School Chooser

Buxted CofE Primary School

Primary · ages 4-11MixedChurch of England192 pupilsUckfieldEast Sussex
School Chooser Score
22
Below
similar schools
Likely range 10 to 44, so it could be “well below”
Out of 100. Better than 8% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
OfstedGoodConfirmed by Ofsted, February 2023
Reached the expected level at 1141%England 63%
Attendance95.3%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families9%Far fewer than most schools
Places18 spare192 pupils, 210 places
Pupils per teacher21.6School workforce census

Buxted CofE Primary School is a Church of England school (voluntary controlled) in Uckfield for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 192 pupils and room for 210. About 9 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 22 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 8% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2023.

Hurstwood Road, Buxted, Uckfield, TN22 4BB01825 733185buxtedce.e-sussex.sch.ukMrs Karen Head executive headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

A shorter visit on 3 February 2023 found nothing to change the school's grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall. A shorter follow-up visit found nothing to change that. The last full inspection was before September 2019, which is as far back as Ofsted's public records go, so we can't show its date or the grades for each area.

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

29 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1141%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level0%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score106.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score103.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 89%89%20172018: 75%75%20182019: 58%58%20192023: 57%57%20232024: 52%52%20242025: 41%41%2025
Since 2017: -48%Declining overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017East SussexEngland
Pupils tested292728312819
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths41%52%57%58%75%89%61%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths0%0%0%10%14%26%6%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score106.0104.0109.0104.0108.0109.0105.5105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score103.0101.0106.0104.0105.0109.0103.9104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score105.0101.0107.0104.0108.0111.0103.5105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard93%63%82%74%89%95%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard69%67%75%71%79%95%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)52%63%61%87%93%100%
Reading progressReading progress score+0.2-1.9+2.6+0.5
Maths progressMaths progress score-2.7-2.3+0.3+0.7
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged11%29%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged55%67%

There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 1 of the 3 gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
11%55%
Gap 44 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
11%55%
Gap 44 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
0%0%
No gapEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.

A few spare places197 pupils for 210 places, 2024/25
94% full

About 13 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have grown by 8% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.

Will my child get a place?

The last child to get a place lived 2.0 miles away in 2026. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils, faith and other priority groups are placed first. After that, the closer you live, the better your chances. Type in your postcode to see how far away you are.

We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.

How places were given out for September 2026. More children applied than there were places. The last place went to a child living 2.0 miles from the school. Living closer than that didn't guarantee a place, but living much further away meant missing out that year. 29 families put it down as their first choice and 25 of them got in (86%).

EntryPlacesPut it firstApplied at allGot a placeFirst choices who got inHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Primary3029603086%2.0 milesLA

What a home within 2.0 miles of the school costs

Typical sale price within 2.0 miles of the school£372,500half sold for £305k to £515k
Homes sold545December 2023 to December 2025, Land Registry
Compared with the district-3%a typical home in the district sells for £382,125

Every home sold within that distance of the school (the typical cut-off over the last three years), of any type, from HM Land Registry records. If homes here cost more than the district average, that is the price people pay to live close enough to get in.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll192Census January 2026
Places21091% full
Pupils from low-income families9%9% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English2%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support19%36 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan1%2 pupils with a plan
Average class size27.47 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils14%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)7%£21,700 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls89 / 103
White British pupils89%

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 27.0 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 27.8 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Specific learning difficulty (18), language and communications needs (9), Autistic spectrum disorder (5), emotional and mental health (5), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (1).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll192191188183183188
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals9%11%13%12%8%8%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language2%3%4%5%0%0%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support23%24%19%5%4%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans1%0%2%2%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.3% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance95.3%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school8.7%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils1.12024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission1.0%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence4.8%5.2%5.7%7.8%2.7%4.2%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence3.7%4.3%4.9%6.6%2.5%3.6%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence1.0%0.9%0.7%1.2%0.2%0.6%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence8.7%13.1%13.5%24.0%5.4%7.3%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate1.10.50.00.00.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers8.9full-time equivalent, 11 people
Pupils per teacher21.6Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants5.7full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£49,713
Teachers who left in the year0%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher1.02024/25

Money

From the council school accounts, year to March 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£6,224England £7,738. Total £1.2m
Income per pupil£6,149England £7,697. Total £1.2m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,004England £3,480
Money in reserve3%Not much put by: £35k, £184 per pupil. England 6%
Money in against money out-£14kit spent more than it took in this year
Where the money goes£6,224spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m612 months to June 2026, mostly other theft
Local crime rate26 per 1,000 people72% lower than the England average
Typical house price£380,000Wealden
Nearest bus stop20 mSchool, 2 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Bonners CofE School & NurseryChurch of England1.2 miles145Good 202435Compare
Manor Primary SchoolCouncil1.2 miles399Good 202319Compare
Rocks Park Primary SchoolCouncil1.8 miles207Good 202354Compare
High Hurstwood Church of England Primary SchoolChurch of England1.8 miles101Good 202475Compare
Framfield Church of England Primary SchoolChurch of England1.9 miles85No overall grade 20248Compare
Harlands Community Primary & Nursery SchoolCouncil2.0 miles267Not inspected58Compare
St Philip's Catholic Primary SchoolRoman Catholic2.1 miles213No overall grade 202548Compare
St Mark's Church of England Primary SchoolChurch of England2.7 miles58No overall grade 202533Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Buxted CofE Primary School with the 49 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 49 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats8%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
Near the bottom of its group. Its score of 22 is 48 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 8 · middle 70 · highest 95100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 22 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 22% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 10 to 44. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%in line
-0.05
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 29 pupils
Ofsted inspection19% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)in line
+0.01
Ofsted grade, 3.6 years old
Progress pupils make20%below
-0.13
DfE progress measure; 29 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%well below
-0.12
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%above
+0.05
2024/25; 172 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%well below
-0.14
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 29 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Buxted CofE Primary School a good school?

The figures are weak. Buxted CofE Primary School scores 22 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 8% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 10 to 44, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.

What is Buxted CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Buxted CofE Primary School good at its last full inspection on 3 February 2023.

How good are Buxted CofE Primary School's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 41% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 0% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does Buxted CofE Primary School have?

192 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 210 places, so it is 91% full.

Is Buxted CofE Primary School oversubscribed, and how far away can you live?

Yes. For September 2026 the last place went to a child living 2.0 miles away. 29 families put it down as their first choice and 25 of them got in. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils and other priority groups come before distance, so the cut-off moves every year.

What is attendance like at Buxted CofE Primary School?

Pupils were in school 95.3% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 9% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Buxted CofE Primary School?

The average class had 27.4 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 14% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Hurstwood Road, Buxted, Uckfield, TN22 4BB
Telephone
01825 733185
Website
www.buxtedce.e-sussex.sch.uk
Executive Headteacher
Mrs Karen Head
Type of school
Church of England school (voluntary controlled) (Voluntary controlled school, local authority maintained schools)
Phase
Primary school, ages 4-11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England, Diocese of Chichester
Local authority
East Sussex
Ward
Buxted
Constituency
East Grinstead and Uckfield
Setting
Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city
URN
114493 · LAESTAB 8453011 · UKPRN 10073784

Where these figures come from