St Mary's CofE Aided Infant School, Frensham

About St Mary's CofE Aided Infant School, Frensham

St Mary's CofE Aided Infant School in Frensham is a small Church of England primary for children aged 5 to 7, currently home to 87 pupils against a capacity of 90. That near-full roll is no surprise given the demand: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 120 applications for just 30 places, an oversubscription ratio of 4 to 1. Only 21 of those offers went to first-preference families, suggesting that while the school is popular, securing a place is competitive. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 4.6%, well below the national average and reflective of the relatively affluent Waverley area. The school's Church of England character is woven into daily life, with a chapel on site, though the intake is mixed. Headteacher Lucy Allan leads a setting that feels deliberately intimate — just three year groups, which allows for close relationships between staff and children.

Academically, St Mary's holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2025, with a notable Outstanding grade for personal development. The inspection judged the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management all as Good, while early years provision also came in at Good. The previous inspection, back in 2010, had also rated overall effectiveness as Good, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over time. The parent view survey, based on 61 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, is overwhelmingly positive: 98% of parents would recommend the school. Strongly agree scores were particularly high for happiness (87%), safety (89%), and the sense that children do well (79%). The school does not publish Key Stage 2 results because it only covers infants up to Year 2, so parents looking for SATs data will need to consider the junior school their child moves on to.

The school sits on a site with playing fields, a library, a dining hall, and an outdoor playground, plus a Forest School area that supports outdoor learning. Sports on offer include football, cricket, swimming, cross country, gymnastics and athletics, while clubs range from art and gardening to chess and eco club. SEND provision covers moderate learning difficulties and other difficulties or disabilities, though the parent view data on SEND support was not completed by any respondents, so it is hard to gauge satisfaction in that area. With only 87 pupils and a single-form entry, this is a school for families who value a close-knit, church-affiliated infant setting where children are known individually. The high oversubscription means early application is essential, and the lack of nursery provision means children join in Reception. For those who secure a place, the feedback suggests a happy, safe environment with strong personal development at its core.

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