St John's Church of England Primary School

St John's Church of England Primary School is a good school across all inspected areas, with no overall effectiveness grade given because this was a graded inspection under the current framework. Pupils develop a strong sense of belonging, behave kindly and are expected to work hard and achieve well. Character development is a particular strength, and pupils benefit from a broad curriculum, strong early reading provision and a wide range of personal development opportunities. Leaders and governors share a clear vision and safeguarding arrangements are effective. The school has addressed writing for older pupils following the pandemic, and outcomes in writing are stronger as a result. However, the writing curriculum for younger pupils does not yet give enough teaching and practice in foundational skills such as handwriting and composing simple sentences, which slows progress for some. The curriculum is also not consistently adapted for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND); in some subjects teachers are less confident in adapting learning, so some pupils rely too heavily on adult support. This was the school's first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspectors also noted that younger pupils sometimes need more reminders about behaviour in lessons, and that expectations for attentiveness are not yet equally high among all staff. The school has begun work to address the SEND adaptation issue but recognises there is more to do.

Strengths

• Pupils develop a deep sense of belonging and safety through the buddy system and cross-age friendships.
• Pupils consistently behave kindly and older pupils are attentive and responsive to staff.
• Character development is a strength, helping pupils embrace opportunities and persevere through difficulty.
• The curriculum is broad and balanced, with careful thought given to early years preparation for key stage 1.
• Staff bring the curriculum to life through enrichment such as local geography field trips.
• Early reading provision has been further strengthened, with trained staff and timely support for pupils who are not yet fluent readers.
• Older pupils read widely and have positive views of reading.
• A new writing curriculum for older pupils has improved their writing outcomes.
• Personal, social and health education is comprehensive, helping pupils stay healthy and safe.
• Pupils develop a strong sense of community responsibility and contribute within and beyond school.
• Pupils' individual talents and interests are carefully nurtured and celebrated.
• Leaders and governors share a clear and ambitious vision and are mindful of staff workload.
• Governors know the school and community well and have the information they need to carry out their roles.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Areas for Improvement

• The writing curriculum for younger pupils does not provide enough teaching and practice in foundational skills such as handwriting and composing simple sentences.
• Some younger pupils do not have age-appropriate fluency in their writing.
• The curriculum is not consistently well adapted to meet the individual needs of pupils with SEND.
• Some teachers are less confident in adapting the curriculum for pupils with SEND, leaving pupils more reliant on adult support.
• In a small number of subjects, parts of the curriculum need further refinement so teachers understand how to teach the small steps of learning effectively.
• Sometimes younger pupils need more reminders about how to behave well in lessons.
• The school is still working to ensure all staff have equally high expectations for pupils' attentiveness in lessons.

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 St John's Church of England Primary School attended 95.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 8.9% 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, 0.0% of pupils at St John's Church of England 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 St John's Church of England Primary School had 23.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.8% 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, 2.9% of pupils at St John's Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.9% 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 St John's Church of England Primary School received £6,406 and spent £6,299 for each of its 210 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £125,000 (£595 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).

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

What is St John's Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St John's Church of England Primary School is Good, from an inspection in May 2025.

When was St John's Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

St John's Church of England Primary School was last inspected in May 2025.

How many pupils does St John's Church of England Primary School have?

St John's Church of England Primary School has 210 pupils on roll.

What age range does St John's Church of England Primary School cover?

St John's Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are St John's Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 66% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St John's Church of England Primary School?

St John's Church of England Primary School is at School Lane, St John's, Crowborough, East Sussex, TN6 1SD.