Cross-in-Hand Church of England Primary School
Sheepsetting Lane, Cross in Hand, Cross-in-Hand School, Heathfield, TN21 0XGOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Cross-in-Hand Church of England Primary School is a primary school in Heathfield for ages 5 to 11. It is one of the 214 schools in East Sussex. It ranks 39th of 129 primary schools in East Sussex. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in April 2022.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 20 April 2022, report published 15 June 2022
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 20 April 2022
Pupils are cheerful, kind and welcoming. One pupil said, 'Everyone enjoys coming to school here.' Staff use many different approaches to help develop a real sense of belonging. For example, older pupils take on leadership roles which include librarians, peer mediators and play leaders. These pupils support their peers to select and enjoy books in the school library or play happily together outside. Pupils told us that they feel safe from harm in school and that they have learned how to keep themselves safe, including on the internet and on roads. Pupils are proud of their school and one another. They have a very strong awareness of justice, believing that everyone has the right to be respected and treated well. Clear expectations and routines mean the school is very calm and supportive. Bullying is rare. If there is an incident, leaders ensure that robust but sensitive action is taken. Pupils in this school enjoy learning because lessons are varied and interesting, with many practical activities. In most subjects, pupils learn and apply their knowledge with fluency and confidence. However, in a few subjects, the sequence of learning is not yet fully embedded. This means that pupils are not able to build on what they know and can do.
What the school should improve
- Leaders have not yet considered carefully enough what pupils must know and remember, and the order in which pupils learn new content, in every foundation subject. This means that, in a few foundation subjects, pupils are not building their knowledge securely enough. Some pupils also find it difficult to connect with what they have learned previously. Leaders should identify what is essential for pupils to know and remember and in what order pupils should learn new content. They should ensure that pupils are supported to make meaningful connections to previous learning. However, it is clear from leaders' actions that they are in the process of reviewing the curriculum in all subjects within their identified timescale. For this reason, the transitional arrangements have been applied.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
56 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
379 pupils on roll, with places for 420
Schools near Cross-in-Hand Church of England Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkside Community Primary School | 1 mile | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 72% met the expected standard |
| All Saints' and St Richard's Church of England Primary School | 2 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 58% met the expected standard |
| Maynards Green Community Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 68% met the expected standard |
| Five Ashes CofE Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good | 82% met the expected standard |
| Punnetts Town Community Primary School and Nursery | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 71% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary controlled school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 5 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Richard Blakeley
- Phone
- 01435862941
- Address
- Sheepsetting Lane, Cross in Hand, Cross-in-Hand School, Heathfield, TN21 0XG
- Local authority
- East Sussex
- URN
- 114496
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.