Sheddingdean Community Primary School

About Sheddingdean Community Primary School

Sheddingdean Community Primary School is a state primary in Mid Sussex that runs very close to full capacity, with 208 pupils against a published capacity of 210. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 13.5%, which is worth noting in the context of the West Sussex local authority average — though the data doesn’t give that exact LA figure, it’s a useful benchmark for families comparing intake. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 112 applications for just 30 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.73. Of those, 29 were first-preference applications, and 28 first-preference offers were made, meaning almost every family who put it first got a place, but competition from other preferences is clearly high. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and serves ages 4 to 11, with no nursery or sixth form provision. Headteacher Hannah Riley leads a school that, demographically, reflects a fairly typical primary intake for the area, though the oversubscription figures suggest it’s a popular choice locally.

Academically, Sheddingdean’s most recent KS2 results from 2023/24 show a mixed picture. In reading, 93% of pupils reached the expected standard and 33% achieved a higher standard — both strong figures. Maths saw 77% at expected and 13% at higher, while writing had 73% at expected but no pupils reaching the higher threshold. The combined reading, writing and maths expected standard was 67%, which places the school 10th out of 30 primary schools in Mid Sussex and in the top 50% nationally. That combined figure is notably above the West Sussex local authority average of 56%, suggesting the school is performing well relative to its peers in the area. However, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024 rated overall effectiveness as Requires Improvement, with the quality of education also judged Requires Improvement. On a more positive note, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management were all rated Good, and early years provision was also Good. This is an improvement on the previous inspection in December 2021, which rated all areas as Requires Improvement.

The school offers a decent range of facilities including a library, outdoor playground, sensory room, ICT suite, forest school, gymnasium, art studios and a chapel. Sports provision covers tennis, netball, dance, football, gymnastics and rounders, and there are clubs for science, eco and gardening. SEND support is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. Given the oversubscription, families applying from outside the immediate catchment should be realistic about their chances, though first-preference applicants fared very well in the most recent round. This school will suit families who value a primary with strong KS2 reading outcomes, a clear improvement trajectory in leadership and behaviour since the last inspection, and a good range of enrichment activities despite the overall Ofsted rating. The forest school and sensory room are particular draws for children who benefit from outdoor learning or need additional sensory support.

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