Rustington Community Primary School, Littlehampton
Rustington Community Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Littlehampton, part of Schoolsworks Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2011. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 5th-highest of the 9 schools in Littlehampton with published results, and 9,595th of 14,452 across England. It was 91% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2011)
- 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
Rustington Community Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 74% of Year 6 pupils at Rustington Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 70% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 72% in West Sussex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 76% in reading and 75% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Rustington Community Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 39 families put Rustington Community Primary School as their first choice and 141 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.
Admissions history and your chances at Rustington Community Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Rustington Community Primary School are Summerlea Community Primary School (0.2 miles); Georgian Gardens Community Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 75% reading, 71% maths); St Catherine's Catholic Primary School, Littlehampton (1.2 miles); and River Beach Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 64% reading, 73% maths).
Rustington Community Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.
Summerlea Community Primary SchoolGeorgian Gardens Community Primary SchoolSt Catherine's Catholic Primary School, LittlehamptonRiver Beach Primary School
The trust
Rustington Community Primary School is one of 11 schools run by Schoolsworks Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 60% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
109 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Rustington Community Primary School (as of September 2025): 78% would recommend the school, 89% say their child is happy there and 59% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (59%).
Who goes there
8.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 63 pupils (11.4%) received SEN support and 13 (2.3%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Angmering Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Westlands (opposite), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 179 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in West Sussex (103), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Rustington Community Primary School issued 19 suspensions, 3.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Rustington Community Primary School are The Littlehampton Academy (1 mile) and The Angmering School (1.4 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from September 2011, 15 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at creating a warm, inclusive community where every child feels valued and supported. Teachers use strong subject knowledge to present information clearly, and the school provides exceptional emotional and pastoral support to help all pupils thrive. Children are given wonderful opportunities to develop leadership skills and explore creative, musical and sporting talents.
Key Strengths
- Excellent pastoral care and emotional support, including 'nurture ninjas' to help peers
- Effective phonics teaching and early reading provision with strong catch-up support
- Ambitious, well-designed curriculum with strong subject knowledge, particularly in science
- Positive behaviour and conduct throughout the school with high attendance rates
- Wide range of enrichment activities and leadership opportunities for pupils
Areas for Improvement
- Lesson adaptations are not always precise enough to meet the needs of all pupils, particularly those with SEND, across the whole curriculum
- Some pupils lack enthusiasm for learning and need more encouragement to fully engage
- Fewer pupils than usual achieved exceptional standards in mathematics at the end of key stage 2 (though this is being addressed)
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with strong emphasis on online safety and water safety awareness.
Extracurricular Activities
Dodgeball, drama, netball, football, gymnastics, stargazing events, farm trips, sports events, pupil parliament
Rustington Community Primary School is a welcoming and inclusive primary school where pupils achieve well and feel valued. The school provides exceptional pastoral support and maintains high expectations for all learners.
At a Glance
8.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
109 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 74% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 75% to 70% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 75% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.7
Avg class size
24.8
Infant (KS1)
29.7
KS2
20
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Rustington Community Primary School
Term dates
Rustington Community Primary School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see West Sussex's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Rustington Community Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Rustington 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
- 26
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 21 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
8 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 Rustington Community Primary School
Will you get a place at Rustington Community Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Rustington Community Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Rustington Community Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Rustington Community Primary School.
- West Sussex publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Rustington Community Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Rustington 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
91%
Near capacity
576 pupils
630 places
54 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Littlehampton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Littlehampton
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(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
63
SEN Support
13
EHC Plans
13.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
554
Total Pupils
285
Boys
269
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
27
Teachers
20.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,365
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£3093k
Total funding
£67k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.8%
Overall absence
8.8%
Persistent absence
522
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Rustington Community Primary School
Questions parents ask about Rustington Community Primary School
What are SATs results like at Rustington Community Primary School?
Of the pupils at Rustington Community Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 74% reached the expected standard in reading and 70% did so in maths.
What is Rustington Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Rustington Community Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2011, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Rustington Community Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Rustington 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 Rustington Community Primary School?
Rustington Community Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 91% of its 630 places.
How big are the classes at Rustington Community Primary School?
Classes at Rustington Community Primary School average 27.7 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Rustington Community Primary School?
Rustington Community Primary School has around 554 pupils on roll. 8% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Rustington Community Primary School?
4.8% of sessions were missed at Rustington Community Primary School in 2024/25. 8.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Rustington Community Primary School?
Apply through West Sussex's coordinated admissions process, naming Rustington 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.
How many road collisions happen near Rustington Community Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 21 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 8 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 Rustington Community Primary School?
Rustington Community Primary School is at North Lane, Rustington, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN16 3PW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)