Graffham Church of England Infant School (Voluntary Controlled)

Graffham Church of England Infant School is a small, welcoming Church of England infant school within the Lavington Park Federation. Inspectors found it performing at the expected standard overall, with early years provision reaching a strong standard. Safeguarding standards are met. Pupils feel safe, valued and part of a close community, and their behaviour and attendance are broadly positive, with bullying described as extremely rare.

Strengths

• Highly effective early years provision with a well-sequenced curriculum and rigorous quality checks.
• Children in early years are happy, safe and engaged, developing broad vocabulary and independence.
• Pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education.
• Strong focus on early reading with quick, effective support for pupils who fall behind.
• Pupils behave well, show kindness and empathy, and bullying is extremely rare.
• Curriculum is well planned and sequenced, with clear end points and effective checking of understanding.
• Inclusive culture with high expectations and accurate identification of SEND and disadvantaged pupils' needs.
• Leaders have a clear vision, manage workload well, and staff feel valued and supported.
• Coherent personal development programme, including wider opportunities, community engagement and pupil voice.
• Pupils' wellbeing is carefully supported through positive relationships and targeted pastoral care.

Areas for Improvement

• New writing programme is not yet consistently delivered.
• Writing stamina and accuracy need further development in preparation for key stage 2.
• Teaching adaptations for pupils with barriers to learning are not implemented consistently enough.
• Attendance is broadly national but leaders recognise further improvements are possible in supporting families.

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 Graffham Church of England Infant School (Voluntary Controlled) attended 93.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 16.2% 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, 4.3% of pupils at Graffham Church of England Infant School (Voluntary Controlled) 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 Graffham Church of England Infant School (Voluntary Controlled) had 14.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 29.4% 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, 15.9% of pupils at Graffham Church of England Infant School (Voluntary Controlled) were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.3% 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 Graffham Church of England Infant School (Voluntary Controlled) received £11,340 and spent £11,244 for each of its 44 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £3,000 (£69 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 Chichester · West Sussex local authority: places and applications

What is Graffham Church of England Infant School (Voluntary Controlled)'s Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Graffham Church of England Infant School (Voluntary Controlled) is Expected standard, from an inspection in June 2026.

When was Graffham Church of England Infant School (Voluntary Controlled) last inspected by Ofsted?

Graffham Church of England Infant School (Voluntary Controlled) was last inspected in June 2026.

How many pupils does Graffham Church of England Infant School (Voluntary Controlled) have?

Graffham Church of England Infant School (Voluntary Controlled) has 44 pupils on roll.

What age range does Graffham Church of England Infant School (Voluntary Controlled) cover?

Graffham Church of England Infant School (Voluntary Controlled) for pupils aged 4 to 7.

Where is Graffham Church of England Infant School (Voluntary Controlled)?

Graffham Church of England Infant School (Voluntary Controlled) is at Graffham, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0NJ.