Barcombe Church of England Primary School
About Barcombe Church of England Primary School
Barcombe Church of England Primary School is a small state primary in Lewes, East Sussex, with 125 pupils on roll against a capacity of 140, meaning it has some room to grow. Its intake is notably less disadvantaged than the national average, with 8.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals compared with around 23% nationally. The school is clearly popular locally: for the 2025/26 admissions cycle, it received 36 applications for 20 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.8, and 23 of those applications were first preferences, all 20 of which were offered. That level of demand suggests families in the area see it as a strong option. The school has a Church of England character and is led by headteacher Stewart James. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, judged the school as Good overall, with Outstanding marks for personal development and for behaviour and attitudes — a notable strength that parents seem to recognise.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 51 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Feb 2025From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.
Source: Ofsted, 19 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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