St Michael's Church of England Primary School
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St Michael's Church of England Primary School is a Church of England school (voluntary controlled) in Playden Rye for boys and girls aged 5 to 11. It has 75 pupils and room for 105. About 27 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 3 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.
Houghton Green Lane, Playden, Playden Rye, TN31 7PJ01797 280277playdenschool.comMrs Lison Smart head of schoolAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 23 April 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.
Earlier inspections (1)
| Date | Type | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 26 November 2019 | Ungraded | School remains Good |
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
9 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 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 8 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 38% | 55% | 33% | 47% | 88% | 61% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 5% | 25% | 6% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 97.0 | 101.0 | 101.0 | 98.0 | 105.0 | 110.0 | 105.5 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 96.0 | 102.0 | 101.0 | 100.0 | 101.0 | 108.0 | 103.9 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 96.0 | 103.0 | 100.0 | 101.0 | 106.0 | 107.0 | 103.5 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 33% | 62% | 64% | 53% | 79% | 88% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 33% | 69% | 64% | 53% | 63% | 88% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 0% | 77% | 55% | 73% | 74% | 88% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | -3.2 | -3.7 | -0.8 | +4.3 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | -1.8 | -1.7 | -2.9 | +2.6 | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | – | – | – | – | – | 88% | – | – |
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. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.
19 places were empty (18% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 5% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.
Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to East Sussex council's admissions booklet, send it to us.
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 9.0 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 25.0 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Moderate learning difficulty (5), Specific learning difficulty (3), language and communications needs (3), emotional and mental health (2), Autistic spectrum disorder (1), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 75 | 81 | 92 | 87 | 93 | 102 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 27% | 27% | 35% | 28% | 26% | 22% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 4% | 3% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 0% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 19% | 17% | 17% | 12% | 8% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 3% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 93.4% 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 | 6.6% | 6.9% | 5.2% | 6.8% | 2.5% | 5.5% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 5.8% | 1.8% | 4.0% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 2.4% | 2.6% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.4% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 20.0% | 14.8% | 12.1% | 25.0% | 4.4% | 14.8% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 4.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
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.
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
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rye Community Primary School | Academy | 1.2 miles | 202 | Good 2023 | 8 | Compare |
| Peasmarsh Church of England Primary School | Church of England | 2.3 miles | 65 | Good 2024 | 55 | Compare |
| Wittersham Church of England Primary School | Church of England | 3.3 miles | 138 | No overall grade 2025 | 75 | Compare |
| St Thomas' Church of England Aided Primary School | Church of England | 3.6 miles | 148 | Good 2023 | 81 | Compare |
| Brookland Church of England Primary School | Church of England | 4.4 miles | 94 | Good 2023 | 25 | Compare |
| Beckley Church of England Primary School | Church of England | 4.7 miles | 83 | Good 2024 | 39 | Compare |
| Icklesham Church of England Primary School and Nursery | Church of England | 5.0 miles | 121 | Good 2024 | 60 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares St Michael'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.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 47 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than St Michael's Church of England 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookland Church of England Primary School | Church of England | 4.4 miles | 94 | Good 2023 | 25 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 3 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 3% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 1 to 11. 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% | below | -0.22 | 2024 and 2023 results; 13 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | well below | -0.31 | Ofsted grade, 1.4 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | well below | -0.22 | DfE progress measure; 13 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | well below | -0.18 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | below | -0.08 | 2024/25; 80 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | well below | -0.12 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 13 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 St Michael's Church of England Primary School a good school?
The figures are weak. St Michael's Church of England Primary School scores 3 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 1 to 11, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.
What is St Michael's Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated St Michael's Church of England Primary School not judged at its last full inspection on 23 April 2025.
How good are St Michael's Church of England Primary School's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 0% 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 St Michael's Church of England Primary School have?
75 pupils aged 5 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 105 places, so it is 71% full.
Is St Michael's Church of England Primary School oversubscribed?
Probably not. 19 places were empty in 2024/25 (18% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at St Michael's Church of England Primary School?
Pupils were in school 93.4% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 20% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at St Michael's Church of England Primary School?
The average class had 18.8 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
- Houghton Green Lane, Playden, Playden Rye, TN31 7PJ
- Telephone
- 01797 280277
- Website
- www.playdenschool.com
- Head of School
- Mrs Lison Smart
- Type of school
- Church of England school (voluntary controlled) (Voluntary controlled school, local authority maintained schools)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 5-11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England, Diocese of Chichester
- Local authority
- East Sussex
- Ward
- Eastern Rother
- Constituency
- Hastings and Rye
- Setting
- Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city
- URN
- 114520 · LAESTAB 8453051 · UKPRN 10071011
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.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, consistent financial reporting 2024/25.
- 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.