SchoolScoresDowns Infant School
Community school · Primary, ages 5 to 7 · Mixed
Ditchling Road, Brighton, BN1 6JA
01273 099854 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 24 September 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
201 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Brighton comparisons use the 23 of its 39 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 16 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Brighton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 78% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 3rd highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 76% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 8th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 90% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 32 parents whose child had been bullied 21st highest of 22 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 36% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 50% | 61% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 107 parents who had raised a concern 5th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 86% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 86% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 26 parents of children with SEND 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 95% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 72% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 2nd highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 87% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99%said yes | 92% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 62%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Brighton figures pool parents at the Brighton schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Brighton and Hove. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 90 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 80 |
| Of those, offered a place | 80 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 275 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Brighton and Hove | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 36th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 22% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.5% | 26.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 17th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 77% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.7% | 4.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 39th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 3% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.3% | 17.1%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 25th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 52% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.6% | 18.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 16th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Lower than 32% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.7% | 5.6%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 18th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Lower than 35% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 14.4% | 13.8%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 31st lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Lower than 10% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 6.8 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 32nd lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Lower than 9% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.1% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 16th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 69% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.2 | 22.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 22nd highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 55% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.0 | 11.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 25th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 29% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 7.1% | 13.9%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Downs Junior School 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Fairlight Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed, may be improving 2024 · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Martin's CofE Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Elm Grove Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 39% met expected standard (KS2)
- Coombe Road Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Balfour Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hertford Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- Stanford Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Windlesham School 0.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- St Luke's Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Downs Infant School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 24 September 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend Downs Infant School?
99% of the 201 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Downs Infant School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Downs Infant School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 80 families put Downs Infant School as their first choice for 90 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 80 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 114367.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.