Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School, Crowborough
Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Crowborough. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 7 schools in Crowborough with published results, and 4,824th of 14,452 across England. It was 82% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to East Sussex (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School in detail
Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "“ Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” This is the message we have heard from [Jesus] and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Mark Cross Church of England Primary School, a place where learning is joyful, community is strong, and every child is known and valued. I am extremely proud to be the Head of such a caring, happy and vibrant school."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, dance, drama, ukulele and guitar.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 72% in East Sussex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 71% in reading and 86% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 12 families put Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School as their first choice and 23 named it as one of their preferences, for 13 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School are Rotherfield Primary School (1.8 miles, Good, 74% reading, 65% maths); Mayfield Church of England Primary School (2.7 miles, Good, 87% reading, 93% maths); Frant Church of England Primary School (2.7 miles, Good, 80% reading, 50% maths); and Wadhurst CofE Primary School and Nursery (3.4 miles, Good, 89% reading, 74% maths).
Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Rotherfield Primary SchoolMayfield Church of England Primary SchoolFrant Church of England Primary SchoolWadhurst CofE Primary School and Nursery
Who goes there
3.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 9 pupils (9.9%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) 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.
Staffing
Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School had 6 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Wadhurst Rail Station, about 2.6 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Lazy Fox (outside), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in East Sussex (65).
Suspensions and exclusions
Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from January 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its January 2019 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
3.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 71% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 86% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 57% to 73% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
22.8
Avg class size
17.5
Infant (KS1)
28.0
KS2
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School
Term dates
Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see East Sussex's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School is in East Sussex; for families living there:
Apply to East Sussex for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 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
Your chances of a place at Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School
Will you get a place at Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from East Sussex, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in East Sussex got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
82%
Available places
86 pupils
105 places
19 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Crowborough
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Crowborough
Across East Sussex council
Places available
5,501
Applications
4,559
Got 1st preference
91.1%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All primary applications across East Sussex council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
9
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
9.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
91
Total Pupils
44
Boys
47
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
6
Teachers
15.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,187
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,411
Per pupil
£602k
Total funding
£8k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.1%
Overall absence
15.0%
Persistent absence
80
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School
What are SATs results like at Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School?
Of the pupils at Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 82% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% did so in maths.
What is Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School is oversubscribed, East Sussex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School?
Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 82% of its 105 places.
How big are the classes at Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School?
Classes at Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School average 22.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School?
Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School has around 91 pupils on roll. 3% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School?
5.1% of sessions were missed at Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School in 2024/25. 15% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School?
Apply through East Sussex's coordinated admissions process, naming Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School?
Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School is at Mark Cross, Crowborough, East Sussex, TN6 3PJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)