St Nicolas & St Mary CofE Primary School
Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 6PE · West Sussex · primary school
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36th of 192 primary schools in West Sussex we can score, 225 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 6.6/10 against 4,240 of them, against 7.0/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 71.0 · 68 | 40% | 2.73 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 12.0 · 74 | 25% | 1.85 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Nicolas & St Mary CofE Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 71.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 12.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (6.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.0 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2025.
Beyond the classroom
The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 381 pupils against a stated capacity of 420. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who do not reach the higher standard in their core subjects? What specific activities take place during the breakfast and after-school clubs? How does the school maintain its Good rating following the recent inspection?
What Ofsted said about St Nicolas & St Mary CofE Primary School
Overview
This ungraded inspection confirms that St Nicolas & St Mary C of E Primary School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The school continues to provide a high-quality education where pupils are “happy and well-cared for,” achieving highly in their learning and demonstrating strong behaviour.
Strengths
- A “strong reading culture” serves as the “bedrock of the school,” with pupils becoming “extremely confident and skilled readers” through carefully chosen texts and phonics instruction.
- Pupils achieve highly in mathematics, having “time to practise their methods and strategies” and applying them effectively in problem-solving and reasoning.
- Staff possess “strong subject knowledge” and use “strong questioning” alongside routine recaps to ensure pupils have “impressive recall” of their learning.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are “accurately identified” and receive tailored support, with targets routinely shared with parents.
- The school offers a rich curriculum including “whole-school singing” and international links, fostering an “appreciation of cultural diversity.”
Areas to improve
- Pupils do not always use “appropriate punctuation or grammatical structure” in their writing, meaning it is “not as effective as it could be.” The school must continue embedding curriculum improvements to ensure pupils “write well in English and across all subjects.”
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 66% |
| 2023/24 | 68% |
| 2024/25 | 71% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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