Parkside Community Primary School, Heathfield

Primary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 211

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~773m)Possible (~1.1km)Unlikely (~1.4km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Headteacher Derek Hollywood
Pupils:225 / 210 capacity
LA:East Sussex
Phone:01435864577
Address:Beechwood Lane, Heathfield, TN21 8QQ
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 6 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Strong Standard
Personal Development
Strong Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Early Years
Expected Standard
Inspected 24 March 2026View full report
URN:114482
UKPRN:10073235
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Sussex Weald
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

This school excels at creating an inclusive environment where every child feels safe, valued and supported. Staff are highly trained in supporting children with additional needs, and the school uses funding wisely to ensure disadvantaged pupils can access clubs and enrichment activities. Pupils develop strong character, showing impressive resilience, responsibility and kindness to one another.

Key Strengths

  • Exceptional behaviour and attitudes to learning - pupils are self-disciplined, cooperative and show impressive resilience
  • Outstanding support for vulnerable pupils and those with special educational needs through personalised provision
  • Highly effective personal development curriculum that builds knowledge of online safety, diversity, British values and leadership opportunities
  • Strong attendance across year groups with significant reduction in persistent absence
  • Excellent inclusive practice with expert staff training and swift response to pupils' needs

Areas for Improvement

  • Some pupils' writing skills, including letter formation, are not as secure as they could be and errors are not always addressed consistently
  • A small proportion of pupils develop misconceptions in lessons that are not identified and corrected
  • Some children in early years are not as secure in writing as in other areas of the curriculum

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Pupil-led lunchtime clubs, sports programmes, play leader opportunities, library helpers, school farm care, music lessons, educational visits, outdoor gym equipment access

Parkside Community Primary School is a well-led school where pupils thrive in a safe, inclusive environment with strong attendance and exemplary behaviour. Leaders are committed to supporting all learners, particularly those with additional needs or facing disadvantage.

At a Glance

8.7%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+16ppMathsWriting

Reading has improved from 67% to 83%. Maths has remained stable at around 83%. Writing has remained stable at around 83%.

Class Sizes

27.4

Avg class size

28.5

Infant (KS1)

29.8

KS2

7

Total classes

1 class with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Kennedy Close (adj)
550m · 9 min walk
Birch Way (opp)
552m · 9 min walk
Sandy Cross Lane (adj)
689m · 11 min walk
Holly Drive (opp)
710m · 12 min walk
Parkside (opp)
759m · 12 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

107%

Over capacity

225 pupils

210 capacity

15 places over capacity

Area Demand Pressure - Heathfield

High pressure
New homes approved:347
Projected new pupils:87

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Heathfield

Admissions Demand - East Sussex

Low demand0.83x oversubscription

Places available

5,643

Applications

4,708

Got 1st preference

91.2%

Got preferred school

98.0%

Primary admissions across East Sussex (2025/26)

Inspection History(7)

24 March 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Early Years
3 July 2023
9 March 2017
OutstandingReport
Leadership & ManagementOutstanding

House Prices

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

5.94936%

Overall absence

11.95652%

Persistent absence

184

Enrolments

Authorised5.13552%
Unauthorised0.81384%
Persistent (10%+)11.95652%
Severe (50%+)1.08696%

Absence trend

3.00504%
18/19
1.89248%
20/21
5.1545%
21/22
4.02084%
22/23
4.87687%
23/24
5.94936%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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