Southover CofE Primary School

Southover CofE Primary School is performing well overall, maintaining its status as a good school since its last inspection. The school emphasizes a positive, inclusive ethos reflected in its motto 'live, love, learn,' which is embraced by the community. Pupils express a strong sense of safety and support from staff, contributing to a vibrant school culture focused on learning and personal development. The commitment to enhancing literacy, particularly in reading, is evident, with pupils showing enthusiasm and engagement, particularly in the older year groups. However, despite notable strengths in curriculum delivery and a supportive environment, there are some concerns regarding phonics teaching. While the school has addressed some issues, inconsistencies in phonics instruction mean that not all pupils are learning to read as effectively as they could. Continued support and staff training in phonics implementation are necessary to ensure that all pupils achieve reading fluency in line with the school's aspirations.

Strengths

• Strong emphasis on inclusivity and community values.
• Pupils feel safe and supported by kind staff.
• Excitement about reading, with very good achievements in older year groups.
• Refined curriculum meets the needs of mixed-age classes effectively.
• Wide range of extracurricular clubs and activities available.
• Early swimming lessons contribute to pupils' independence.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistencies in phonics instruction affecting reading fluency.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Southover CofE Primary School attended 95.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 10.2% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.4% of pupils at Southover CofE Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Southover CofE Primary School had 22.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.7% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 21.2% of pupils at Southover CofE Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Southover CofE Primary School received £5,850 and spent £6,219 for each of its 288 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £99,000 (£345 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Lewes · East Sussex local authority: places and applications

What is Southover CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Southover CofE Primary School is Good, from an inspection in March 2024.

When was Southover CofE Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Southover CofE Primary School was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does Southover CofE Primary School have?

Southover CofE Primary School has 288 pupils on roll.

What age range does Southover CofE Primary School cover?

Southover CofE Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Southover CofE Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Southover CofE Primary School?

Southover CofE Primary School is at Potters Lane, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1JP.