St. Mark's CofE Primary School

About St. Mark's CofE Primary School

St. Mark's CofE Primary School is a small Church of England state primary in Mid Sussex, part of the West Sussex local authority. Among the 30 primary schools in the Mid Sussex area, it ranks third, placing it comfortably in the top 10 per cent locally. The school sits just behind Heron Way Primary School, Barns Green Primary School, and Aldingbourne Primary School, which are the top-performing peers in the same local authority. With just 101 pupils on roll and a capacity of 105, it is a genuinely intimate setting where class sizes are small and every child is known by name. The school is oversubscribed — 43 families applied for 13 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, with only 10 first-preference offers made — which tells you how sought-after it is among local parents. Its Church of England character adds a layer of community identity, though the school is open to all families regardless of faith.

Academically, St. Mark's delivers strong results at Key Stage 2. In the 2023/24 assessments, 75 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined — well above the West Sussex local authority average of 56 per cent. Reading is a particular strength: 94 per cent of pupils met the expected standard, and 56 per cent achieved a higher standard, with an average scaled score of 110. Maths also performed well, with an average score of 103 and 25 per cent of pupils reaching the higher standard. Writing and maths both saw 75 per cent or more hitting the expected mark. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in March 2024, confirmed it remains Good overall, with leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness all rated Good. This is a notable improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2014, when the school was judged to require improvement.

The school is well equipped for a primary of its size, with facilities including a library, sensory room, gymnasium, music rooms, playing fields, forest school area, art studios, ICT suite, and a chapel. Sports on offer include athletics, cricket, football, and cross country, while clubs range from art and choir to drama and eco club. St. Mark's also provides for a wide range of SEND needs, including specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, multi-sensory impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 19.8 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a mixed catchment. This is a good fit for families who value a strong academic record in a small, community-focused setting, and who are prepared to compete for a place in a popular local school.

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