Ashurst CofE Primary School

Ashurst CofE Primary School is a small village Church of England primary school that inspectors found to be performing well across all key areas. Pupils are happy, behave very well and benefit from a strong sense of community, high expectations and effective support, including for pupils with SEND. The curriculum has been substantially revised, reading and phonics are prioritised, and personal development is a notable strength through a wide range of clubs, trips and responsibilities. Staff morale is high, and governors support and challenge leaders effectively. This was the school’s first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic, and under the arrangements from September 2024 it did not receive an overall effectiveness grade. The main area for improvement is the early years curriculum, where the sequence of learning is not as well thought through as it could be, so teaching can focus too much on activities rather than precise knowledge. The school is already working on this. Writing is also still being developed. In personal development, pupils are less confident discussing protected characteristics and the British value of law and order in an age-appropriate way. Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Strengths

• Pupils are happy, build strong relationships and feel supported by staff
• The school has a strong sense of community and high expectations for pupils
• Pupils behave very well and have positive attitudes to learning
• Pupils achieve well across a broad range of subjects
• Pupils with SEND are identified promptly and supported effectively
• Reading is a priority, with well-trained staff delivering a strong phonics programme
• Children in early years develop confidence, resilience and language skills
• Personal development is a strength, with a wide range of clubs, trips and experiences
• Pupils take on responsibilities and contribute to the school and local community
• Attendance support for vulnerable pupils is tenacious and having a positive impact
• Governors support and challenge the school effectively
• Staff morale is high and leaders are mindful of workload and well-being

Areas for Improvement

• Early years curriculum sequencing is not as well thought through as it could be
• Teaching in early years can focus on the activity rather than the precise learning
• Staff do not always have clarity about the exact knowledge to teach in early years
• The writing curriculum is still in the process of being improved
• Pupils are less confident discussing protected characteristics and the British value of law and order in an age-appropriate way

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 Ashurst CofE Primary School attended 92.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 14.3% 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 Ashurst 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 Ashurst CofE Primary School had 11.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% 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, 14.6% of pupils at Ashurst CofE Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.1% 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 Ashurst CofE Primary School received £10,908 and spent £11,499 for each of its 48 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £27,000 (£562 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 Horsham · West Sussex local authority: places and applications

What is Ashurst CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

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

When was Ashurst CofE Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Ashurst CofE Primary School was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does Ashurst CofE Primary School have?

Ashurst CofE Primary School has 48 pupils on roll.

What age range does Ashurst CofE Primary School cover?

Ashurst CofE Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

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

In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Ashurst CofE Primary School?

Ashurst CofE Primary School is at School Lane, Ashurst, Steyning, West Sussex, BN44 3AY.