St Thomas' Church of England Aided Primary School
Friars Road, Winchelsea, TN36 4EDOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Thomas' Church of England Aided Primary School is a primary school in Winchelsea for ages 5 to 11. It is one of the 214 schools in East Sussex. It ranks 7th of 129 primary schools in East Sussex. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in October 2014.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 14 October 2014, report published 10 November 2014
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 3 October 2023
Pupils are positive about their experiences and opportunities at St Thomas'. The school makes the most of what is on offer in the local area. This includes visits to learn about the nearby coast and to explore the history of Winchelsea. There is a strong focus on creativity and a range of opportunities to enhance this. For instance, pupils take part in activities such as songwriting workshops and performances at Glyndebourne. The school has high aims for its pupils. In early years, staff challenge children to explore sounds and develop their communication skills. This helps them to make a positive start to their education. Staff make sure that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are included fully through careful adaptation of what the school offers. Pupils have a clear sense of community in the school. By taking on roles such as buddies and young librarians, they help and support one another. Pupils share and enjoy the playground spaces, including the garden and the climbing wall. They behave in line with the school's values, such as friendship and thankfulness. Pupils are excited to come to school and explore what they will learn next.
What the school should improve
- The tasks that teachers set do not enable all pupils to access the curriculum as effectively as they could. This results in some pupils not fully developing the knowledge and skills defined in the curriculum. Leaders need to ensure that the design of tasks consistently enables all pupils to achieve the ambitions of the curriculum.
- There are variations in how effectively teachers identify and follow up on pupils' misconceptions. This means that gaps in understanding persist for some pupils. Leaders need to ensure that teachers address misunderstandings and consolidate pupils' learning with greater precision.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
18 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
148 pupils on roll, with places for 150
Schools near St Thomas' Church of England Aided Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Icklesham Church of England Primary School and Nursery | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 80% met the expected standard |
| Rye Community Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 32% met the expected standard |
| Peasmarsh Church of England Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| St Michael's Church of England Primary School | 4 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good | 0% met the expected standard |
| Guestling Bradshaw Church of England Primary School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 75% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 5 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Dale Saxby
- Phone
- 01797226479
- Address
- Friars Road, Winchelsea, TN36 4ED
- Local authority
- East Sussex
- URN
- 114563
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.