Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School

Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School is currently showing signs of improvement, although recent changes in leadership and historical weaknesses have impacted student performance. The school is working on ambitious plans to enhance both academic and social achievements for its pupils. While there is a focus on building an open and trusting environment where students feel valued, it is clear that many pupils are not reaching their potential in areas like reading and mathematics, largely due to gaps in prior learning and inconsistencies in assessment practices. Positive changes have been seen, such as the introduction of a new approach to behaviour management and enhanced support for pupils' emotional well-being. Most students attend regularly, and the school is fostering better relationships with families to improve attendance. Despite these strengths, further development is necessary to ensure that all pupils, including those with additional needs, are adequately supported to catch up and succeed academically. This inspection serves as a backdrop to an upcoming graded inspection, which will assess the sustainability of the school's improvements.

Strengths

• Pupils feel safe and valued in a supportive environment.
• The school council effectively incorporates pupils' suggestions.
• There is a strong emphasis on reading and the provision of training for staff.
• Many pupils demonstrate good behaviour and character development.
• Positive relationships with families are helping to improve attendance.

Areas for Improvement

• Many pupils do not achieve as well as they should in reading and mathematics.
• Learning gaps are not always accurately identified, leading to inconsistent support.
• Assessment is inconsistently used across the curriculum, affecting student progress.

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 Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School attended 94.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.2% 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, 6.7% of pupils at Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). 2 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 Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School had 17.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 20.0% 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, 27.2% of pupils at Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.9% 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 Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School received £9,871 and spent £9,906 for each of its 103 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £11,000 (£106 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 Wadhurst · East Sussex local authority: places and applications

What is Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School is Good, from an inspection in February 2025.

When was Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School was last inspected in February 2025.

How many pupils does Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School have?

Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School has 103 pupils on roll.

What age range does Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School cover?

Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 31% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School?

Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School is at Steellands Rise, Ticehurst, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 7DH.