Bourne Primary School

About Bourne Primary School

Bourne Primary School in Eastbourne is running close to capacity, with 446 pupils on roll against a school capacity of 450. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 32.5%, which is notably high and signals a catchment serving families with significant economic need. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 71 applications for 47 places, with 39 first-preference offers made. That oversubscription ratio of 1.51 suggests a school that local families actively want, even if its overall academic profile is modest. The school is a mixed, non-denominational state primary for ages 3 to 11, with a nursery provision attached. Its headteacher is Cassandra Palmer. The school sits within the East Sussex local authority, and its religious character is listed as 'does not apply'.

Academically, Bourne Primary faces clear challenges. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, just 38% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 59%. Only 2% achieved the higher standard in all three subjects. Reading scores were the strongest area, with 58% reaching the expected standard and an average scaled score of 101, while maths lagged behind at 49% expected and an average score of 98. The school ranks bottom among ten Eastbourne primaries on this combined measure, and sits in the bottom 50 nationally. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024 rated overall effectiveness as Requires Improvement, though inspectors noted improvements: behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management were all graded Good, and early years provision was also Good. The previous inspection in December 2021 had rated all areas as Requires Improvement, so there is evidence of progress.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including an ICT suite, sports hall, sensory room and outdoor playground. Sports provision covers cricket, netball, dance, swimming, athletics and cross country, while clubs include gardening, art and coding. SEND support is broad, covering moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school is oversubscribed, so families applying should be prepared for a competitive process. Bourne Primary will suit parents who value a school that is actively improving, with strong pastoral and SEND provision, and who are comfortable with a setting where academic outcomes are below the local average but where behaviour and personal development are rated positively by inspectors.

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