School Chooser

Wallands Community Primary and Nursery School

Primary · ages 3-11MixedCouncil324 pupilsNurseryLewesEast Sussex
School Chooser Score
40
In line with
similar schools
Likely range 22 to 61
Out of 100. Better than 74% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedGoodLast Ofsted inspection, September 2022
Reached the expected level at 1153%England 63%
Attendance94.0%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families32%A bit more than most schools
Places80 spare324 pupils, 404 places
Pupils per teacher19.9School workforce census

Wallands Community Primary and Nursery School is a council school in Lewes for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It has 324 pupils and room for 404. About 32 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit more than at most schools. We give it 40 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 74% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2022.

Gundreda Road, Lewes, BN7 1PU01273 472776wallandsschool.orgMr Lee Matravers headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 21 September 2022, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall.

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

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

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

Reached the expected level at 1153%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level12%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score106.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score107.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 45%45%20172018: 48%48%20182019: 63%63%20192023: 47%47%20232024: 61%61%20242025: 53%53%2025
Since 2017: +8%Steady overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017East SussexEngland
Pupils tested493851596767
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths53%61%47%63%48%45%61%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths12%13%8%5%1%1%6%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score106.0106.0104.0104.0105.0105.0105.5105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score107.0103.0101.0103.0101.0101.0103.9104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score104.0102.0101.0102.0101.0103.0103.5105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard65%74%63%75%78%72%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard67%71%53%71%55%57%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)59%71%73%80%67%63%
Reading progressReading progress score-2.1-0.2-0.3-1.2
Maths progressMaths progress score-2.4-3.1-3.7-5.1
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged29%23%25%18%7%20%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged66%80%54%81%60%49%

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 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
29%66%
Gap 37 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
46%62%
Gap 16 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
0%12%
Gap 12 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.

Plenty of spare places274 pupils for 420 places, 2024/25
65% full

146 places were empty (35% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have grown by 6% since 2021/22.

Will my child get a place?

The last child to get a place lived 500 m 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 500 m from the school. Living closer than that didn't guarantee a place, but living much further away meant missing out that year. 36 families put it down as their first choice and 28 of them got in (78%).

EntryPlacesPut it firstApplied at allGot a placeFirst choices who got inHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Primary3036683078%500 mLA

What a home within 500 m of the school costs

Typical sale price within 500 m of the school£575,000half sold for £410k to £693k
Homes sold91December 2023 to December 2025, Land Registry
Compared with the district+50%a typical home in the district sells for £384,500

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 roll324Census January 2026
Places40480% full
Pupils from low-income families29%32% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English4%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support25%81 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan7%22 pupils with a plan
Average class size26.312 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils8%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)32%£142,600 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls173 / 151
White British pupils84%

Specialist SEND provision. SEN unit with 13 pupils, for autism, speech, language and communication.

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 28.8 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: language and communications needs (26), Specific learning difficulty (21), emotional and mental health (19), Autistic spectrum disorder (18), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (8), Hearing impairment (4).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll324305275256283305
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals29%27%29%28%27%20%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language4%3%3%2%3%4%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support25%24%23%18%13%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans7%6%5%5%4%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 94.0% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance94.0%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school12.6%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils3.02024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission1.6%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence6.0%5.6%5.7%6.0%3.3%5.4%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.4%4.1%3.9%4.7%2.3%3.2%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence1.6%1.5%1.8%1.3%1.0%2.2%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence12.6%15.4%14.1%15.7%5.7%12.8%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate3.01.11.21.41.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

Staff and money

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

Teachers15.6full-time equivalent, 21 people
Pupils per teacher19.9Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants15.2full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£50,663
Teachers who left in the year7%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher4.32024/25

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£7,290England £7,738. Total £2.1m
Income per pupil£7,222England £7,697. Total £2.1m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,181England £3,480
Money in reserve12%A healthy amount put by: £259k, £883 per pupil. England 6%
Money in against money out-£20kit spent more than it took in this year
Where the money goes£7,290spent 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 m21912 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate121 per 1,000 people33% higher than the England average
Typical house price£385,000Lewes
Nearest bus stop100 mMount Harry Road, 28 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
Western Road Community Primary SchoolFoundation0.8 miles214No overall grade 202577Compare
Southover CofE Primary SchoolChurch of England0.8 miles288Good 202464Compare
South Malling CofE Primary and Nursery SchoolChurch of England1.1 miles230No overall grade 202538Compare
Iford and Kingston Church of England Primary SchoolChurch of England1.6 miles190Not inspected44Compare
Hamsey Community Primary SchoolCouncil1.8 miles99Good 202449Compare
Ringmer Primary and Nursery SchoolAcademy3.2 miles359Good 2022Compare
Barcombe Church of England Primary SchoolChurch of England3.4 miles132No overall grade 202568Compare
Rudyard Kipling Primary School & NurseryCouncil4.1 miles312Good 202229Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Wallands Community Primary and Nursery 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.

Beats74%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the upper half of its group. Its score of 40 is 11 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 5 · middle 29 · highest 88100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 40 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 40% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 22 to 61. 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
-0.06
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 49 pupils
Ofsted inspection18% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)in line
+0.01
Ofsted grade, 4.0 years old
Progress pupils make20%below
-0.14
DfE progress measure; 49 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%above
+0.08
results and attendance rising year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%in line
-0.02
2024/25; 254 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
+0.01
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 49 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 Wallands Community Primary and Nursery School a good school?

It is about average. Wallands Community Primary and Nursery School scores 40 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 74% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 22 to 61, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Wallands Community Primary and Nursery School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Wallands Community Primary and Nursery School good at its last full inspection on 21 September 2022.

How good are Wallands Community Primary and Nursery School's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 53% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 12% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does Wallands Community Primary and Nursery School have?

324 pupils aged 3 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 404 places, so it is 80% full.

Is Wallands Community Primary and Nursery School oversubscribed, and how far away can you live?

Yes. For September 2026 the last place went to a child living 500 m away. 36 families put it down as their first choice and 28 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 Wallands Community Primary and Nursery School?

Pupils were in school 94.0% 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 Wallands Community Primary and Nursery School?

The average class had 26.3 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 8% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Wallands Community Primary and Nursery School have specialist SEND provision?

Yes. It has sen unit for autism, speech, language and communication. 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
Gundreda Road, Lewes, BN7 1PU
Telephone
01273 472776
Website
wallandsschool.org
Headteacher
Mr Lee Matravers
Type of school
Council school (Community school, local authority maintained schools)
Phase
Primary school, ages 3-11, with nursery
Gender
Mixed
Local authority
East Sussex
Ward
Lewes Priory
Constituency
Lewes
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
URN
114405 · LAESTAB 8452072 · UKPRN 10077254

Where these figures come from