Ashington CofE Primary School, Pulborough

Ofsted's report card from its 14 July 2026 inspection grades Ashington CofE Primary School on 7 areas: 3 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils attend school regularly and benefit from leaders' high expectations."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and the areas that require further improvement."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils benefit from a well-designed programme of personal development that helps them grow in confidence and prepare for life beyond primary school."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Achievement is improving but is not yet consistently secure over time."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Staff do not implement the curriculum consistently well across all classes."

Early years - Needs attention. "Children do not build knowledge and skills consistently well when they access activities independently."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Barriers to learning are not removed consistently well for all pupils."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should build on the systems they have established to identify pupils' needs by ensuring that staff use this information consistently to address barriers to learning so that all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, achieve well"; "Leaders should ensure that staff use effective teaching approaches consistently, including identifying misconceptions and adapting learning in response, so that all pupils build securely on prior learning and achieve highly across the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that teaching supports pupils to secure their early letter formation skills to help them develop fluent, accurate and legible handwriting"; "Leaders should ensure that continuous provision is consistently well organised and that adults use high-quality interactions to support and extend learning so that all children achieve the intended curriculum outcomes".

In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at Ashington CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 83% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 72% in West Sussex and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 76% in reading and 48% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 38 families put Ashington CofE Primary School as their first choice and 74 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 8 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Ashington CofE Primary School are Thakeham Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 81% reading, 88% maths); St Mary's CofE Primary School (2 miles, Good, 80% reading, 73% maths); West Chiltington Community Primary School (2.7 miles, Good, 68% reading, 60% maths); and Storrington Primary School (2.9 miles, Good, 74% reading, 68% maths).

Ashington CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

6.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 35 pupils (18.4%) received SEN support and 5 (2.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Ashington CofE Primary School.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Fairfield Road (adjacent), 280 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 14 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in West Sussex (103).

Ashington CofE Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.