Desmond Anderson Primary Academy, Crawley

In its own words: "Desmond Anderson Primary Academy is a dynamic, happy and welcoming academy at the heart of its local community. We pride ourselves on an engaging curriculum that every child can benefit from, a genuine love of learning, and a close community approach to working with our parents and carers."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care, from £7.00 per session.

In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils at Desmond Anderson Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 68% 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 62% in reading and 55% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 41 families put Desmond Anderson Primary Academy as their first choice and 110 named it as one of their preferences, for 42 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 Desmond Anderson Primary Academy are Broadfield Primary Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 86% reading, 84% maths); Southgate Primary (0.5 miles, Good, 58% reading, 72% maths); The Oaks Primary School & Nursery (0.6 miles, Good, 77% reading, 74% maths); and Hilltop Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 87% reading, 86% maths).

Desmond Anderson Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Desmond Anderson Primary Academy is one of 65 schools run by Reach2 Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 66% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

85 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Desmond Anderson Primary Academy (as of September 2025): 79% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 44% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (44%).

25.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (60%), Asian (10%) and Mixed (8%).

In 2026, 74 pupils (17.1%) received SEN support and 28 (6.5%) 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.

Desmond Anderson Primary Academy has a resourced provision for autism: 20 places, 20 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Crawley Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Canterbury Road (opposite), 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 274 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in West Sussex (103), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Desmond Anderson Primary Academy issued 17 suspensions, 3.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Desmond Anderson Primary Academy are Thomas Bennett Community College (0.2 miles); St Wilfrid's Catholic Comprehensive School, Crawley (1.1 miles); Holy Trinity CofE Secondary School, Crawley (1.1 miles); and Oriel High School (1.3 miles).