Primary school

Blackthorns Community Primary School

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 4–11
  • Mixed
  • West Sussex
  • RH16 2UA
Ofsted Outstanding · inspected Sep 2018

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 2,649 of 15,057 primaries in England · top 18%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 30%30%2016/17: top 19%2017/18: top 25%2018/19: top 41%2022/23: top 12%12% · 2022/232023/24: top 39%2024/25: top 18%No exams

Against South EastArrows: South East rank change since 2018/19

Expected standard, RWM77% · South East 64%9/10 Top 20%+28.7 pts
Higher standard, RWM13% · South East 7%8/10 Above−5.7 pts
Reading score111 · South East 10610/10 Top 10%+14.1 pts
Maths score109 · South East 10510/10 Top 10%+55.8 pts
Show KS2 results by year

No exams 2019/20–21Not published 2021/22

Expected standard, RWM
2015/16: 65% · 31 pupils · South East 57%2016/17: 77% · 31 pupils · South East 65%2017/18: 77% · 31 pupils · South East 68%2018/19: 70% · 60 pupils · South East 68%2022/23: 79% · 28 pupils · South East 61%2023/24: 67% · 30 pupils · South East 62%2024/25: 77% · 30 pupils · South East 64%79%65%No exams
Higher standard, RWM
2015/16: 0% · 31 pupils · South East 5%2016/17: 16% · 31 pupils · South East 8%2017/18: 10% · 31 pupils · South East 10%2018/19: 18% · 60 pupils · South East 10%2022/23: 11% · 28 pupils · South East 7%2023/24: 7% · 30 pupils · South East 7%2024/25: 13% · 30 pupils · South East 7%18%0%No exams
Reading score
2015/16: 107 · 31 pupils · South East 1032016/17: 108 · 31 pupils · South East 1052017/18: 108 · 31 pupils · South East 1062018/19: 108 · 60 pupils · South East 1052022/23: 111 · 28 pupils · South East 1062023/24: 109 · 30 pupils · South East 1062024/25: 111 · 30 pupils · South East 106111107No exams
Maths score
2015/16: 104 · 31 pupils · South East 1032016/17: 105 · 31 pupils · South East 1042017/18: 105 · 31 pupils · South East 1052018/19: 105 · 60 pupils · South East 1052022/23: 107 · 28 pupils · South East 1042023/24: 105 · 30 pupils · South East 1042024/25: 109 · 30 pupils · South East 105109104No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
21 of 21 who put it first2014 · 65.2%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st2121
2nd909
3rd430

No last distance offered published

Inspections · 2006–2025

  1. 2006Satisfactoryas predecessor
  2. 2009Goodas predecessor
  3. 2012Goodas predecessor
  4. 2018Remains Good
  5. 2018Outstanding
  6. 2025Ungraded visit

5 strong areas

  • Outcomes for pupils
  • Early years provision
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management
  • Personal development, behaviour and welfare
  • Quality of teaching, learning and assessment

0 weak areas

5 areas graded

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026203
Free school meals (past 6 years)4.8%
First language not English5.7%
SEN support12.4%
EHC plan3.3%
Absence (sessions missed)3.2%
Persistently absent pupils4.4%

Girls 47.1%Boys 52.9%

96.7% full · 210 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 1 Sep 2025 · 72 responses (34.3% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school86.1% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school90.3% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved86.1% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 68.1% not applicable30.5% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year90.3% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 30.6% not applicable72% agree
  • Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?27.8% yes
  • My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 27.8% who said Yes above50% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child79.2% agree
  • My child does well at this school82% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing87.5% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school93.1% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school97.2% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development82% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent83.3% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher23.0
Pupils per adult12.7
  • Classroom teachers 7
  • Leadership 1.8
  • Teaching assistants 7.2
  • Other support 2

Teachers 8.8 FTE · Whole workforce 18 · 32 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£5,948
Spend per pupil£6,348
Staff spend per pupil£5,129
Reserve per pupil£0
  • £0revenue reserve
  • −£84,000in-year balance

Grants £5,805 · self-generated £143 · premises £262 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON ACADEMIES TRUST (14 academies) · trust reserve £167,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it