Polegate Primary School

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 2 to 11
Ofsted: Outstanding

Oakleaf Drive, East Sussex, Polegate, BN26 6PTOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Polegate Primary School is a primary school in Polegate for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 214 schools in East Sussex. It ranks 38th of 129 primary schools in East Sussex. Its latest Ofsted rating is Outstanding, from an inspection in January 2020.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 15 January 2020, report published 6 February 2020

Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Early years provision
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 May 2025

Pupils rate their vibrant and friendly school highly. They feel very lucky to attend Polegate Primary. The school's vision of 'learning without limits' is tightly woven through daily life. Pupils work hard during lessons and pay close attention to their teachers, thanks to the school's high expectations. Pupils achieve well across the curriculum. They thoroughly enjoy their interesting, fun and relevant learning. Pupils behave impeccably and appreciate the excellent relationships that they have with each other and with staff. Pupils are safe and know that staff care about them. If ever they feel worried, they are confident that adults would help them. Staff make sure that the school is a happy and secure place. Pupils' well-being is a top priority. The school offers great pastoral support. Skilled staff help pupils to understand and to manage their feelings independently. Pupils are encouraged to be physically active at playtimes through a wide range of games and activities. Regular sessions in the on-site swimming pool mean that pupils quickly gain water confidence. Through the curriculum, pupils are taught how to manage risk, including when online. This means that pupils have a thorough understanding of internet safety. The school prepares them very well for the next stage in life.

What the school should improve

  • In a couple of subjects, pupils do not fully understand some important concepts. This means that, over time, their recall is weak or jumbled. This does not provide firm foundations for new learning. The school should ensure that, in these subjects, key ideas are taught precisely and clearly and that pupils fully understand these important facts.
  • The school does not analyse absence information in enough detail. This means that trends and patterns over time, particularly around persistent absence, may be missed. The school should ensure that absence information is reviewed effectively.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

90 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths66%

66%, 4 percentage points above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths2%

2%, 6 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score105

105, 1 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score103

103, 2 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score104

104, 1 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

689 pupils on roll, with places for 630

Eligible for free school meals16.1%

16.1%, 10.4 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language4.1%

4.1%, 17.5 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support18%

18%, 3.2 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan2.5%

2.5%, 3.5 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Polegate Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Willingdon Primary School1 mileOfsted: Good63% met the expected standard
Oakwood Primary Academy2 milesOfsted: Good57% met the expected standard
Stone Cross School2 milesOfsted: Good53% met the expected standard
Parkland Junior School2 milesOfsted: Good68% met the expected standard
Parkland Infant School2 milesReport card: Expected standard to strong standardNot published

School details

School type
Community school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
2 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Mrs Deborah Jones
Address
Oakleaf Drive, East Sussex, Polegate, BN26 6PT
Local authority
East Sussex
URN
114435

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.