Balcombe Cofe Primary School

Balcombe Cofe Primary School at a glance

Located in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, Balcombe Cofe Primary School is a primary school, classified by the DfE as a converter academy with a Church of England religious character. The school educates roughly 141 pupils aged 4 to 11. Ofsted judged the school to be 'Good' at its most recent inspection. In the most recent Key Stage 2 SATs, 63% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — broadly in line with the national average of 61%. That is down 8.0 percentage points in the proportion reaching the expected standard on the previous year, though small year groups can make these figures swing sharply from year to year. On our composite score, which combines the DfE attainment measures above, this places it in the lower half of primary schools nationally.

Pupils achieved an average scaled score of 108 in reading and 104 in maths (national averages are about 105 and 104). 5% reached the higher standard across all three subjects (around 8% do so nationally). 95% of the families who made Balcombe Cofe Primary School their first choice were offered a Reception place for September 2026, even though the school made at least as many offers as it had first choices - the rest withdrew, moved or fell outside a priority group. The council's own allocation figures show the last child offered a place for 2026 lived 3.70 miles away in a straight line — that distance is not a fixed catchment and moves each year. There are about 22.3 pupils per teacher. Its intake is relatively advantaged, with around 9% of pupils eligible for free school meals in the last six years versus about 24% nationally. Given the recent dip in results, it may be worth asking the school what is behind the change and what is being done in response. This overview is generated automatically from the latest published DfE performance tables and Ofsted data; figures are rounded, and you can check the originals via the official links above.