Northchapel Community Primary School, Petworth
Northchapel Community Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Petworth. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 72nd-highest of the 193 schools in West Sussex with published results, and 6,288th of 14,452 across England. It was 55% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to West Sussex (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Northchapel Community Primary School in detail
Northchapel Community Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "We are delighted to introduce you to our small, rural community primary school set within the South Downs National Park but only a few minutes away from Haslemere and Petworth."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, hockey, gymnastics, swimming, multi-sports, karate, dance and choir.
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at Northchapel Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 75% 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 75% in reading and 25% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Northchapel Community Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 13 families put Northchapel Community Primary School as their first choice and 20 named it as one of their preferences, for 14 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 Northchapel Community Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Northchapel Community Primary School are Plaistow and Kirdford Primary School (3.4 miles, Good, 82% reading, 71% maths); Fernhurst Primary School (3.5 miles, Requires improvement, 67% reading, 67% maths); Grayswood Church of England (Aided) Primary School (3.9 miles, Good, 95% reading, 95% maths); and St Mary's Church of England Primary School (3.9 miles, Good, 83% reading, 76% maths).
Northchapel Community Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Plaistow and Kirdford Primary SchoolFernhurst Primary SchoolGrayswood Church of England (Aided) Primary SchoolSt Mary's Church of England Primary School
Who goes there
0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 12 pupils (22.6%) 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
Northchapel Community Primary School had 4 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Northchapel Community Primary School.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Half Moon (opposite), 130 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in West Sussex (103).
Suspensions and exclusions
Northchapel Community 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 agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its July 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
17.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 75% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 25% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 75% to 67% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
17.7
Avg class size
11.0
KS2
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Northchapel Community Primary School
Term dates
Northchapel Community Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by West Sussex. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Northchapel Community Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Northchapel Community Primary School is in West Sussex; for families living there:
Apply to West 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.
0 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 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
Your chances of a place at Northchapel Community Primary School
Will you get a place at Northchapel Community Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Northchapel Community Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Northchapel Community Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Northchapel Community Primary School.
- West Sussex publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Northchapel Community Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Northchapel Community Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in West 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.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
55%
Available places
58 pupils
105 places
47 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Petworth
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Petworth
Across West Sussex council
Places available
9,608
Applications
8,127
Got 1st preference
92.4%
Got preferred school
99.2%
All primary applications across West Sussex council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
12
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
22.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
53
Total Pupils
21
Boys
32
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
4
Teachers
13.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,322
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,562
Per pupil
£524k
Total funding
£9k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.8%
Overall absence
9.6%
Persistent absence
52
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Northchapel Community Primary School
What are SATs results like at Northchapel Community Primary School?
Of the pupils at Northchapel Community Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% reached the expected standard in reading and 75% did so in maths.
What is Northchapel Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Northchapel Community Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2023.
What is the catchment area for Northchapel Community Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Northchapel Community Primary School is oversubscribed, West Sussex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Northchapel Community Primary School?
Northchapel Community Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 55% of its 105 places.
How big are the classes at Northchapel Community Primary School?
Classes at Northchapel Community Primary School average 17.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Northchapel Community Primary School?
Northchapel Community Primary School has around 53 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Northchapel Community Primary School?
4.8% of sessions were missed at Northchapel Community Primary School in 2024/25. 9.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Northchapel Community Primary School?
Apply through West Sussex's coordinated admissions process, naming Northchapel Community 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.
What are Northchapel Community Primary School's term dates?
Northchapel Community Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by West Sussex. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027).
How many road collisions happen near Northchapel Community 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. 0 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 West Sussex is 11 (the median across 337 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Northchapel Community Primary School?
Northchapel Community Primary School is at Pipers Lane, Northchapel, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 9JA.
Sources: West Sussex term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)