Five Ashes CofE Primary School

About Five Ashes CofE Primary School

Five Ashes CofE Primary School is a small Church of England primary in Wealden, East Sussex, and its headline academic metrics present a mixed picture when set against the local authority average. The school's proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined sits at 45%, which is notably below the East Sussex LA average of 59%. This places it 107th out of 144 primary schools in the county, and in the bottom 50% nationally on that metric. However, the story is more nuanced when you look at individual subjects. In maths, 91% of pupils met the expected standard, and the average maths score of 106 is solid. Reading and writing expected rates are lower, at 64% and 73% respectively, and the proportion reaching the higher standard in any subject is in single digits for reading and writing. So while the school struggles with combined attainment, its maths performance is a clear strength relative to its overall ranking.

The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, conducted in February 2025, judged it Good overall, with Good ratings for quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. The early years provision was rated Requires Improvement, which is worth noting for parents of younger children. The previous inspection, back in 2012, also rated the school Good, so the overall standard has been consistent. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 100% of the 17 respondents would recommend the school, and 88% strongly agreed that their child is happy and feels safe. The school has a strong sense of community, with 100% of parents agreeing that concerns are dealt with properly, and 82% strongly agreeing they are kept aware of what their child will learn. The only area where a minority of parents expressed dissatisfaction was around clubs and activities, where 18% disagreed that their child can take part, and 6% strongly disagreed.

Five Ashes is a very small school, with just 57 pupils against a capacity of 64, and it was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 13 applications for 6 places, with 5 first-preference offers made. The school offers a range of facilities including a sensory room, forest school, ICT suite, chapel and playing fields, and runs clubs such as coding, gardening, art, science, chess and book club. Sports include netball, football, dance and cross country. The school's SEND provisions cover social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. With 22.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a moderately diverse intake. This is a school that suits families who value a close-knit, rural Church of England setting and who prioritise pastoral care and community feel over headline academic rankings, but who should be aware that maths is a relative strength while combined literacy outcomes need attention.

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