Desmond Anderson Primary Academy

Desmond Anderson Primary Academy is performing at a good level overall, demonstrating enthusiasm among pupils for learning and a safe, respectful environment. The school has made notable improvements since becoming part of the University of Brighton Academies Trust, particularly in teaching practices and pupil engagement in subjects like reading and mathematics. However, there are areas that need attention, especially in early years provision and support for some special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) pupils, which currently do not meet all the children's needs effectively. The leadership team is proactive, showing commitment to continuous improvement for the benefit of all students.

Strengths

• Pupils show enthusiasm about coming to school.
• Teaching of reading, writing, and mathematics has significantly improved.
• Leaders have high expectations for pupils' learning.
• Pupils enjoy their learning and demonstrate good behavior.
• Strong improvement in standards at the end of key stage 2.

Areas for Improvement

• Nursery provision does not fully meet the needs of the children.
• Some pupils with SEND in the specialist unit do not receive adequate support.
• Phonics program implementation needs close monitoring to ensure effectiveness.
• Curriculum coherence is still being developed 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 Desmond Anderson Primary Academy attended 94.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 13.4% 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, 1.4% of pupils at Desmond Anderson Primary Academy 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 Desmond Anderson Primary Academy had 20.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 25.8% 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, 17.1% of pupils at Desmond Anderson Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 6.5% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

The school has resourced provision with 15 pupils.

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 Desmond Anderson Primary Academy received £7,176 and spent £7,124 for each of its 434 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £10,000 (£23 per pupil).

Across all 65 schools of Reach2 Academy Trust, income was £7,346 and spending £7,105 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 Crawley · West Sussex local authority: places and applications

Desmond Anderson Primary Academy is part of Reach2 Academy Trust, which runs 65 schools. The nearest others:

• Pound Hill Infant Academy Crawley
• Holmbush Primary Academy Shoreham-By-Sea
• Eastbrook Primary Academy Brighton
• Aerodrome Primary Academy Croydon
• The Globe Primary Academy Lancing
• Robert Fitzroy Academy Croydon
• St Mark's Church of England Primary Academy London
• White Meadows Primary Academy Littlehampton
• Tidemill Academy London
• Brampton Primary Academy Bexleyheath

What is Desmond Anderson Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Desmond Anderson Primary Academy is Good, from an inspection in July 2025.

When was Desmond Anderson Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Desmond Anderson Primary Academy was last inspected in July 2025.

How many pupils does Desmond Anderson Primary Academy have?

Desmond Anderson Primary Academy has 434 pupils on roll.

What age range does Desmond Anderson Primary Academy cover?

Desmond Anderson Primary Academy for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Desmond Anderson Primary Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 51% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Desmond Anderson Primary Academy?

Desmond Anderson Primary Academy is at Anderson Road, Tilgate, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 5EA.