South Bersted CofE Primary School

About South Bersted CofE Primary School

South Bersted CofE Primary School is a state Church of England primary in the Arun district of West Sussex, currently teaching 200 pupils against a capacity of 210. That near-full roll suggests steady local demand, and the admissions data for the 2025/26 reception intake backs that up: the school received 109 applications for just 31 places, with 43 families listing it as their first preference. That works out at 3.5 applications per place, a clear signal of popularity. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 15%, which is below the national primary average of around 23%, indicating a relatively less deprived intake than many schools nationally. The school is mixed-gender and caters for children aged 4 to 11, with no nursery or sixth-form provision. Headteacher Noel Goodwin leads a school that, based on its intake data, is clearly a first-choice destination for many local families.

Academically, South Bersted performs above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 60% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with 56% across West Sussex. The school’s maths average score was 106 and reading average score was 108, both above the national benchmark of 100. A higher-than-average proportion of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading (37%) and maths (17%), though writing at the higher level was just 3%. In the Arun district, the school ranks 10th out of 27 primaries on the KS2 combined measure, placing it in the top half locally. Nationally, it sits around the 57th percentile. Ofsted last carried out a graded inspection in 2017, awarding a Good rating overall, with Good for early years provision, leadership and management, and quality of education. A subsequent ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed the school remains Good.

The school offers a decent range of facilities for a primary of its size, including a sports hall, gymnasium, library, art studios, a sensory room and a chapel, reflecting its Church of England foundation. Sports provision covers tennis, athletics, dance and gymnastics, while extracurricular clubs include choir, book club, art club and science club. For children with additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and physical disability. The nearest outstanding-rated primary is Rose Green Junior School, 3.6 km away. With its strong local demand, above-average KS2 results and Good Ofsted rating, South Bersted is a practical choice for families in the Bognor Regis area who want a church school with a clear academic track record and a broad set of facilities.

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