Great Walstead School, Haywards Heath
Great Walstead School is an independent school for pupils aged 2 to 13 in Haywards Heath. It has a Christian religious character. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in November 2025.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Great Walstead School in detail
Great Walstead School in its own words
In its own words: "Spend a day at Great Walstead and you’ll notice the unique atmosphere in our school. That’s our values at play. You’ll find these principles running through every lesson, activity and adventure. They are what set us apart… and bring us together."
From the headteacher's welcome: "A true love of learning is the best preparation anyone can have for life beyond school. So at Great Walstead, we focus on nurturing children’s natural curiosity. Rewarding their attitude to learning rather than just the outcomes. That’s why our children become independent, confident thinkers with a passion for life and learning."
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Great Walstead School are Ardingly College (2.9 miles), Cumnor House School (3.3 miles) and Burgess Hill Girls (4.9 miles).
Who goes there
In 2026, 89 pupils (30.4%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Haywards Heath Rail Station, about 2.2 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 15 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in West Sussex (103).
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
18 November 2025
Regulatory Compliance
30 November 2022
Short Visit
2 May 2019
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
20 November 2018
Intermediate (Boarding)
18 January 2016
Integrated
2 October 2012
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby independent school
Keep up with Great Walstead School
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in West Sussex is 11 (the median across 337 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
65%
Available places
293 pupils
450 places
157 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Haywards Heath
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Haywards Heath
Across West Sussex council
Places available
9,806
Applications
8,765
Got 1st preference
87.5%
Got preferred school
97.6%
All secondary applications across West Sussex council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
89
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
30.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
293
Total Pupils
163
Boys
130
Girls
2026 academic year
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Great Walstead School
Questions parents ask about Great Walstead School
When was Great Walstead School last inspected?
Great Walstead School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in November 2025.
How many pupils go to Great Walstead School?
Great Walstead School has around 293 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Great Walstead School?
Great Walstead School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Great Walstead School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in West Sussex is 11 (the median across 337 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Great Walstead School?
Great Walstead School is at East Mascalls Lane, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 2QL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)