SchoolScoresSt Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 5 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Whiteway Lane, Rottingdean, Brighton, BN2 7HB
01273 303109 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 22 June 2016.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 30 April 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
90 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 13th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 5th 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. | 98% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 13th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 90% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 25 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 22 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 92% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 61% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 59 parents who had raised a concern 7th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 72% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 86% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 19 parents of children with SEND 1st highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 96% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 72% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 7th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Brighton. Higher than 72% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96%said yes | 92% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 51%). 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
26 pupils in this year group.
65% — 5 points above the Brighton and Hove average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Brighton and Hove | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 65% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 8% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 73% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 88% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 81% | 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. | 107 | 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.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 29 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 26 |
| Of those, offered a place | 26 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 118 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 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.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Brighton and Hove | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 33rd highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 32% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.8% | 26.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 18th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 76% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 4.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 24th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 71% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.6% | 17.1%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 39th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 31% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 18.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 29th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Lower than 8% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.3% | 5.6%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 30th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Lower than 9% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 22.0% | 13.8%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 18th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Lower than 33% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.3 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 18th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Lower than 35% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.1% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 32nd highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 22% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 17.9 | 22.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 20th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 60% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.3 | 11.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 19th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 42% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 10.4% | 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
- Our Lady of Lourdes RC School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- Saltdean Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Rudyard Kipling Primary School and Nursery 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Telscombe Cliffs Academy 2.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Woodingdean Primary School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Peacehaven Heights Academy 2.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mark's CofE Primary School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 33% met expected standard (KS2)
- City Academy Whitehawk 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Meridian Community Primary School and Nursery 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 31% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 40% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean's Ofsted rating?
St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 22 June 2016. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 30 April 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 65% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 3 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean?
96% of the 90 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 26 families put St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean as their first choice for 29 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 26 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 114537.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.