Warnham CofE Primary School
95%
Capacity
200
Pupils
2.9x
Demand
About Warnham CofE Primary School
Warnham CofE Primary School is a Church of England state primary in Horsham, West Sussex, currently operating close to its capacity of 210 pupils with 200 on roll. The school serves a relatively affluent intake, with just 5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well below the national average. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 87 total applications for 30 places, with 45 first-preference applications and 30 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.9. This suggests a popular local option, though the school ranks 33rd out of 226 primary schools of the same type in West Sussex, and 8th out of 35 in Horsham specifically. The headteacher is Shirley Kirby, and the school has a mixed gender intake for ages 4 to 11.
Academically, Warnham performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 69% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to a West Sussex average of 56%. The school’s ranking score of 69 places it in the top 50 nationally for this metric. Subject-level scores are solid: average reading and maths scores of 106 and 105 respectively, with 79% reaching the expected standard in each. Higher-standard attainment is more modest, with 7% achieving the higher standard across all three subjects. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2024 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also Good, and early years provision judged Outstanding. This represents a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2016, when the school was rated Requires Improvement.
The school offers a range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, music rooms, art studios, an ICT suite, a library, an outdoor playground, a forest school and a chapel. Sports provision includes rounders, netball, cross country, football, cricket, athletics and swimming, with clubs in gardening, drama and choir. SEND support covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and physical disability. However, the Parent View survey, based on 71 responses, reveals some concerns: only 26% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that SEND children get the support they need, and 83% would recommend the school. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes in a popular, oversubscribed village primary with a clear Church of England character.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Freeman Road, Rh12 3rq, Horsham, Horsham, RH12 3RQ |
| Headteacher | Shirley Kirby |
| Local Authority | West Sussex |
| Number of Pupils | 200 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 5.0% |
| School Capacity | 200 / 210 (95% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
27 Nov 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (27 Nov 2024): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 6 Mar 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (69%)
4617th of 13,686
Nationally
647th of 2,034
In South East
8th of 35
In Horsham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
69%
Expected Standard
7%
Higher Standard
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
Ofsted Parent View
71 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
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed30
87
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
45 families put this school as their 1st choice (52% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half 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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British91.5%
- Mixed5.5%
- Asian0.5%
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 half 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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
1
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 Warnham CofE Primary 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
Freeman Road, Rh12 3rq, Horsham
Horsham, RH12 3RQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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