Join Stedham
Choosing a school is a big decision. The best way to make it is to come and see us. We are two miles from Midhurst, and we would love to show you round.
Why Stedham
Small enough to know every child. Big enough to give them room to grow.
Every child known
Three small morning classes, Rabbits, Hedgehogs and Foxes, keep groups small for reading, writing, maths and phonics.
Happy, safe and well looked after
In our latest parent survey, 100% of parents said their child is happy, safe and well looked after at school.
Care and clubs from 8am to 5pm
Breakfast Club from 8:00am (£3.00) and Afternoon Club until 5:00pm (£5.00), both run by our own Stedham team, plus clubs and extras after school.
Woods on our doorstep
Woods and common land right outside our gates, a large Early Years outdoor area, and a village sports ground five minutes’ walk away. Ask the children and they will tell you their school is in the woods.
5 of 17
Small school. Big achievement.
Five of our seventeen 2026 Year 6 leavers won a place in the Grammar Stream at Midhurst Rother College. That is nearly 1 in 3 of our pupils, against around 1 in 8 across the whole Year 7 intake: more than twice the rate. Small classes mean every child is known, and stretched.
Uniform is royal blue. Logo items are ordered online from Brigade and basic uniform is available from major retailers: see the school uniform page. Childcare details are on the Wrap-around Care page.
Book a visit
Come and see the school
There are two ways to see Stedham at work. Either way, you will see real lessons and have time to ask anything you like.
Open days
Just drop in, no need to book. You are welcome to register so we know to expect you.
- Tuesday 29 September, 9.30am to noon
- Thursday 8 October, 1.30pm to 3pm
- Wednesday 21 October, 9.30am to noon and 1.30pm to 3pm
- Tuesday 3 November, 9.30am to noon
- Wednesday 18 November, 1.30pm to 3pm
Private tours
Available at any time of year. Mr Tidey or a member of staff will show you round during the school day, just your family. Tell us when suits you and we will be in touch to arrange it.
Prefer to talk? Ring the office on 01730 813522. In the school holidays, email [email protected] and we will tell you how to reach someone.
Admissions
How to apply
Places at Stedham are allocated by the West Sussex Admissions Team, not by the school. Here is how it works.
Visit us
Book a tour or ring the office. If you live outside the catchment area, tell us you are applying so that we are aware of your application.
Apply to West Sussex
Applications are made to the West Sussex Pupil Admissions Team. Phone 033 301 42903 or email [email protected]. We accept applications from families in West Sussex and the surrounding counties.
Reception intake
Applications for Reception in September 2027 open on Monday 5 October 2026 and close in January 2027. Full details are in our Admissions Policy 2026–2027.
Joining during the year
Places in all year groups are often available through the school year. Contact the school for an informal chat and we will guide you through the in-year process.
Key dates
Starting Reception in September 2027
Dates are set by West Sussex County Council. We will update this page as they are confirmed.
- Any time
Come and see the school
Individual tours during the school day, all year round.
Reception applications open
Apply online through West Sussex County Council.
- 29 Sep – 18 Nov 2026
Open days
29 September, 8 October, 21 October, 3 November and 18 November.
- January 2027
Applications close
The exact closing date is set by the county; we will confirm it here.
- September 2027
Your child starts in Rabbits class
With a proper welcome from the whole school.
Families
What families say
Parents know Stedham best. Here is what they tell us about the school.
Raffi joined Stedham in Reception and has just finished his first year. If you ask him, he gives the school ten out of ten, and we would say the same. The setting backs onto the woods, which he loves. What struck us most was watching the older children: how confident they are, and how easily they moved on to their next school. Mr Tidey and Mr Noble bring exceptional energy to everything they do. The ratio of adults to children is better than you would get in a private school. There are roughly fourteen in Raffi's class with three adults, the teacher plus assistants, so fewer than one adult to every five children. We could not have hoped for a better start.
Stedham Primary has been the ideal setting for our daughter to learn in. The SEND provision has been fantastic and the fact that the school feels like a large family means that everyone she interacts with knows her well and how to support her. The smaller and more intimate learning environment has allowed her to thrive without us ever feeling as though she needed to be anything different than who she is. We are so grateful to have this incredible school on our doorstep.
We loved watching our daughters grow in confidence and really flourish during their time at Stedham. We worried that they would struggle with the transition to secondary school because they were used to small classes at Stedham and MRC is huge but they settled in quickly and happily. We truly believe that Stedham laid the strong foundations that have enabled them to make such a positive transition and thrive at secondary school.
Our daughters have excelled at Stedham Primary over many years. Both started in reception class, and have been through all year groups. Our eldest daughter is now in the grammar stream at MRC. Our youngest daughter is in her final year at Stedham as a year 6 in Foxes class. The children feel part of a small and caring community, all age groups mix, the village and woodland location allows for adventure, and education is tailored around each child. Our daughters are confident, independent, well educated, sporty, musical, happy and ready for the wider world. The consistency and the sense of belonging that Stedham Primary has given them is priceless. If you embrace this little school, it will embrace your child, you and your wider family. Thank you Stedham.
Our son and daughter joined Stedham three years ago when we moved to the area. We loved the family feel of the school and the amazing facilities and staff ratio number for the number of pupils. We felt the school invested in our children not only academically but worked alongside us to give them a great foundation at a personal level through activities like forest school. It was great to watch the results that followed promptly after joining. Confident and happy children that moved smoothly into a sizeable secondary school and that coped really well with the academic and social challenges that it brings.
Questions parents ask
Good to know
What are the school hours?
School starts at 9am (classes open from 8.45am) and ends at 3.30pm. The school gate is locked at 9.00am; if you arrive later please use the buzzer on the entrance gate. The total time a child will attend school during a typical week is 32.5 hours.
Is there childcare before and after school?
Yes. Our Breakfast Club runs from 8:00am to 8:45am (£3.00) and our Afternoon Club from 3:30pm to 5:00pm (£5.00). Both are run in-house by our own Stedham team and are open to all families.
How are the classes organised?
We have three morning classes named after animals from the woods around the school: Rabbits (Reception and Year 1), Hedgehogs (Year 2 and 3) and Foxes (Year 5 and 6). In the afternoons children learn foundation subjects in two groups. The class structure is set each year; please ask the office about the year group your child would join.
Will my child be stretched academically in a small school?
Yes. Small classes let teachers know exactly where each child is and push them on. In 2026, five of our seventeen Year 6 leavers won a place in the Grammar Stream at Midhurst Rother College, a specialist class for pupils showing exceptional academic potential in the transition day assessment. That is nearly 1 in 3 of our leavers, against around 1 in 8 across the whole Year 7 intake of around 240.
We live outside the catchment area. Can we still apply?
Yes. Being close to the Hampshire and Surrey borders, we accept applications from families who live in West Sussex and the surrounding counties. If you live outside the catchment area it would be helpful if you contact the school so that we are aware of your application.
Can my child join part-way through the year?
Admissions to all year groups, both in September and throughout the school year, are often available. Please contact the school for an informal discussion.
Where do I buy uniform?
School uniform with the logo (sweatshirt, fleece, cardigan, PE t-shirt and bags) is ordered online from our supplier, Brigade. All basic uniform is available from major retailers. We are committed to keeping uniform affordable and to reducing textile waste, so we are proud to be part of Midhurst Community Hub’s Pre-Loved & Free Primary School project (midhurstcommunityhub.co.uk/projects). See the School Uniform page for the full list and PE kit.
My child has additional needs. Who do I talk to?
Our SENDCO, Miss Lucy Richardson, will be happy to talk to you. Contact her via the school office on 01730 813522. Prospective parents are asked to tell us about any disabilities or additional needs when registering so that reasonable adjustments can be considered. The entire school site can be accessed by wheelchair users.
What happens about school lunches?
A hot lunch is cooked every day and you book your child's meal in advance in the FEED app, the West Sussex school meals service, choosing a main course and a pudding from the menu. Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 get their lunch free under the Universal Infant Free School Meal scheme, and from Year 3 lunches are paid for unless your child is eligible for free school meals. Packed lunches are very welcome too, and you can mix the two from day to day.
How do I keep up with what is happening?
Term dates and events are on our calendar, news is posted on this website, and parents meet class teachers at consultation evenings in the autumn and spring terms with a written report in the summer term.
Still deciding? Come and see us.
A visit answers most questions in an hour.
Prospectus
Take Stedham home with you
Our eight-page prospectus covers the Head's welcome, our values, a day at Stedham, curriculum and reading, life beyond the classroom and how to join. Printed copies are available from the school office.
The prospectus is being updated with new photographs and the download will be back here shortly.
