Ashdown Primary School

About Ashdown Primary School

Ashdown Primary School in Wealden, East Sussex, holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained consistently across its two most recent inspections. In its most recent ungraded inspection in November 2023, the school was confirmed to have 'remained Good'. The most telling academic metric for this primary school is its Key Stage 2 performance in reading, writing and maths combined. In the 2023/24 academic year, 61% of pupils met the expected standard in all three subjects. That figure sits just above the East Sussex local authority average of 59%, placing the school in a solid, if not spectacular, position within its area. Nationally, Ashdown ranks in the 55th percentile among all primary schools, and within the South East region it sits around the midpoint. While the school does not break into the top tier of its local peers, it delivers a reliable, above-average outcome for its pupils.

Looking deeper at the individual subject scores, the picture is one of consistent, steady performance. In reading, 72% of pupils reached the expected standard, with an average scaled score of 105. Writing saw 82% of pupils meet expectations, the strongest of the three core subjects. Maths was slightly lower, with 69% at the expected level and an average score of 104. At the higher standard, 7% of pupils achieved the top marks across reading, writing and maths combined. This is a modest figure, suggesting the school focuses more on securing solid foundations for the majority rather than pushing a large cohort into the highest tier. The school ranks 22nd out of 48 primary schools in the Wealden local authority area, placing it in the bottom half of its immediate district. For parents prioritising a school that consistently meets the national benchmark without exceptional highs or lows, Ashdown offers a dependable option.

The school is popular and oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 127 applications for 59 places, with 54 first-preference offers made from 57 first-preference applications. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 2.15, meaning competition is real but not extreme. Ashdown caters for 401 pupils aged 4 to 11, with a below-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 7.5%. Facilities include a Forest School, library, ICT suite, art studios and a chapel. Sports provision covers cricket, swimming, tennis, gymnastics and cross country, while clubs range from choir and drama to coding and chess. The school has a broad SEND offer, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, physical disabilities, social and emotional challenges, and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes it a strong fit for families seeking a well-resourced state primary with a wide range of enrichment activities and a clear, consistent academic record.

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