Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Popular

Downs Infant School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Lisa Walker

location_onBrighton, BN1 6JA

language Visit Website phone 1273099854

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

345

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.2x

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Downs Infant School is a Community school primary school in Brighton, serving ages 5-7. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Demand is above capacity (1.2×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Downs Infant School is a community school in Brighton, Brighton and Hove, admitting pupils aged 5-7. The school has approximately 322 pupils on roll, of whom 11% are eligible for free school meals.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.2× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 22.2:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.9 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

24 September 2024

Inspection Report

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26 June 2013

Inspection Report

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30 June 2010

Inspection Report

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19 October 2006

Inspection Report

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25 November 2002

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-09-24

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

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Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2013-06-26

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2006-10-19

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

2.8%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.6%(5 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 322 pupils. During this period, there were 9 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.8%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	322	9	2.8%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	321	3	0.9%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	343	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	345	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	349	3	0.9%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	346	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	345	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	341	1	0.3%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	353	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	353	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	353	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	358	1	0.3%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	359	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	350	1	0.3%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	358	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	358	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	353	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	358	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	358	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	354	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	355	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	359	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	354	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	359	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	358	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	356	0	0.0%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 13 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 8 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 5 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

99.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

99.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

8.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree63%

agree31%

disagree1%

don't know4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree47%

agree42%

disagree5%

don't know5%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree38%

agree12%

disagree1%

don't know1%

not applicable47%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes13%

no87%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree65%

agree31%

disagree4%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree46%

agree44%

disagree4%

don't know6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree69%

agree27%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree54%

agree40%

disagree3%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree61%

agree32%

disagree2%

don't know5%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree53%

agree38%

disagree5%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree64%

agree32%

disagree1%

don't know3%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes99%

no1%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Brighton and Hove

St Paul's CofE Primary School

Bilingual Primary School - Brighton & Hove

Hove Junior School

Carlton Hill Primary School

Peter Gladwin Primary School

Bevendean Primary School and Nursery