Thomas A Becket Infant School
105%
Capacity
502
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About Thomas A Becket Infant School
If you’re looking for a school where parents are genuinely happy, the numbers at Thomas A Becket Infant School speak clearly. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering responses from September 2024 to September 2025, 98% of the 201 parents who responded said they would recommend the school. That’s an exceptionally high figure. Digging into the detail, 86% strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 90% strongly agreed that their child feels safe. On behaviour, 68% strongly agreed that the school ensures pupils are well-behaved, with a further 28% agreeing. The school is also clearly popular with local families: for the 2025/26 intake, it was oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.28 applicants per place. There were 342 total applications for 150 places, and 164 of those were first-preference choices, all of which were offered. That level of demand suggests a strong reputation among Worthing parents.
Academically, the school holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across its two most recent graded inspections. The most recent inspection was an ungraded visit in December 2024, where inspectors confirmed that standards were being maintained. In the previous graded inspection, back in July 2015, leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness were all judged Good. The school is a primary for children aged 4 to 7, so there are no Key Stage 2 SATs results to compare against the West Sussex local authority average of 56. However, the school’s size is notable: with 502 pupils against a capacity of 480, it is running slightly over its official number, which again points to its popularity. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 11.4%, which gives some context to the intake.
For practical considerations, the school offers a solid range of facilities including a library, music rooms, an ICT suite, a forest school, and playing fields. Sports on offer include football, swimming, athletics, rounders, and dance, while clubs range from choir and art to chess and eco club. SEND provision is well-documented, covering areas such as autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. The school is a state-funded, mixed-gender infant school with no religious character and no nursery or sixth form. It suits families in Worthing who want a well-regarded local primary with strong parent satisfaction and a clear focus on the early years, particularly those who value a school that is oversubscribed for good reason.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 7 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Pelham Road, Worthing, Worthing, BN13 1JB |
| Headteacher | Becky Linford |
| Local Authority | West Sussex |
| Number of Pupils | 502 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 11.4% |
| School Capacity | 502 / 480 (105% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Dec 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (11 Dec 2024): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 3 Sept 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Ofsted Parent View
201 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed150
342
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
164 families put this school as their 1st choice (48% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 14:50
Source: tabinfant.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British82.9%
- Mixed6.4%
- White (other)4.2%
- Asian3.4%
- Black0.4%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
12
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
9
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Thomas A Becket Infant School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Pelham Road, Worthing
Worthing, BN13 1JB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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