Best Primary Schools in East Sussex 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 143 schools across East Sussex. Updated with 2025–26 data.

East Sussex has 143 open primary schools. Of the 142 with a published Ofsted inspection, 12 (8%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 92% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Ark Blacklands Primary Academy currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in East Sussex follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

143
Total schools
12
Outstanding (historic grade)
8%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
61.3%
Avg KS2 SATs
32.3
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Ark Blacklands Primary Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 94 View school
🥈 Brede Primary School
Primary
 Good 90 View school
🥉 High Cliff Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 86 View school
4. Ark Little Ridge Primary Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
5. Parkside Community Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
6. Burwash CofE School
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
7. Netherfield CofE Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
8. Little Common School
Primary
 Outstanding 82 View school
9. Blackboys Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 81 View school
10. Polegate Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 81 View school
11. Sandown Primary School and Nursery
Primary
 Good 81 View school
12. Breakwater Academy
Primary
 Good 81 View school
13. Ditchling St Margaret's Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 81 View school
14. Motcombe Infants' School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
15. Pashley Down Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
16. West Rise Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
17. High Hurstwood Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
18. Peasmarsh Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
19. Icklesham Church of England Primary School and Nursery
Primary
 Good 80 View school
20. Dudley Infant Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for East Sussex

Best primary schools in East SussexTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in East SussexTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in East SussexPrimary & secondary combined Secondary schools in East SussexYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in Brighton and HoveCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in West SussexCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in KentCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in MedwayCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in East Sussex

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary schools are there in East Sussex?
There are 143 open primary schools in East Sussex (closed schools are excluded). 12 of the 142 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary schools in East Sussex?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary school in East Sussex is Ark Blacklands Primary Academy. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in East Sussex?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in East Sussex?
Primary and secondary applications in East Sussex are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the East Sussex council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.