Iford and Kingston Church of England Primary School

About Iford and Kingston Church of England Primary School

Iford and Kingston Church of England Primary School is a state primary in the Lewes district of East Sussex, serving 182 pupils aged 2 to 11. Within the local authority, it ranks 5th out of 23 primary schools based on the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2, placing it in the top 25% nationally. The top-performing peers in the area are St Peter and St Paul CofE Primary School, Catsfield Church of England Primary School, and Blackboys Church of England Primary School, all of which score higher on the same metric. The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, with 33 applications for 16 places and 14 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.06. This level of demand suggests it is a popular choice among local families, particularly those seeking a Church of England primary with a strong academic record in the Lewes area.

In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2019, the school was rated Good overall, with Good ratings for leadership and management, and early years provision. An ungraded inspection in December 2024 confirmed that standards have been maintained. At Key Stage 2 in the 2023/24 academic year, 76% of pupils achieved the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, well above the East Sussex local authority average of 59%. Reading scores were particularly strong, with an average scaled score of 110 and 89% reaching the expected standard, while maths averaged 107. However, only 12% of pupils reached the higher standard in all three subjects, and progress scores are not available in the data. Parent feedback from the period September 2024 to September 2025 is largely positive: 86% of respondents would recommend the school, and 89% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy there. Concerns were raised around SEND support, where 52% of parents disagreed or strongly disagreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, a notable split given 27% of respondents have a child with SEND.

The school offers a range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, music rooms, a sensory room, a library, a chapel, and an ICT suite. Sports provision includes athletics, football, rounders, cricket, dance, and tennis, while clubs cover book club, drama, art, film, chess, and science. SEND provisions are listed for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and other difficulties. With a nursery provision and a capacity of 210, the school is currently operating below capacity with 182 pupils. It is a Church of England school with a religious character, and the headteacher is Stewart James. This school will suit families in the Lewes area who prioritise strong academic outcomes at Key Stage 2, particularly in reading, and who value a church school with a broad range of clubs and facilities, though parents of children with SEND may want to investigate the support on offer more closely before applying.

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