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Blackthorns Community Primary Academy

Mid Sussex, RH16 2UAPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Apr 2025
KS2 Results
67%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
34 1st-choice / 30 places
Ranking
#5,319
of 13,686 nationally

About Blackthorns Community Primary Academy

Blackthorns Community Primary Academy has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted, a significant jump from its previous Good rating, and the inspection team gave top marks across the board — leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness all scored the highest possible grade of 1. The most telling exam metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined: 67% did so in the 2023/24 academic year. That is well above the West Sussex local authority average of 56%, placing Blackthorns 44th out of 226 primary schools in the county. In the more local Mid Sussex ranking, the school sits 9th out of 30, putting it in the top third of its immediate area. The school also performed strongly in individual subjects, with 83% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading and 73% in both writing and maths.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
Address3 Blackthorns Close, Haywards Heath, Mid Sussex, RH16 2UA
HeadteacherMarianne Brand (Interim Head)
Local AuthorityWest Sussex
Number of Pupils210
Free School Meals (FSM)4.3%
School Capacity210 / 210 (100% full)

The full report on this school

What 72 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 English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

30 Apr 2025
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Early Years Provision
Outstanding

Latest monitoring visit (30 Apr 2025): Some aspects not as strong

Source: Ofsted, 31 Oct 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
LibrarySports HallGymnasiumForest SchoolMusic RoomsPlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

12

Sports

FootballAthleticsTennisCricketNetballSwimmingGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

GardeningChoirCodingScience ClubDrama

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:15

Source: blackthornsprimaryacademy.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Blackthorns Community Primary Academy

Blackthorns Community Primary Academy has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.