SchoolScoresDowns Junior School
Community school · Primary, ages 7 to 11 · Mixed
Rugby Road, Brighton, BN1 6ED
01273 558422 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 November 2023.
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 |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
247 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
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 9th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 47% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 94% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 8th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 59% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 7th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 90% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 60 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 18th highest of 22 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 44% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 53% | 61% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 151 parents who had raised a concern 6th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 79% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 86% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 4th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 83% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98%said yes | 92% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
127 pupils in this year group.
60% — about the same as the Brighton and Hove average, and 2 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Brighton and Hove | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 60% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 6% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 84% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 69% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 73% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Brighton and Hove | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 29th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.8% | 26.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 8th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 88% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.0% | 4.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 28th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 51% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.4% | 17.1%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 20th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 57% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 13.0% | 18.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 13th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Lower than 40% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.4% | 5.6%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 13th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Lower than 51% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 11.6% | 13.8%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 29th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Lower than 14% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 5.4 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 24th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Lower than 25% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.6% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 12th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 74% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.7 | 22.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 17th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 65% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.6 | 11.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 29th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 22% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 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 Infant School 0.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
- Fairlight Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed, may be improving 2024 · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Martin's CofE Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Balfour Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hertford Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- Coombe Road Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Stanford Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Elm Grove Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 39% met expected standard (KS2)
- Windlesham School 0.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Downs Junior School's Ofsted rating?
Downs Junior School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 November 2023.
How did Downs Junior School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 60% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 2 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Downs Junior School?
98% of the 247 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Downs Junior School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 114366.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.