Hamsey Community Primary School
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Hamsey Community Primary School is a council school in Lewes for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 99 pupils and room for 105. About 15 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 49 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 59% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2024.
Cooksbridge, Lewes, BN8 4SJ01273 400370hamsey.e-sussex.sch.ukMr Matthew Dean executive head teacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 25 June 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Good overall.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
10 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.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 10 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 16 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 70% | 67% | 73% | 62% | 69% | 75% | 61% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 20% | 17% | 7% | 8% | 15% | 13% | 6% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 110.0 | 111.0 | 108.0 | 107.0 | 110.0 | 109.0 | 105.5 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 108.0 | 104.0 | 102.0 | 104.0 | 105.0 | 104.0 | 103.9 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 108.0 | 105.0 | 104.0 | 105.0 | 107.0 | 105.0 | 103.5 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 90% | 92% | 93% | 92% | 92% | 88% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 80% | 75% | 73% | 69% | 85% | 81% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 80% | 75% | 80% | 85% | 77% | 75% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | +3.6 | +5.5 | +3.2 | +4.0 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | -2.2 | +2.0 | -0.2 | -0.2 | – | – |
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.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published.
About 11 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.
The last child to get a place lived 1.3 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 1.3 miles from the school. Living closer than that didn't guarantee a place, but living much further away meant missing out that year. 17 families put it down as their first choice and 15 of them got in (88%).
| Entry | Places | Put it first | Applied at all | Got a place | First choices who got in | How far the last child lived | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Primary | 15 | 17 | 33 | 15 | 88% | 1.3 miles | LA |
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.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 25.0 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 27.0 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Moderate learning difficulty (16), emotional and mental health (11), language and communications needs (8), Autistic spectrum disorder (4), Specific learning difficulty (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 99 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 99 | 105 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 15% | 19% | 17% | 17% | 18% | 18% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 8% | 12% | 12% | 2% | 4% | 5% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 27% | 21% | 22% | 27% | 22% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 1% | 2% | 0% | 2% | 1% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 93.9% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 6.1% | 6.6% | 7.3% | 6.1% | 3.5% | 6.0% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 4.4% | 5.5% | 5.7% | 4.6% | 2.5% | 4.8% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 1.7% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.0% | 1.2% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 12.9% | 24.1% | 19.3% | 14.1% | 7.3% | 22.1% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Staff
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025.
The area around the school
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.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wallands Community Primary and Nursery School | Council | 1.8 miles | 324 | Good 2022 | 40 | Compare |
| Barcombe Church of England Primary School | Church of England | 1.9 miles | 132 | No overall grade 2025 | 68 | Compare |
| South Malling CofE Primary and Nursery School | Church of England | 2.0 miles | 230 | No overall grade 2025 | 38 | Compare |
| Western Road Community Primary School | Foundation | 2.5 miles | 214 | No overall grade 2025 | 77 | Compare |
| Southover CofE Primary School | Church of England | 2.5 miles | 288 | Good 2024 | 64 | Compare |
| Plumpton Primary School | Council | 2.9 miles | 136 | Good 2023 | 43 | Compare |
| Ringmer Primary and Nursery School | Academy | 3.3 miles | 359 | Good 2022 | – | Compare |
| Iford and Kingston Church of England Primary School | Church of England | 3.3 miles | 190 | Not inspected | 44 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Hamsey Community Primary School with the 44 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 44 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 44 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Hamsey Community Primary School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School | Church of England | 14.6 miles | 81 | Not inspected | 57 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 49 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 49% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 19 to 81. 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 at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 25% | in line | +0.03 | 2024 and 2023 results; 12 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | in line | +0.01 | Ofsted grade, 2.2 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | in line | -0.01 | DfE progress measure; 12 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | well below | -0.12 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | in line | -0.01 | 2024/25; 85 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | above | +0.09 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 12 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | 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 Hamsey Community Primary School a good school?
It is about average. Hamsey Community Primary School scores 49 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 59% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 19 to 81, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.
What is Hamsey Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Hamsey Community Primary School good at its last full inspection on 25 June 2024.
How good are Hamsey Community Primary School's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 70% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 20% 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 Hamsey Community Primary School have?
99 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 105 places, so it is 94% full.
Is Hamsey Community Primary School oversubscribed, and how far away can you live?
Yes. For September 2026 the last place went to a child living 1.3 miles away. 17 families put it down as their first choice and 15 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 Hamsey Community Primary School?
Pupils were in school 93.9% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 13% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Hamsey Community Primary School?
The average class had 23.0 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class 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
- Cooksbridge, Lewes, BN8 4SJ
- Telephone
- 01273 400370
- Website
- www.hamsey.e-sussex.sch.uk
- Executive Head Teacher
- Mr Matthew Dean
- Type of school
- Council school (Community school, local authority maintained schools)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 4-11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Local authority
- East Sussex
- Ward
- Chailey, Barcombe & Hamsey
- Constituency
- East Grinstead and Uckfield
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city
- URN
- 114394 · LAESTAB 8452060 · UKPRN 10073244
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Admissions outcomes: East Sussex council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2026.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.