Danehill Church of England Primary School

About Danehill Church of England Primary School

Danehill Church of England Primary School is a small state primary in Wealden, East Sussex, and it is clearly popular with local families. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 21 applications for just 10 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.1. Of those 21 applications, nine were first-preference choices, and the school made offers to all nine of those first-preference families. This level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, though it is worth noting that the school does not publish a parent-view survey result, so we cannot report a specific recommendation percentage. The school is led by headteacher Katie Jones and has a Church of England religious character. It currently has 91 pupils on roll against a capacity of 105, meaning there is some physical room to grow, but the oversubscription data shows that securing a place is competitive.

Academically, Danehill’s most recent Key Stage 2 results from the 2023/24 academic year show a mixed picture. The proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined was 60%, which is just above the East Sussex local authority average of 59%. However, the school’s ranking within Wealden places it 23rd out of 48 primary schools, putting it in the bottom 50% nationally. In individual subjects, reading was a relative strength: 80% of pupils met the expected standard and 40% achieved a higher standard. Maths saw 60% at expected and 30% at higher, while writing also had 80% at expected but no pupils reached the higher threshold. The average scaled scores were 105 in reading and 103 in maths. The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection in January 2019 rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership and management. An ungraded inspection in June 2024 confirmed the school remains Good, though with some concerns flagged.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including playing fields, a library, art studios, a sports hall and a chapel. Sports provision covers swimming, football, dance, rounders, athletics, cross country and tennis, while extracurricular clubs include choir, science club and drama. For families with children who have additional needs, Danehill lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school does not have a nursery or a sixth form, and it is not a boarding school. Given its oversubscribed status and Church of England foundation, this school will particularly suit families who value a small, community-focused primary with a religious character, and who are prepared to compete for a place. The academic results are around the local average, so it is a solid, if not standout, choice within the Wealden area.

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