Shinewater Primary School, Eastbourne

Ofsted's report card from its 16 June 2026 inspection grades Shinewater Primary School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have high ambitions for all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), those who are known or previously known to children's social care and those who face other barriers to learning."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have created a highly effective personal development programme that gives pupils meaningful experiences of the wider world."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Children in the early years make rapid progress from their starting points, particularly in communication and writing."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders monitor patterns and trends in attendance data."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The broad and balanced curriculum prepares pupils well for their next stage of education."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in the Nursery get off to a flying start."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and the trust are ambitious for the school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should embed highly effective teaching across the school so all pupils consistently develop their language and vocabulary and become increasingly fluent readers"; "Leaders should ensure that attendance continues to improve, particularly for vulnerable pupils, so that fewer pupils miss days at school and the number of pupils who are persistently absent reduces further".

In its own words: "We are a welcoming, caring and happy learning community where children are all nurtured and everyone has a voice. We have high aspirations for all children and we help to develop young people who are confident, independent and empathetic learners. The children learn through our six values about Positivity, Kindness, Aspiration, Resilience, Teamwork and Respect."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Our aim at Little Sunshines Nursery is to provide a safe and caring environment where children can develop through play and hands-on experiences. We are fortunate to have highly trained and experienced practitioners led by an EYFS teacher with over 30 years experience working with young children in both Nursery and Reception."

In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at Shinewater Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 68% 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 64% in reading and 66% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 34 families put Shinewater Primary School as their first choice and 64 named it as one of their preferences, for 34 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Shinewater Primary School are Stone Cross School (0.5 miles, Good, 78% reading, 63% maths); West Rise Primary School and Nursery (0.7 miles, Good); Heron Park Primary Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 55% reading, 48% maths); and Langney Primary Academy (1.2 miles, Good, 63% reading, 72% maths).

Shinewater Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

Shinewater Primary School is one of 19 schools run by Swale Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 64% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

40.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 9.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (74%), Black (6%) and Asian (5%).

In 2026, 106 pupils (27%) received SEN support and 9 (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 a moderate learning difficulty.

Shinewater Primary School had 24 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Hampden Park (Sussex) Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Alverstone Close (adjacent), 110 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Shinewater Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 3rd decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 227 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in East Sussex (65), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Shinewater Primary School issued 12 suspensions, 2.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Shinewater Primary School are The Turing School (0.2 miles), The Eastbourne Academy (1.2 miles) and St Catherine's College (1.2 miles).