Northiam Church of England Primary School and Nursery

  • Primary
  • Academy
  • Ages 2 to 11
Ofsted: Good

Main Street, Northiam, Rye, TN31 6NBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Northiam Church of England Primary School and Nursery is a primary school in Rye for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 214 schools in East Sussex. It ranks 51st of 129 primary schools in East Sussex. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in June 2019.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 12 June 2019, report published 10 July 2019

Overall effectiveness
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 March 2025

Pupils thrive in this friendly, welcoming village school. Children get off to a strong start in the early years. The addition of a Nursery since the last inspection has strengthened this. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are identified quickly. Appropriate support is in place to make sure they feel valued and included. The school's values of fellowship, trust, thankfulness, compassion, humility and courage are understood by everyone and referred to every day. As a result, pupils are happy and feel safe. The school has clear expectations around behaviour. Pupils are keen to live up to these. Older pupils talk proudly about being role models for younger children. Pupil leaders, such as the reading champions, value their responsibilities. There is a carefully considered wider curriculum offer. The 'Focus Fridays' create planned opportunities for pupils to learn through an extensive range of activities beyond the curriculum offer. This has created aspirations for the pupils beyond their school. Parents and carers feel fully included in school life. The school has designed an ambitious curriculum. This starts in Nursery, where children are eager to learn. The majority of pupils achieve well, particularly those with SEND.

What the school should improve

  • In some areas of the curriculum, the learning activities are not precisely designed. As a result, some pupils are missing out on key learning opportunities. The school should ensure that lessons are constructed in a way that supports pupils to develop sufficient knowledge and deepen their understanding across the whole curriculum.
  • Some pupils are not attending school as often as they should. This means that these pupils are missing out on key learning. The school should strengthen the work already in place to support all pupils to attend school so that they are able to learn the intended curriculum successfully.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

14 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths79%

79%, 17 percentage points above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 8 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score106

106, the same as the England average.

Maths, average scaled score106

106, 1 above the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score108

108, 3 above the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

159 pupils on roll, with places for 108

Eligible for free school meals16.4%

16.4%, 10.1 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language1.3%

1.3%, 20.3 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support17.6%

17.6%, 2.8 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan1.3%

1.3%, 4.7 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Northiam Church of England Primary School and Nursery

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Beckley Church of England Primary School1 mileOfsted: Good50% met the expected standard
Brede Primary School3 milesReport card: Expected standard to strong standard100% met the expected standard
Sandhurst Primary School3 milesOfsted: Good68% met the expected standard
Bodiam Church of England Primary School3 milesOfsted judgements: Good to outstanding36% met the expected standard
Staplecross Methodist Primary School3 milesOfsted judgements: Good50% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
DIOCESE OF CHICHESTER ACADEMY TRUST
Age range
2 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England
Nursery classes
No
Headteacher
Mrs Julia Bray
Address
Main Street, Northiam, Rye, TN31 6NB
Local authority
East Sussex
URN
148742

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.