St John's Meads Church of England Primary School
Rowsley Road, Eastbourne, BN20 7XSOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St John's Meads Church of England Primary School is a primary school in Eastbourne for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 214 schools in East Sussex. It ranks 7th of 12 primary schools in Eastbourne. Its latest Ofsted rating is Requires improvement, from an inspection in March 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 12 March 2024, report published 12 May 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Requires improvement
- Quality of education
- Requires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Requires improvement
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 12 March 2024
Pupils feel safe and cared for. They relish the close attention the school pays to their emotional well-being, which is reflected in a calm school atmosphere. The school expects pupils to behave well. This is demonstrated through pupils' positive conduct and how they speak to each other and adults. They trust adults to listen and help them with any worries. The school has high expectations for learning for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). In the early years, children are supported to achieve well. However, the school's ambition is not consistently realised in the rest of the school. There is variation in teaching across different subjects. As a result, pupils' recall of what they have learned is inconsistent. Pupils benefit from many opportunities that broaden their understanding of the world. They appreciate these opportunities, are open-minded, and welcome different cultures and experiences. Pupils are particularly proud of their roles as pupil leaders. They relish opportunities to lead assemblies, support younger pupils, and advocate for the school in the community with issues such as parking. They feel part of a close community and well prepared for the following stages of education.
What the school should improve
- The teaching of reading lacks consistency from Year 1 onwards. As a result, pupils at the earliest stages of learning to read, including those who are disadvantaged, do not read with sufficient fluency or accuracy. The school must ensure that all staff are equipped with the skills and knowledge and follow the phonics programme closely to teach reading effectively.
- Teaching does not consistently build on what pupils already know and can do. As a result, pupils do not learn as well as they could, including those with SEND. The school should support staff to design tasks that help all pupils to learn the most important content and then accurately check what they have know and can do.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
31 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
162 pupils on roll, with places for 218
Schools near St John's Meads Church of England Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bede's Prep School | 0.3 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Motcombe Infants' School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Pashley Down Infant School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Bourne Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | 33% met the expected standard |
| St Thomas A Becket Catholic Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- DIOCESE OF CHICHESTER ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Beruk Berhane
- Phone
- 01323730255
- Address
- Rowsley Road, Eastbourne, BN20 7XS
- Local authority
- East Sussex
- URN
- 147712
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.