Staplecross Methodist Primary School, Robertsbridge
Staplecross Methodist Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Robertsbridge. It has a Methodist religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2010. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 86th-highest of the 132 schools in East Sussex with published results, and 9,982nd of 14,452 across England. It was 82% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2010)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 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
Staplecross Methodist Primary School in detail
Staplecross Methodist Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Staplecross Wesleyan School was originally opened in 1845, in a site adjacent to the present building. A new Wesleyan Voluntary School was built and opened on the present site in 1901. In 1962 the premises were altered and modernised and the school continued as Staplecross Methodist Controlled Primary School. In 1988 an additional classroom was added upstairs."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include karate and art.
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at Staplecross Methodist Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% 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 81% in reading and 44% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Staplecross Methodist Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 7 families put Staplecross Methodist Primary School as their first choice and 19 named it as one of their preferences, for 8 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 Staplecross Methodist Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Staplecross Methodist Primary School are Bodiam Church of England Primary School (2 miles, Requires improvement, 64% reading, 82% maths); Salehurst Church of England Primary School (2.7 miles, Good, 68% reading, 50% maths); Sedlescombe Church of England Primary School (2.8 miles, 82% reading, 86% maths); and Northiam Church of England Primary School and Nursery (3.2 miles, 86% reading, 79% maths).
Staplecross Methodist Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Bodiam Church of England Primary SchoolSalehurst Church of England Primary SchoolSedlescombe Church of England Primary SchoolNorthiam Church of England Primary School and Nursery
What parents say
33 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Staplecross Methodist Primary School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (94%).
Who goes there
2.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 9 pupils (10.2%) received SEN support and 1 (1.1%) 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 autism.
Staffing
Staplecross Methodist Primary School had 6 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Bodiam (Kent & East Sussex Railway), about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cross Inn (opposite), 240 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often public order offences and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in East Sussex (65).
Suspensions and exclusions
Staplecross Methodist 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; 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 2010, 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 is a warm, caring school where children feel safe and happy. Pupils develop strong reading skills and receive excellent phonics teaching from the early years. The school is particularly good at supporting all learners, including those with additional needs, and building confident, articulate young people who understand the importance of treating others with respect.
Key Strengths
- Strong community spirit with pupils taking on meaningful roles like librarians, play leaders and well-being ambassadors
- Excellent phonics teaching and reading support - pupils become confident, fluent readers by end of Year 2
- Well-designed processes to identify and support pupils with SEND, helping them achieve well
- High teacher expectations leading to good pupil achievement and strong recall of learning
- Consistent application of school rules creating a calm, happy environment where pupils behave well
Areas for Improvement
- School does not always evaluate the impact of curriculum changes precisely enough to know which improvements work best
- In some subjects, the tasks teachers select do not always match the ambition of the curriculum, limiting some pupils' knowledge development
- School needs to ensure teachers have knowledge to select activities that fully develop pupils' knowledge and vocabulary in line with curriculum goals
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with staff dealing with pupil issues quickly and supporting pupils to identify and manage their feelings.
Extracurricular Activities
Gardening club, karate club
Staplecross Methodist Primary School is a small primary school with a strong sense of community where pupils feel happy and safe. The school has responded well to refine its curriculum after low published outcomes in some areas.
At a Glance
25.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
33 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 81% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 44% to 67% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 69% to 75% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.3
Avg class size
28.0
KS2
3
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Staplecross Methodist Primary School
Term dates
Staplecross Methodist 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 Staplecross Methodist Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Staplecross Methodist 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 Staplecross Methodist Primary School
Will you get a place at Staplecross Methodist Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Staplecross Methodist Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Staplecross Methodist Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Staplecross Methodist 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 Staplecross Methodist 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 - Robertsbridge
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Robertsbridge
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
9
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
11.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
88
Total Pupils
49
Boys
39
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
6
Teachers
14.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,190
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,936
Per pupil
£672k
Total funding
£30k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.6%
Overall absence
12.2%
Persistent absence
82
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Staplecross Methodist Primary School
What are SATs results like at Staplecross Methodist Primary School?
Of the pupils at Staplecross Methodist Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% reached the expected standard in reading and 67% did so in maths.
What is Staplecross Methodist Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Staplecross Methodist Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2010, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Staplecross Methodist Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Staplecross Methodist 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 Staplecross Methodist Primary School?
Staplecross Methodist Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 82% of its 105 places.
How big are the classes at Staplecross Methodist Primary School?
Classes at Staplecross Methodist Primary School average 29.3 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Staplecross Methodist Primary School?
Staplecross Methodist Primary School has around 88 pupils on roll. 25% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Staplecross Methodist Primary School?
5.6% of sessions were missed at Staplecross Methodist Primary School in 2024/25. 12.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Staplecross Methodist Primary School?
Apply through East Sussex's coordinated admissions process, naming Staplecross Methodist 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 Staplecross Methodist Primary School's term dates?
Staplecross Methodist 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 Staplecross Methodist 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 Staplecross Methodist Primary School?
Staplecross Methodist Primary School is at Bodiam Road, Staplecross, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, TN32 5QD.
Sources: East Sussex term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)