Eastergate CofE Primary School

About Eastergate CofE Primary School

Eastergate CofE Primary School sits well below the West Sussex average for primary schools when it comes to Key Stage 2 outcomes. The local authority average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined is 56 per cent; at Eastergate, that figure is just 37 per cent. That gap of 19 percentage points is significant and places the school 155th out of 226 primary schools in the county, firmly in the bottom half of the local rankings. Within the Arun district specifically, it ranks 22nd out of 27 schools. The school’s overall ranking score of 37 puts it in the bottom 50 per cent nationally, too. These headline numbers are the clearest signal that Eastergate is currently struggling to match the academic outcomes of its peers, and they set the context for the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, which rated it as Requires Improvement overall.

The 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results show a mixed picture across individual subjects. In maths, 67 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard, with an average scaled score of 100, while 7 per cent achieved the higher standard. Reading saw 53 per cent at the expected level and an average score of 100, but only 3 per cent reached the higher bar. Writing was weaker: 50 per cent met the expected standard and none achieved the higher standard. No progress scores are available for any of the three subjects. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, judged the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management all as Requires Improvement. However, early years provision and personal development were both rated Good, and the previous inspection in 2017 had given the school an overall Good rating. The parent view, based on 36 responses, shows 69 per cent would recommend the school, though 31 per cent would not.

Eastergate is a Church of England primary school for children aged 4 to 11, with 197 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210. It is oversubscribed for 2025/26: there were 60 applications for 28 places, with 20 first-preference offers made. The school offers a range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, a sensory room and a chapel, and runs clubs such as drama, choir, science club and coding. SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, and physical disabilities. For families weighing up options, Eastergate is a school where the pastoral and personal development elements are rated more strongly than the academic outcomes, and where the parent view is notably divided — particularly on behaviour, with 31 per cent strongly disagreeing that the school makes sure pupils are well behaved. It may suit families who prioritise the school’s inclusive SEND support and club offer over headline test results.

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