St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Playden Rye
St Michael's Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Playden Rye. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2011. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 132nd-highest of the 132 schools in East Sussex with published results, and 14,394th of 14,452 across England. It was 82% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2011)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 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
St Michael's Church of England Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 33% of Year 6 pupils at St Michael's Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 33% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 72% in East Sussex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 62% in reading and 69% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Michael's Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 5 families put St Michael's Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 15 named it as one of their preferences, for 5 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St Michael's Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Michael's Church of England Primary School are Rye Community Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 43% reading, 46% maths); Peasmarsh Church of England Primary School (2.3 miles, Good, 73% reading, 67% maths); Wittersham Church of England Primary School (3.3 miles, Good, 89% reading, 79% maths); and St Thomas' Church of England Aided Primary School (3.6 miles, Good, 94% reading, 89% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than St Michael's Church of England Primary School.
Rye Community Primary SchoolPeasmarsh Church of England Primary SchoolWittersham Church of England Primary SchoolSt Thomas' Church of England Aided Primary School
What parents say
24 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Michael's Church of England Primary School (as of September 2025): 88% would recommend the school, 88% say their child is happy there and 63% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (63%).
Who goes there
4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 13 pupils (17.3%) received SEN support and 2 (2.7%) 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.
Staffing
St Michael's Church of England Primary School had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Rye Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (adjacent), 260 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Michael's Church of England Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 4th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 6 crimes within a mile of the school, most often other theft, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in East Sussex (65).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Michael's Church of England Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 4.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from December 2011, 14 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 April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Michael's is a caring school where children feel safe and valued. The school excels at teaching reading, with strong phonics instruction that gets most pupils reading fluently quickly. Beyond academics, the school offers wonderful opportunities to develop well-rounded children through enrichment activities, clubs, and leadership roles that help them develop important skills for life.
Key Strengths
- Reading is a particular strength - phonics is taught accurately and pupils become fluent readers quickly
- Behaviour and attitudes are good - pupils are polite, courteous, and the school is calm and purposeful
- Strong personal development with a range of enriching experiences including trips, drama activities, and leadership roles
- Early years provision is good - children are well prepared for Year 1 with strong communication skills
- School knows its pupils well and quickly identifies those with additional needs, including SEND pupils
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment is not always precise - teachers don't consistently identify gaps in pupils' knowledge, so teaching doesn't address these gaps effectively
- Some teaching activities are not carefully selected and don't account for gaps in prior knowledge, limiting pupils' progress
- New subject leaders lack sufficient understanding of the ambitious new curriculum, causing inconsistencies in how it's taught
- Pupils have historic gaps in prior learning that haven't been addressed, affecting their ability to build on previous knowledge
- Older pupils are not always well enough prepared for their next steps
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with trusted adults available to address pupils' concerns.
Extracurricular Activities
Drama club, construction club, school performances, trips to local museums and theatres, author visits, leadership roles including librarian, house captain, school councillor
St Michael's Church of England Primary School is a warm and friendly school where pupils feel happy and safe, though the quality of education requires improvement as the school works through significant changes and gaps in pupils' prior learning.
At a Glance
26.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
24 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 declined from 62% to 33% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 69% to 33% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 77% to 0% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
18.8
Avg class size
9.0
Infant (KS1)
25.0
KS2
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Michael's Church of England Primary School
Term dates
St Michael's Church of England Primary School is a voluntary controlled school, so its term dates are set by East Sussex. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Michael's Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Michael's Church of England 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)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
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 St Michael's Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at St Michael's Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Michael's Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Michael's Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Michael's Church of England 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 St Michael's Church of England 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 - Playden Rye
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Playden Rye
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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
13
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
20.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
75
Total Pupils
44
Boys
31
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
9.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,989
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,124
Per pupil
£670k
Total funding
£39k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.6%
Overall absence
20.0%
Persistent absence
80
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
St Michael's Church of England Primary School
Questions parents ask about St Michael's Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Michael's Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Michael's Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 33% reached the expected standard in reading and 33% did so in maths.
What is St Michael's Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Michael's Church of England Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2011, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Michael's Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St Michael's Church of England 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 St Michael's Church of England Primary School?
St Michael's Church of England Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 82% of its 105 places.
How big are the classes at St Michael's Church of England Primary School?
Classes at St Michael's Church of England Primary School average 18.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Michael's Church of England Primary School?
St Michael's Church of England Primary School has around 75 pupils on roll. 27% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Michael's Church of England Primary School?
6.6% of sessions were missed at St Michael's Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 20% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Michael's Church of England Primary School?
Apply through East Sussex's coordinated admissions process, naming St Michael's Church of England 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 St Michael's Church of England Primary School's term dates?
St Michael's Church of England Primary School is a voluntary controlled school, so its term dates are set by East Sussex. In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near St Michael's Church of England Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Michael's Church of England Primary School?
St Michael's Church of England Primary School is at Houghton Green Lane, Playden, Playden Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7PJ.
Sources: East Sussex term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)