Clapham and Patching CofE Primary School, Worthing

Ofsted's report card from its 3 March 2026 inspection grades Clapham and Patching CofE Primary School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 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. "Leaders place a high priority on improving attendance and understand the specific challenges the school faces."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children make a positive start to school life and typically achieve well."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders set a clear, inclusive vision that prioritises pupils' pastoral needs so they are settled and are well prepared for learning."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders make decisions in the best interests of pupils."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a broad and well-sequenced personal development programme."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, some pupils have not been adequately prepared for the next stage of their education."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The teaching of handwriting and spelling is not wholly effective."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should embed a consistent, school-wide approach to handwriting and spelling so pupils develop the fluency and accuracy needed to support their writing across the curriculum"; "Leaders should further embed consistent, inclusive teaching strategies so that all pupils benefit from high-quality classroom practice and develop the secure knowledge and fluency needed to achieve well by the end of key stage 2"; "Leaders should continue to work with the small group of pupils who are persistently absent so that more of them attend regularly and benefit fully from the school's curriculum".

In its own words: "Please see each tab to find out more about our amazing little school."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am.

In 2025, 56% of Year 6 pupils at Clapham and Patching CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 22% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 72% in West Sussex and 77% and 75% across England.

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

For September 2026 entry, 6 families put Clapham and Patching CofE Primary School as their first choice and 17 named it as one of their preferences, for 8 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Clapham and Patching CofE Primary School are The Laurels Primary School, Worthing (1.5 miles, Good, 70% reading, 48% maths); St Margaret's CofE Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 77% reading, 69% maths); Hawthorns Primary School (1.7 miles, 83% reading, 92% maths); and St Wilfrids Catholic Primary School (1.9 miles, 70% reading, 74% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Clapham and Patching CofE Primary School.

Clapham and Patching CofE Primary School is one of 2 schools run by South Downs Education Trust, an academy trust.

33 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Clapham and Patching CofE Primary School (as of April 2026): 88% would recommend the school, 91% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).

0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 22 pupils (42.3%) received SEN support and 7 (13.5%) 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.

Clapham and Patching CofE Primary School had 4 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Goring-by-Sea Rail Station, about 2.1 miles away in a straight line.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Village Hall (opposite), 210 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in West Sussex (103).

Clapham and Patching CofE Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.