Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham

Bishop Tufnell Church of England Primary School has demonstrated a commendable turnaround since its previous inspection, moving from requiring improvement to achieving good overall effectiveness across all areas inspected. The report highlights strong leadership and management, effective pastoral care, and a nurturing environment that prioritizes pupil well-being. Pupils are engaged in their learning, showing positive behavior and enjoying a variety of extracurricular activities that enhance their educational experience.

Strengths

• Strong leadership and management fostering improvement.
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• High expectations for behavior and achievement established from early years.
• Strong emphasis on reading and phonics, leading to effective early literacy development.
• Positive relationships and a culture of mutual respect among pupils.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent use of assessment in foundation subjects.
• Some staff lack the necessary knowledge and skills to teach all curriculum areas effectively.

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 Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham attended 93.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 14.7% 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, 1.2% of pupils at Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham 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 Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham had 22.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.2% 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, 13.9% of pupils at Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.5% 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 Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham received £6,283 and spent £6,258 for each of its 317 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £154,000 (£486 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

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What is Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham is Good, from an inspection in September 2022.

When was Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham last inspected by Ofsted?

Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham was last inspected in September 2022.

How many pupils does Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham have?

Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham has 317 pupils on roll.

What age range does Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham cover?

Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 41% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham?

Bishop Tufnell CofE Primary School, Felpham is at Pennyfields, Felpham, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 6BN.