Balcombe CofE Primary School Review 2026: High-attaining village primary with a clear Church school identity

A small primary in Balcombe that combines a distinctly Christian vision with outcomes that stand out well beyond the local area. The most recent Key Stage 2 data shows attainment comfortably above England averages, with a particularly high share reaching the higher standard. That academic strength sits alongside a school day shaped by collective worship and a published Church school vision, which families tend to experience as an organising thread rather than an add-on.

Leadership is currently headed by Mr Ben Turney, with a senior team structure that includes joint deputy headteachers.

The practical picture is also clear. The school day starts with arrival from 08:45 and finishes at 15:15, and breakfast club begins early at 7.20am. Wraparound care is available after school through an external provider, with session pricing and transport options set out by that provider.

This is a Church of England primary where the faith dimension is explicit. Collective worship is part of the daily rhythm, and the school sets out its Christian values as the basis for how pupils treat one another and how behaviour is framed. A separate Church school section on the website highlights collective worship, religious education, and an after-school faith-based club (Pathfinders) that explores Bible stories and Christian festivals.

A recent SIAMS inspection report captures how that vision translates into school life. The overall grade was Good, and the report describes a school where values are embedded in routines and relationships, with clear areas identified for further development around pupils’ wider social action and opportunities to lead worship. (This matters because it tells parents the faith element is active and reviewed, not simply historical.)

The school’s size and structure shape day-to-day experience. With a published capacity of 150 places, families should expect a setting where staff often know pupils and parents quickly, and where leadership communication can feel direct. The website also sets out governance arrangements linked to its trust structure, indicating a local governing body working within a wider trust framework.

Leadership is currently presented as a multi-person team rather than a single figure operating in isolation. Mr Ben Turney is listed as Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead, with named joint deputy headteachers for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, and a named SENCo. This kind of staffing clarity tends to show up in consistent routines and clear lines of responsibility for pupils and parents.

The headline from the most recent published Key Stage 2 outcomes is simple, pupils at Balcombe perform well above England averages.

In 2024, 81% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 42.67% reached greater depth, far above the England average of 8%. Reading outcomes are a particular highlight, with 93% meeting the expected standard and 71% reaching the higher standard. (In a small school, that combination usually indicates secure core teaching plus effective stretch for higher attainers.)

Scaled scores also point to strong attainment. Reading and grammar, punctuation and spelling were both 111, and maths was 106. These are the kinds of scores that usually reflect consistent curriculum coverage and pupils who are well prepared for secondary-level literacy demands.

Rankings, using FindMySchool’s proprietary methodology based on official data, reinforce that picture. Ranked 856th in England and 1st in the Haywards Heath local area for primary outcomes, the school sits well above England average (top 10%).

One practical implication for families is that the academic bar in upper juniors can feel purposeful. For children who enjoy being stretched, that is a positive. For children who need a slower run-up, it is worth asking how the school balances ambition with confidence-building.

The curriculum positioning is traditional in the best sense, secure basics with enrichment that suits a rural village setting and a Church school framework. The school day timetable includes collective worship, which anchors the values and religious education strand, and the SIAMS report notes that religious education is effective in expressing the school’s vision and that the location is used to support spiritual development opportunities.

A distinctive strand is outdoor learning, formalised through Nature Ninjas. This is not presented as occasional forest-school style sessions, but as a planned programme with stated intent, implementation, and impact. The published overview highlights bushcraft, the natural world, creativity, and team building, including practical skills such as shelter building, knot tying, and campfire cooking. The implication for pupils is confidence through real tasks, plus a structured way to learn teamwork, risk awareness, and problem solving.

Support for pupils with additional needs is also described in school documentation. The SEND policy names the SENCo and sets out an assess, plan, do, review approach. The SIAMS report also links the school’s child-centred provision to positive behaviour and relationships, which is often what parents want to understand: whether support is integrated into everyday classroom life rather than separated out.

Balcombe CofE Primary School is a state school with no tuition fees. Entry is still competitive, and current demand indicators suggest pressure on places.

For primary entry, the most recent admissions data available here shows 40 applications for 23 offers, which is around 1.74 applications per place. The school is recorded as oversubscribed on that basis. In a smaller school, a difference of a handful of applications can swing the ratio year to year, but the direction of travel is clear: families should approach admissions early and treat a place as something to plan for rather than assume.

Admissions arrangements sit within a trust structure. The school states it is an academy within Hurst Education Trust, with the trust as admissions authority and responsibility delegated to the governing body. West Sussex runs the co-ordinated admissions process for Reception places, which means families apply through the local authority rather than directly to the school.

Deadlines matter. For September 2026 entry across West Sussex, applications opened on Monday 6 October 2025 and closed on Thursday 15 January 2026, with national offer day on Thursday 16 April 2026. Families applying after the closing date should check the local authority’s timetable for late and out-of-time applications.

Open events are mentioned on the school website. An open day for September 2026 entry was advertised for 16 December 2025 at 9am. Since that date has now passed, it is best to treat this as an example of typical timing, open mornings often run in late autumn or early winter, but dates change each year.

A practical tip for families weighing options is to use FindMySchoolMap Search to check your home-to-school distance and compare it against recent admission patterns for nearby schools, then keep a shortlist in Saved Schools so you can track deadlines and open days in one place.

For a village primary, the transition to secondary is a major part of the parent decision, even if it sits seven years away at Reception entry.

The school’s Year 6 information page points families towards local secondary options and key dates. It references Warden Park and Oathall, and it also highlights the West Sussex secondary application deadline for that cohort, indicating that the school actively supports families with the practicalities of the move.

The implication is twofold. First, parents should expect structured reminders and guidance in Year 6 around applications and induction. Second, because secondary options vary by address and admissions criteria, it is worth checking your likely secondary pathway early, especially if you are moving into the area.

Pastoral culture is strongly linked to values language here, both in the Church school material and in the SIAMS report. That report describes positive behaviour and relationships and highlights initiatives supporting good mental health, including provision for pupils who find breaktimes challenging. While that is a faith inspection context rather than an Ofsted judgement, it is still useful evidence that wellbeing is thought about in practical, day-to-day terms rather than simply stated as an aim.

Safeguarding leadership is clearly signposted, with the headteacher listed as Designated Safeguarding Lead and deputy safeguarding responsibilities named within the staff list. For parents, that visibility usually makes communication easier when concerns arise, because roles are not hidden behind generic inboxes.

Support for additional needs is framed through mainstream practice. The SEND policy points to early identification, regular review, and graduated support. The key question for families is how that looks in class, so it is worth asking what interventions are currently running and how the school measures impact, especially given the high-attainment profile.

Outdoor learning is the standout. Nature Ninjas provides a concrete programme rather than a generic promise of outdoor activity. The published outline includes bushcraft skills and team challenges, and the progression document shows that the programme is mapped across age groups, building from introductory knot work through to more advanced skills and leadership as pupils get older. The likely impact is confidence in unfamiliar tasks, plus a steady build in independence that helps pupils in secondary school transition.

Clubs are described as termly and include a mix of internal and external providers. The school highlights options such as French club provision, football, gymnastics, and drama, and it notes that clubs are updated each term. For families, the main implication is that the exact menu changes, so it is sensible to treat the programme as active but variable.

Wraparound care also doubles as enrichment. After-school provision is delivered through an external provider, and the school’s information describes activities spanning performing arts and sport, with snack provision. If you rely on wraparound daily, it is worth checking times, booking systems, and the exact offer for your child’s age group.

The core school day runs from arrival at 08:45, with registration at 08:55, and the day finishes at 15:15. The school states this totals 32.5 hours per week.

Breakfast club starts at 7.20am and runs until the start of the school day. After-school wraparound is available, with provision described on the school website.

Term dates for 2025 to 2026 are published on the website, including start and end dates for each term and listed INSET days. Families should still re-check each year, as INSET changes can affect childcare planning.

Transport-wise, Balcombe is a village setting, so many families will be car-based for drop-off, with walking routes relevant for those in the immediate area. If you intend to walk or cycle, it is worth asking how the school manages drop-off safety and whether there are preferred entry points or staggered routines.

• Competition for places. The latest demand data available shows 40 applications for 23 offers, and the school is recorded as oversubscribed. For a small primary, that can translate into limited flexibility once year groups are full.

• A clear faith identity. The Church of England character shapes collective worship, religious education, and the values language used across school life. Families who prefer a fully secular approach should probe how inclusive worship feels in practice.

• Strong outcomes can bring pace. Results are well above England averages, including a very high proportion reaching the higher standard. That suits pupils who enjoy challenge, but parents of children who need a gentler academic ramp should ask about how lessons are adapted without lowering expectations.

• Wraparound is external. After-school care is provided by an external organisation with its own pricing and systems. That is convenient for many families, but it also means you should verify availability and costs early.

Balcombe CofE Primary School is a high-performing village primary with a clearly articulated Church school vision and a structured approach to outdoor learning through Nature Ninjas. Academic outcomes suggest strong teaching of core subjects and a meaningful level of stretch for higher attainers, while published information indicates clear leadership roles and a consistent school-day structure.

Best suited to families who want a small, values-led primary with above-average outcomes and a visible faith dimension, and who are prepared to engage early with admissions in an oversubscribed setting.