St Paul's CofE Primary School

Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England

St Nicholas Road, Brighton, BN1 3LP

01273 721001 · Map and directions

Ofsted report card2 strong, 5 expectedSafeguarding met · 14 April 2026
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths76%England 62% · 2024/25
2nd highest of 37 state primary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 79% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils151Room for 210 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 199 in 2019, 205 in 2021, 185 in 2022, 179 in 2023, 176 in 2024, 175 in 2025, 151 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.020 for 20 places, September 2026
Joint 10th highest of 37 state primary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 52% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 14 April 2026 , published 17 May 2026.

In short: 2 strong, 5 expected, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Early yearsNursery and reception classes. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

29 pupils in this year group.

76% — 16 points above the Brighton and Hove average, and 14 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolBrighton and HoveEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 76% 60% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 10% 5% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 76% 76% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 86% 71% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 86% 71% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 108 106 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 109 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 70%This school 2023/24: 60%This school 2024/25: 76% This school England 62% 2022/23 70% 2023/24 60% 2024/25 76%

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 about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered20
Families who put it first20
Of those, offered a place20 (100%)
Families who listed it at all41

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Brighton and Hove

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolBrighton and HoveEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
20th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 66% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
29.7% 26.1%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
23rd highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 68% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.0% 4.0%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
35th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 18% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
9.7% 17.1%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
4th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
35.4% 18.0%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
21st lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton.
Lower than 26% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
5.9% 5.6%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
34th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton.
Lower than 6% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
24.1% 13.8%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 2.9 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 1.2% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.00% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
37th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 7% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
14.7 22.1 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 34th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 24% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
9.2 11.8 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
Joint 34th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton.
Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is St Paul's CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

St Paul's CofE Primary School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 14 April 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 2 strong, 5 expected, and safeguarding was met.

How did St Paul's CofE Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 76% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 14 points above the England average of 62%.

Is St Paul's CofE Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 20 families put St Paul's CofE Primary School as their first choice for 20 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 20 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.