The Laurels Primary School, Worthing

The Laurels Primary School has shown significant improvement since its previous inspection, moving from a 'Requires Improvement' rating to 'Good' across all areas evaluated. The school has created a positive learning environment where pupils feel happy and safe, supported by a nurturing atmosphere and high expectations from the leadership. The curriculum is well-structured and allows pupils to build knowledge securely, fostering a culture of learning where pupils are proud of their achievements and engage actively in school life.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy a broad and interesting curriculum.
• High expectations for student behavior and achievement.
• Teachers exhibit strong subject knowledge and good training.
• Effective teaching of phonics and reading.
• Strong parental satisfaction regarding children's progress.
• Pupils with SEND are included in school activities.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent high ambitions for pupils with SEND.
• Assessment systems are still developing in some subjects.

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 The Laurels Primary School, Worthing attended 95.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 9.5% 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, 4.8% of pupils at The Laurels Primary School, Worthing 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 The Laurels Primary School, Worthing had 19.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 20.4% 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, 24.4% of pupils at The Laurels Primary School, Worthing were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.7% 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 2024–25 The Laurels Primary School, Worthing received £7,178 and spent £6,910 for each of its 189 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £222,000 (£1,175 per pupil).

Across all 4 schools of Durrington Multi Academy Trust, income was £6,524 and spending £6,248 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Worthing · West Sussex local authority: places and applications

The Laurels Primary School, Worthing is part of Durrington Multi Academy Trust, which runs 4 schools. The nearest others:

• Durrington High School Worthing
• Oak Tree Primary School Burgess Hill
• Ringmer Primary and Nursery School Lewes

What is The Laurels Primary School, Worthing's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Laurels Primary School, Worthing is Good, from an inspection in December 2022.

When was The Laurels Primary School, Worthing last inspected by Ofsted?

The Laurels Primary School, Worthing was last inspected in December 2022.

How many pupils does The Laurels Primary School, Worthing have?

The Laurels Primary School, Worthing has 193 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Laurels Primary School, Worthing cover?

The Laurels Primary School, Worthing for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are The Laurels Primary School, Worthing's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 35% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is The Laurels Primary School, Worthing?

The Laurels Primary School, Worthing is at Winterbourne Way, West Durrington, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 3QH.