Classpot

St Thomas' Church of England Aided Primary School

Rother, TN36 4EDPrimaryAges 5–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Oct 2023
KS2 Results
65%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
23 1st-choice / 22 places
Ranking
#6,182
of 13,686 nationally

About St Thomas' Church of England Aided Primary School

St Thomas' Church of England Aided Primary School is a small primary in Rother, East Sussex, currently home to 139 pupils against a capacity of 150. That leaves a little breathing room, but demand tells a different story: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 43 applications for just 22 places, with 23 of those applications as first preferences. That oversubscription ratio of 1.95 means nearly two families compete for every spot, a clear signal of local popularity. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 16.5%, which is broadly in line with the national average for primary schools and suggests a genuinely mixed intake. Headteacher Dale Saxby leads a Church of England school that draws families from across the area, and the numbers show it's a sought-after choice for those who value a faith-based setting with a strong community feel.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range5 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressFriars Road, Winchelsea, Rother, TN36 4ED
HeadteacherDale Saxby
Local AuthorityEast Sussex
Number of Pupils139
Free School Meals (FSM)16.5%
School Capacity139 / 150 (93% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

3 Oct 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (3 Oct 2023): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 10 Nov 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Sports HallArt StudiosLibraryForest SchoolDining HallMusic RoomsPlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

11

Sports

GymnasticsFootballDanceCross CountryRoundersNetball

Clubs & Activities

GardeningChoirDramaCodingArt Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaSpeech & Language

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Thomas' Church of England Aided Primary School

St Thomas' Church of England Aided Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.