SchoolScoresThe South Downs School
Special academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of THE SOUTHFIELD TRUST
Beechy Avenue, Eastbourne, BN20 8NU
01323 730302 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 25 June 2014. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
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 | Outstanding |
| Outcomes for pupils | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 13 November 2024: 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
26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school | 88% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school | 96% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved | 81% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 19 parents who had raised a concern | 84% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 26 parents of children with SEND | 92% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent | 92%said yes | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 15%). 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. 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
15 pupils in this year group.
0% — 61 points below the East Sussex average, and 62 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 61% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 0% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 0% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 0% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 104 | 105 |
"Not published": No figure published.
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 East Sussex. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round. It caters for: Speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Moderate learning difficulties; Severe learning difficulties; Profound and multiple learning difficulties.
| Pupils | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 36.5% | 49.2%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 94.9% | 98.8%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 5.1% | 1.2%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 9.0% | 5.6%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 9.9% | 15.9%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 32.4% | 38.1%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 | 21.8 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 0.0% | 9.2% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.06% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 6.7 | 6.5 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 1.9 | 2.7 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 8.9% | 13.7%* | 14.3%* |
Comparisons are with special schools. * 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby special schools
- Summerdown School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Anderida Learning Centre 1.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- The Lindfield School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 0% grade 5+ English and maths
- Hazel Court School 3.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The South Downs School's Ofsted rating?
The South Downs School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 25 June 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 13 November 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did The South Downs School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 0% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 62 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend The South Downs School?
92% of the 26 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The South Downs 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 142745.
- 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.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.