The Pioneer Federation Achievement for All, Learning Together, Learning for Life

East Hoathly | Chiddingly | St Mary’s | Park Mead | Groombridge St Thomas | Nutley | Stonegate | Framfield | Danehill

The Pioneer Federation comprises 8 primary schools organised into 3 collaborative localised clusters. From June 2026, we are delighted to welcome Danehill Church of England Primary School into our partnership. While preserving each school’s unique character, we work closely together to elevate provision and wellbeing across our entire community, with plans to involve further schools in the future.

Hover over any school image for further information and to visit their website. Read our Welcome Message from the Executive Headteacher.

E A S T H O A T H L Y C.E. SCHOOL
S T M A R Y T H E V I R G I N H A R T F I E L D S C H O O L
F R A M F I E L D C E SCHOOL

James Procter, Pioneer Executive Headteacher & Founder | office@pioneerfederation.co.uk

Alan Brundle, Pioneer Chair of Governors | abrundle@pioneerfederation.co.uk

Annette Funnell, Clerk to the Governors | clerk@pioneerfederation.co.uk

Sian Leahy, Pioneer Inclusion Lead| senco@pioneerfederation.co.uk

Downs Cluster

Cluster Lead Head Teacher: Kayleigh Vile | Cluster Committee Chair: Karen Bye – kbye@pioneerfederation.co.uk

Chiddingly
Primary School

Chiddingly Primary School is a community school in the stunning East Sussex village of Chiddingly, surrounded by beautiful countryside and a rich history. With 4 classes in total, we are a half-form entry school with 15 children per year group, totalling 105 pupils. Reception is a class on its own (Oak Class) with the other three classes being made up of Year 1 & 2 (Beech Class), Year 3 & 4 (Willow Class) and Year 5 & 6 (Sycamore Class). Visit our site to find out more about our small school with a big heart and we look forward to meeting you soon.
Visit Chiddingly

Head Teacher: Kayleigh Vile
office@chiddingly.e-sussex.sch.uk
01825 872307
Safeguarding: dsl@chiddingly.e-sussex.sch.uk

Park Mead
Primary School

Park Mead Primary School is a community school located in the small, rural, East Sussex village of Upper Dicker near Hailsham. We have 4 classes totalling 106 pupils. We are a half-form entry school with 15 children per year group. Reception is a class on its own with the other three classes being made up of Year 1 & 2 (Chestnuts) Year 3 & 4 (Maples) and Year 5 & 6 (Oaks). Visit our site to find out more about our wonderful school. We look forward to meeting you soon!
Visit Park Mead

Head of School: Heidi West
office@parkmead.e-sussex.sch.uk
01323 844247
Safeguarding: dsl@parkmead.e-sussex.sch.uk

Framfield
Church of England Primary School

Framfield Church of England Primary School is a small rural Voluntary Aided School set within the beautiful village of Framfield. The village is situated in the Wealden district and is surrounded by the hamlets of Blackboys, Palehouse and Halland and is near to Uckfield in East Sussex. We are a half-form entry school with 15 children per year group. We have four classes and the capacity for 105 pupils on roll. Reception is a class on its own (Peacocks), with the other three classes being made up of Year 1 & 2 (Kingfishers), Year 3 & 4 (Puffins), Year 5 & 6 (Eagles). Our vision is for every child to flourish and share our values of: Perseverance, Thankfulness, Fellowship, Respect, Courage, Understanding . Please visit our site to find out more and we look forward to welcoming you to our lovely school.
Visit Framfield

Head of School: Natalie Riley
office@framfieldcep.e-sussex.sch.uk
01825 890258
Safeguarding: dsl@framfieldcep.e-sussex.sch.uk

Ashdown Cluster

Cluster Lead Head Teacher: Beth Derham | Ashdown Governor Cluster Committee Chair: Sue Diggory – sdiggory@pioneerfederation.co.uk

St Mary the Virgin
Church of England Primary School

St Mary the Virgin CE Primary School is a Voluntary Aided school set in the beautiful village of Hartfield, surrounded by The Ashdown Forest. We are a half-form entry school with 15 children per year group, totalling 105 pupils. Reception is a class on its own (Maple Class) with the other three classes being made up of Year 1+2 (Cherry Class), Year 3+4 (Willow Class) and Year 5+6 (Lilac Class). Visit our site to find out more about our fantastic school and we look forward to meeting you soon.
Visit St Mary's

Head of School: Naomi Fry
office@st-maryhartfield.e-sussex.sch.uk
01892 770221
Safeguarding: dsl@easthoathly.e-sussex.sch.uk

Groombridge St. Thomas
Church of England
Primary School

Groombridge St Thomas is a small rural Voluntary Aided School set within the beautiful village of Groombridge. The village is in the unique position of sitting on the Kent/East Sussex border although the school itself is in East Sussex. We are between a one and a half form entry school with 132 pupils on roll. Reception (Robins) and four other classes being made up of Year 1 and 2 (Owls), Year 3 (Woodpeckers), Year 4 (Kingfishers), Year 5 and 6 (Kestrels). Our vision is for every child to flourish and our values of excellence, compassion and enthusiasm pervade through everything that we do. Please visit our site to find out more and we look forward to welcoming you to our lovely school.
Visit Groombridge

Head Teacher: Beth Derham
office@groombridgest-thomas.e-sussex.sch.uk
01892 864305

Stonegate
Church of England Primary School

Stonegate Church of England Primary School and Pre-School is a small rural Church of England. The school, established in the mid-nineteenth century, is situated in the village of Stonegate in the heart of the beautiful High Weald of Sussex. We are a half-form entry school made up of five classes, totalling 125 pupils comprising of – Little Acorns (Nursery ages 2-4); Acorn (Reception); Seedling (Year 1 and 2); Sapling (Year 3 and 4) and Oak (Year 5 and 6). Visit our website or get in contact to come and visit our friendly, happy school with a ‘Love of Learning for Life’.
Click to read more

Head of School: Lucy Hazeldine
office@stonegate.e-sussex.sch.uk
01580 200415

Weald Cluster

Cluster Lead Head Teacher: Alice Briley | Weald Governor Cluster Committee Chair: Birgit Smith – bsmith@pioneerfederation.co.uk

East Hoathly
Church of England Primary School

East Hoathly Church of England Primary School and Nursery is a small rural school set in extensive grounds in East Sussex. We are a half-form entry school made up of 4 classes, totalling 130 pupils - The Woodland with Rabbits (Nursery ages 3-4) Hedgehogs (Reception); Squirrels (Year 1 and 2); Foxes (Year 3 and 4) and Owls (Year 5 and 6). Our school values of Love, Strength, Wisdom and Truth form the basis of our ethos, education and environment and we look forward to welcoming you.
Visit East Hoathly

Head Teacher: Alice Briley
office@easthoathly.e-sussex.sch.uk
01825 840247
Safeguarding: dsl@easthoathly.e-sussex.sch.uk

Nutley
Church of England Primary School

Nutley Church of England Primary School is a small, rural half-form entry school nestled in the beautiful village of Nutley, situated between Crowborough and Uckfield and bordered by the scenic Ashdown Forest. With a capacity for 105 pupils and 15 children per year group, the school is organized into four classes: Reception (Rabbits), Years 1 & 2 (Hedgehogs), Years 3 & 4 (Foxes), and Years 5 & 6 (Badgers). The school's vision is to provide every child with a foundation for lifelong learning so they can reach their full potential, a goal achieved in partnership with families through their Golden Values of respect, compassion, perseverance, friendship, forgiveness, and trust. You are warmly invited to visit the school to witness this vibrant community in action.
Visit Nutley

Head of School: Helen Denton
office@nutleyce.e-sussex.sch.uk
01825 712575

Danehill
Church of England Primary School

Danehill Church of England Primary School is a small, friendly, rural village school embedded in an active and vibrant wider community in Danehill, situated just northwest of Uckfield and deeply connected to the surrounding Sussex countryside. With a total capacity for 105 pupils, the school focuses heavily on utilizing both indoor and outdoor woodland environments through its unique 'Enlivened Learning' framework. The school’s distinct vision is to nurture, engage, and inspire children to develop key learning habits and Christian values, specifically curiosity, imagination, discipline, persistence, and collaboration. Prospective families are warmly welcomed to get in touch, arrange a tour, or attend an open day to experience this supportive learning community first-hand.
Visit Danehill

Head Teacher: Katie Jones
office@danehill.e-sussex.sch.uk
01825 790388

At the Pioneer Federation, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our children and we expect all staff, volunteers, parents and carers to share this commitment. If you have any concerns about the welfare of a child, please email the Designated Safeguarding Lead for any school using the details above.