Blackboys Church of England Primary School Review 2026: A small rural primary with top 10% outcomes

A village primary with an unusually strong results profile, Blackboys Church of England Primary School combines mixed-age classes with clear academic ambition. In 2024, 92% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics at Key Stage 2, well above the England average of 62%. Scaled scores in reading and mathematics both sat at 109, with grammar, punctuation and spelling at 110.

Scale matters here. Reception has a published admission number of 20, and the school runs five mixed-age classes across Reception to Year 6. That structure can suit families who value a smaller cohort, consistent routines and older pupils taking responsibility through roles such as prefects, eco-warriors and school council membership.

Faith is integrated into daily life in a practical, inclusive way. The school sets out six Christian values that shape assemblies and expectations, while describing itself as welcoming to pupils of all faiths and of no faith.

The defining feature is the small-school dynamic. With five classes spanning Reception to Year 6, pupils learn alongside children of different ages, and the curriculum is designed to work across mixed-age groups. This tends to create a strong sense of responsibility in older pupils and a clear social model for younger pupils, because leadership is visible, daily, and close to home.

Leadership roles are not a token gesture. The latest inspection highlights pupils acting as prefects, eco-warriors and school councillors, and describes older pupils as strong role models. The same report links behaviour to shared expectations and a clearly understood learning culture.

The school’s Christian values are named and repeated across its documentation, and it uses that language to describe how pupils should treat one another. The values listed for the year are perseverance, fellowship, courage, respect, understanding and thankfulness, and the admissions policy explicitly frames the school as inclusive across belief backgrounds. Families who want a faith-informed culture, but not a narrow intake, often look for exactly this balance.

Performance data places Blackboys among the stronger primaries in England. In 2024, 92% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 36.67% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, versus an England average of 8%.

Scaled scores reinforce the same story. Reading and mathematics both sat at 109, and grammar, punctuation and spelling was 110. The school also reports 95% reaching the expected standard in reading, mathematics, grammar, punctuation and spelling, and science.

In the FindMySchool ranking (based on official data), the school is ranked 750th in England for primary outcomes and 1st in the Uckfield local area. That places it well above England average, in the top 10% of schools in England. Parents comparing nearby options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool to view these outcomes side-by-side.

Reading sits at the centre of the curriculum. The latest inspection describes phonics beginning as soon as children join, with staff trained to teach it consistently, and books matched carefully to the sounds pupils know. That level of alignment matters in a small school, because it reduces variation between classes and helps pupils who need extra support to catch up quickly.

Mixed-age classes require thoughtful sequencing, and that is explicitly addressed in the inspection narrative, which notes a curriculum designed around what pupils learn and when, arranged to meet the needs of mixed-age groups. Teachers are described as having secure subject knowledge and giving clear explanations, with activities designed to maintain interest and engagement.

There is also a specific improvement focus that families should be aware of. Teaching is generally strong, but the inspection identifies that, at times, teachers do not check pupils’ understanding carefully enough before moving on, which can leave gaps or misconceptions unaddressed for some pupils. For parents, the practical question is how the school is strengthening assessment and responsive teaching within lessons, particularly in subjects where concepts build quickly.

Pupils move on to secondary school at the end of Year 6, and the school’s calendar shows active transition links with local providers. Newsletters reference Year 6 to Year 7 transition days with Uckfield College and Heathfield College, including a parent and carer introduction event linked to Uckfield College.

For families thinking ahead, it helps to separate two processes: entry to Blackboys in Reception, and transfer out at Year 6. East Sussex secondary applications for September 2026 entry open on 12 September 2025 and close on 31 October 2025, with offers on 2 March 2026. That timeline means Year 6 families will typically be making decisions early in the autumn term.

Because secondary destinations depend on home address, preference and the wider admissions landscape in a given year, families should treat transition as a planned process rather than a single event. A strong primary track record helps, but the best outcomes also come from early open evenings, clarity on travel, and a realistic shortlist.

Reception places are competitive. In the 2024 admissions cycle captured there were 50 applications for 20 offers, which is 2.5 applications per place, and the school is recorded as oversubscribed. First-preference demand was also high relative to offers, suggesting that many applicants are actively targeting the school rather than listing it as a fallback.

As a voluntary aided Church of England school, admissions criteria have a faith dimension. The published admission number for Reception is 20, and the oversubscription criteria prioritise, after looked-after and previously looked-after children, children living in the parish who meet a church attendance qualification, then siblings, then other parish children, followed by other categories including children of staff, adjoining-parish worshippers and other Christian worshippers. The policy defines frequent worship as at least once a month over the prior 12 months and includes a supplementary form with a clergy reference where the relevant criteria apply.

Applications for Reception are made through East Sussex County Council. For September 2026 entry, applications open on 12 September 2025 and close on 15 January 2026, with national offer day on 16 April 2026. Late applications with a good reason are accepted up to 13 March 2026, and appeal or waiting list deadlines are published as May 2026 to be confirmed. If you are weighing the practical likelihood of a place, FindMySchool Map Search can help you understand proximity and local alternatives, but you should still read the school’s faith criteria carefully if you are applying under church-based priority.

The inspection narrative presents a school where pupils feel safe and where positive relationships underpin behaviour and learning. That matters for small settings, because a calm culture is hard to sustain without consistency across every class and every adult.

Support for additional needs is described as proactive. Staff are said to identify needs accurately, understand individual pupils well, and adapt the curriculum to support pupils with special educational needs and or disabilities. For parents, the implication is that support is not a bolt-on, it is built into planning, teaching and daily routines.

The school also includes structured wellbeing teaching within its curriculum planning. For example, the Class 4 curriculum information references PSHE delivered through the Jigsaw scheme, with topics including goals and healthy living. While this is only a snapshot from one class page, it indicates a planned approach rather than ad hoc lessons.

Clubs are unusually detailed for a small primary, and the school publishes termly schedules. The Spring term list includes Book Club in the learning resource centre, Choir Club, Art Club focused on learning from artists from around the world, and a structured Reading Club led through reading challenges. Sport includes Key Stage 2 Football incorporating girls’ football, a separate Key Stage 1 football option, and Key Stage 2 netball coaching.

The headline here is variety with personality. A Cheese Appreciation Society, run as a short series with a “cheese of the week” theme, is the kind of small-school idea that is hard to replicate in larger settings. Wheelie Wednesday, rotated by year group, shows the same approach, a simple concept used to build coordination, outdoor activity and shared routine.

Forest School is a core strand rather than an occasional enrichment day. The prospectus describes weekly sessions for Class 1 and a term of sessions for each other class, taking place on school grounds or in a dedicated Forest School setting in Kiln Woods. This adds a practical, hands-on counterweight to a results-driven academic picture, and it can suit pupils who learn best through doing, making and exploring.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Families should still budget for the usual extras, such as uniform, trips and wraparound care if needed.

The school day runs 8.50am to 3.15pm, with gates opening at 8.40am. Breakfast Club operates 7.45am to 8.40am, and after-school club runs in two sessions, 3.15pm to 4.15pm and 4.15pm to 5.30pm, with a light tea in the later session.

Parking and congestion management are addressed directly. The prospectus states that parents and carers may park at the village hall or the pub car park, both around a three-minute walk away, to reduce pressure on School Lane.

• Faith-based oversubscription. Priority can depend on parish location and evidence of worship frequency (defined as monthly over 12 months), with a supplementary form and clergy reference used for relevant criteria. This can be a good fit for some families, but it is not a detail to leave until the last minute.

• Competition for places. With 50 applications for 20 offers year, demand is materially higher than capacity. Families should plan on a realistic set of alternatives alongside this preference.

• Mixed-age classes. The structure can help younger pupils learn from older peers, but it also means teaching must be carefully sequenced. It suits children who cope well with some variation in peer age within the classroom.

• Assessment within lessons. The latest inspection flags that checking pupils’ understanding before moving on is not always systematic, which can leave gaps for some pupils. During visits, ask how the school is tightening this in everyday teaching.

Blackboys Church of England Primary School pairs a small-school setting with outcomes that sit well above England averages. Strong reading practice, clear expectations and a well-structured curriculum for mixed-age classes give it a distinctive profile. Best suited to families who want a Church of England ethos, close community ties and academically ambitious primary education, and who are ready to engage early with a competitive admissions process.