Blackthorns Community Primary Academy

About Blackthorns Community Primary Academy

Blackthorns is a vibrant primary academy in the beautiful village of Lindfield, near Haywards Heath in West Sussex. We have a highly skilled, passionate and dedicated team of teachers and support staff who strive for the very best for the children at our academy. We are proud to be part of the University of Brighton Academies Trust.

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Key Facts

Founded 1972

Students 210

Head/Principal Chris Jowett

Rating Breakdown

Based on published reviews

Safety & Security 5.0

Teaching Quality 4.5

Communication 5.0

Student Wellbeing 4.5

Facilities 4.5

Parent Survey

Official Ofsted Parent View data • 72 responses • 34.3% response rate

View on Ofsted

My child is happy at this school

86.1% positive 11.1% negative

My child feels safe at this school

90.3% positive 8.3% negative

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved

86.1% positive 11.1% negative

The school has high expectations for my child

79.2% positive 12.5% negative

My child does well at this school

82% positive 16.7% negative

I would recommend this school to another parent

Data from Ofsted Parent View as of September 2025. Based on 72 parent responses to the official Ofsted survey.

School Workforce

Teacher and staff information • 2024-2025

Note: These figures are estimated based on national averages. Actual school-level data not yet available.

22.0:1

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Good

9.6

Teachers (FTE)

Estimated workforce data based on GIAS enrollment and national average ratios. Academic year 2024-2025.

Primary School Results (Key Stage 2)

Exam performance data • 2023-2024

67.0%

Reading, Writing & Maths

Meeting expected standard

83.0%

Reading

Avg score: 109.0

73.0%

Maths

Avg score: 105.0

73.0%

Writing

Meeting expected standard

Data from DfE Performance Tables for academic year 2023-2024. Published January 2024. View full performance tables

Reviews 3

E

Emily J

Parent Sep 15, 2023

5.0

"Exceptional school and community!"

We've been so impressed with the facilities, staff, and values here at Blackthorns. The sense of community is wonderful, and our child is thriving. The recent first aid training for Year 10 students is a great example of the academy's commitment to real-world learning.

Safety & Wellbeing 5/5

Teaching & Learning 5/5

Communication 5/5

Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 5/5

Facilities 5/5

Helpful

S

Sarah K

Parent Feb 20, 2023

5.0

"A nurturing environment for little learners"

I appreciate how the academy prioritizes individual potential and creativity. The teachers are supportive and engaging, and the facilities are clean and well-maintained. My child looks forward to attending school every day, which says a lot!

Safety & Wellbeing 5/5

Teaching & Learning 4/5

Communication 5/5

Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 4/5

Facilities 4/5

Helpful

H

Helen T

Parent Nov 10, 2022

4.0

"A good experience, but room for improvement"

We had a generally positive experience while our child attended Blackthorns. However, we found the communication with teachers and the academy office to be sometimes lacking. The values and programs on offer are excellent, but we felt that our child's needs could have been better met.

Safety & Wellbeing 3/5

Teaching & Learning 4/5

Communication 3/5

Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 4/5

Facilities 3/5

Helpful