymnastics, cricket and dance, and there are clubs for science, chess and choir. For children with additional needs, the school has identified provisions for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, visual impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. With 5.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively low-deprivation intake. Given its oversubscription, families should be prepared to apply early and likely need to live within the catchment area or meet the Church of England admission criteria. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes in a church primary setting with good facilities and a clear local reputation.

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