Pound Hill Infant Academy

About Pound Hill Infant Academy

Pound Hill Infant Academy is a state primary school in Crawley, within the West Sussex local authority. Among the 226 primary schools in the LA, it sits just behind the top-ranked peers — Barns Green Primary School, Heron Way Primary School, and Aldingbourne Primary School — but its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2025 paints a picture of a school performing well above the norm. The inspection judged the school as Good overall, but awarded Outstanding ratings for early years provision, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. This is a school that has clearly held strong standards over time: its previous inspection in 2014 rated it Outstanding across the board. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Forge Wood Primary School, 1.9 km away, but Pound Hill’s own inspection record suggests it is a serious contender for local families seeking a high-quality infant education.

Academically, the school’s outcomes are not published in the data, but the Ofsted breakdown and parent feedback offer strong indicators. The quality of education was rated Good, and the early years provision — covering the Reception year — was Outstanding. Parent views are overwhelmingly positive: 98% of the 51 respondents would recommend the school. On the question of whether the school has high expectations for their child, 86% agreed or strongly agreed, and 98% felt their child does well. The school’s capacity is 270 pupils, and it currently has 269 on roll, so it is effectively full. The percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals is 7.4%, below the national average, and the school supports a range of special educational needs including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs.

For families considering Pound Hill Infant Academy, the practical picture is clear. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 292 applications for 90 places, a ratio of 3.24 applicants per place, and 84 first-preference offers were made from 97 first-preference applications. Facilities include an outdoor playground, library, playing fields, sports hall, and a chapel. Sports on offer include cricket, gymnastics, football, swimming, rounders, and cross country, while clubs range from eco club and film club to choir and art club. The school is non-denominational and does not have a nursery or sixth form. It is a mixed, infant-only setting for children aged 4 to 7, led by headteacher Thomas Jordan. This is a school that suits families who value strong behaviour, personal development, and a well-supported early years experience, and who are prepared for a competitive admissions process.

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