School Chooser

Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School

Primary · ages 4-11MixedChurch of England104 pupilsLewesEast Sussex
School Chooser Score
13
Well below
similar schools
Likely range 5 to 33, so it could be “below”
Out of 100. Better than 15% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
OfstedNo overall gradeLast Ofsted inspection, June 2025
Reached the expected level at 1127%England 63%
Attendance91.6%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families30%A bit more than most schools
Places36 spare104 pupils, 140 places
Pupils per teacher17.3School workforce census

Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School is a Church of England school (voluntary controlled) in Lewes for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 104 pupils and room for 140. About 30 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit more than at most schools. We give it 13 out of 100. That puts it well below schools like it, ahead of 15% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was inspected 2025, no overall grade.

Chailey St Peter's Ce Primary School, East Grinstead Road, North Chailey, Lewes, BN8 4DB01825 722939chaileystpeters.org.ukMrs Gemma White headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 17 June 2025, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Not judged Between September 2024 and November 2025, Ofsted graded each area but stopped giving one overall word.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Good
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Outstanding
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Good
Early years
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

15 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England. With a year group this small, a couple of children can move the percentages a long way.

Reached the expected level at 1127%
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 score100.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 70%70%20172018: 61%61%20182019: 69%69%20192023: 35%35%20232024: 40%40%20242025: 27%27%2025
Since 2017: -43%Declining overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017East SussexEngland
Pupils tested152517161810
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths27%40%35%69%61%70%61%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths0%0%0%6%0%10%6%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score106.0105.0104.0104.0106.0111.0105.5105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score100.0101.0100.0105.0101.0105.0103.9104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score101.0100.0101.0103.0103.0106.0103.5105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard67%64%59%81%89%100%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard47%52%41%81%72%80%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)40%48%41%81%83%90%
Reading progressReading progress score-0.1-1.5+1.6+7.0
Maths progressMaths progress score-2.4-1.3-2.1+1.3
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged20%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged53%

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. None of the 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 11Boys vs girls
33%17%
Gap 16 ptsEngland 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.

Plenty of spare places104 pupils for 140 places, 2024/25
74% full

36 places were empty (26% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 21% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

Will my child get a place?

In 2026 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.

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. Every child who applied got a place (14 offers for 20 places). 10 families put it down as their first choice and 10 of them got in (100%).

EntryPlacesPut it firstApplied at allGot a placeFirst choices who got inHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Primary20104514100%all offeredLA

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 roll104Census January 2026
Places14074% full
Pupils from low-income families30%30% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English2%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support24%25 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan6%6 pupils with a plan
Average class size26.04 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils25%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)29%£46,500 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls56 / 48
White British pupils92%

Specialist SEND provision. SEN unit with 6 pupils, for autism.

To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school. Other schools in East Sussex with autism provision.

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 23.0 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 30.0 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (9), language and communications needs (7), Moderate learning difficulty (5), emotional and mental health (5), Specific learning difficulty (4), Hearing impairment (1).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll104105112113133133
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals30%29%33%29%26%23%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language2%1%1%1%0%1%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support15%20%21%17%17%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans5%5%3%2%3%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 91.6% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance91.6%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school22.0%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils1.02024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission3.7%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence8.4%8.9%8.2%7.6%3.1%3.3%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.7%5.3%5.6%6.2%2.7%2.8%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence3.7%3.5%2.5%1.4%0.4%0.6%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence22.0%16.4%20.2%26.1%9.9%4.7%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate1.03.63.50.81.5
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions01000

Staff and money

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

Teachers6.0full-time equivalent, 9 people
Pupils per teacher17.3Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants6.2full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£57,820
Teachers who left in the year42%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher0.22024/25

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£8,960England £7,738. Total £941k
Income per pupil£9,286England £7,697. Total £975k
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,644England £3,480
Money in reserve6%Not much put by: £54k, £511 per pupil. England 6%
Money in against money out+£34kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£8,960spent 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

Local crime rate32 per 1,000 people65% lower than the England average
Typical house price£385,000Lewes
Nearest bus stop70 mSt Peter's School, 3 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
Newick Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy1.6 miles217No overall grade 202577Compare
Wivelsfield Primary School and NurseryCouncil2.4 miles242Good 202265Compare
Plumpton Primary SchoolCouncil2.6 miles136Good 202343Compare
St Augustine's CofE Primary SchoolChurch of England2.7 miles97Good 202380Compare
Barcombe Church of England Primary SchoolChurch of England2.9 miles132No overall grade 202568Compare
Fletching Church of England Primary SchoolChurch of England3.3 miles64Good 20229Compare
Northlands Wood Primary AcademyAcademy3.6 miles419Not inspected60Compare
Hamsey Community Primary SchoolCouncil3.8 miles99Good 202449Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School with the 47 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 47 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats15%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the bottom quarter of its group. Its score of 13 is 31 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 1 · middle 44 · highest 92100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 13 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 13% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 5 to 33. 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%below
-0.18
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 15 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%above
+0.12
Ofsted grade, 1.2 years old
Progress pupils make20%below
-0.15
DfE progress measure; 15 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%below
-0.09
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%well below
-0.14
2024/25; 91 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%well below
-0.14
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 15 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 Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School a good school?

The figures are weak. Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School scores 13 out of 100. That is well below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 15% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 5 to 33, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.

What is Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School not judged at its last full inspection on 17 June 2025.

How good are Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 27% 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. The year group was small, so the percentages jump around a lot from year to year.

How many pupils does Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School have?

104 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 140 places, so it is 74% full.

Is Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School oversubscribed?

Probably not. 36 places were empty in 2024/25 (26% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School?

Pupils were in school 91.6% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 22% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School?

The average class had 26.0 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 25% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School have specialist SEND provision?

Yes. It has sen unit for autism. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.

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

Contact and details

Address
Chailey St Peter's Ce Primary School, East Grinstead Road, North Chailey, Lewes, BN8 4DB
Telephone
01825 722939
Website
www.chaileystpeters.org.uk
Headteacher
Mrs Gemma White
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
Chailey, Barcombe & Hamsey
Constituency
East Grinstead and Uckfield
Setting
Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city
URN
114495 · LAESTAB 8453013 · UKPRN 10073783

Where these figures come from