Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #57 in West Sussex public Top 26% UK

Balcombe CofE Controlled Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Wendy Millbanks

location_onHaywards Heath, RH17 6HS

language Visit Website phone 1444811403

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

137

school

Expected Standard

71%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.1x

summarize

Balcombe CofE Controlled Primary School is a Voluntary controlled school primary school in Haywards Heath, serving ages 4-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time. Ranks in the top 26% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Balcombe CofE Controlled Primary School is a voluntary controlled school in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 137 pupils on roll.

In 2024, 71% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 7% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #57 of 213 primaries in West Sussex and #7,062 of 15,713 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 21.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2023/24 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

71%

LA 54%England 61%

Reading93% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing71% LA 65% · Eng 72%

Maths79% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

111

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

111

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

50%

LA 53%England 60%

Reading63% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Writing69% LA 65% · Eng 71%

Maths56% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.0

Read

LA 0.1

-3.3 to 3.3

-0.4

Write

LA -0.8

-3.6 to 2.7

-2.0

Maths

LA -0.8

-5.1 to 1.1

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

88%

LA 60%England 65%

Reading100% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing94% LA 73% · Eng 78%

Maths88% LA 74% · Eng 79%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

112

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.2

Read

LA 0.2

-1.1 to 5.4

-0.5

Write

LA -1.2

-3.5 to 2.5

0.8

Maths

LA -0.7

-2.0 to 3.7

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

75%

LA 60%

Reading90% LA 75%

Writing80% LA 73%

Maths80% LA 71%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA -0.1

1.4 to 6.6

-0.6

Write

LA -1.4

-3.1 to 1.9

1.8

Maths

LA -1.0

-0.6 to 4.2

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

Inspection Report

30 June 2024

Inspection Report

19 April 2023

Inspection Report

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20 October 2020

Inspection Report

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31 October 2017

Inspection Report

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13 December 2012

Inspection Report

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16 June 2010

Inspection Report

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04 July 2007

Inspection Report

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17 July 2001

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-04-19

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2017-10-31

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2012-12-13

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2010-06-16

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Summer term 2024

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.063% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Summer term of 2024, this school served a headcount of 135 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2023/24 (Summer term)	135	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	136	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	136	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	136	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	137	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	139	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	128	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	129	1	0.8%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	124	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	126	1	0.8%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	128	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	127	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	133	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	133	2	1.5%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	136	2	1.5%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	129	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	131	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	133	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	130	1	0.8%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	131	4	3.1%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	131	1	0.8%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	144	1	0.7%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	144	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	145	2	1.4%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

98.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

100.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

10.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree65%

agree33%

disagree2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree57%

agree37%

disagree6%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree39%

agree20%

disagree4%

strongly disagree2%

not applicable35%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes20%

no80%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree50%

agree40%

disagree10%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree51%

agree43%

disagree6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree63%

agree35%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree55%

agree39%

disagree4%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree61%

agree35%

disagree4%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree61%

agree29%

disagree8%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree63%

agree25%

disagree4%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes94%

no6%

Top Primary Schools in West Sussex

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Albourne Church of England Primary School

Good

location_on Hassocks, BN6 9DH

emoji_events #1 in LA

Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, Cuckfield

Good

location_on Haywards Heath, RH17 5BQ

emoji_events #2 in LA

Seymour Primary School

Good

location_on Crawley, RH11 9ES

emoji_events #3 in LA

Pound Hill Junior School, Crawley

Good

location_on Crawley, RH10 7EB

emoji_events #4 in LA

Heron Way Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Horsham, RH13 6DJ

emoji_events #5 in LA

Broadfield Primary Academy

Good

location_on Crawley, RH11 9PD

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in West Sussex arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in West Sussex

Albourne Church of England Primary School

Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, Cuckfield

Seymour Primary School

Pound Hill Junior School, Crawley

Heron Way Primary School

Broadfield Primary Academy