Ofsted: Outstanding

The South Downs School

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

personMiss Penny Kershaw

corporate_fareTHE SOUTHFIELD TRUST

location_onEastbourne, BN20 8NU

language Visit Website phone 1323730302

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2019

groups

Students

144

school

Expected Standard

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Age Range

4-11

summarize

The South Downs School is a Academy special converter school in Eastbourne, serving ages 4-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade.

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School Summary

The South Downs School is an academy special converter in Eastbourne, East Sussex, admitting pupils aged 4-11. It is part of THE SOUTHFIELD TRUST. The school has approximately 178 pupils on roll, of whom 37% are eligible for free school meals.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2019. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 10.6:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 58%

Reading0% LA 72%

Writing0% LA 69%

Maths0% LA 68%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 56%England 61%

Reading0% LA 71% · Eng 74%

Writing0% LA 69% · Eng 72%

Maths0% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 55%England 60%

Reading0% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 68% · Eng 71%

Maths0% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-6.7

Read

LA -0.9

-10.6 to -2.8

-6.9

Write

LA -1.5

-10.7 to -3.2

-7.2

Maths

LA -2.0

-10.9 to -3.5

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 63%England 65%

Reading0% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 78% · Eng 78%

Maths0% LA 74% · Eng 79%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.2

Read

LA -0.4

0.0 to 6.5

0.4

Write

LA -0.7

-2.5 to 3.3

0.9

Maths

LA -1.2

-2.1 to 4.0

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 65%

Reading0% LA 77%

Writing0% LA 79%

Maths0% LA 74%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.4

Read

LA 0.5

-6.7 to -0.1

-4

Write

LA -0.3

-7 to -1

-5.2

Maths

LA -0.4

-8 to -2.4

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

12 November 2024

Inspection Report

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26 March 2019

Inspection Report

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07 April 2016

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2019-03-26

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-06-25

S5 Inspection Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2011-07-12

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

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 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: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 178 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	178	0	0.0%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	177	0	0.0%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	175	0	0.0%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	168	4	2.4%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	169	10	5.9%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	149	0	0.0%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	144	0	0.0%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	143	0	0.0%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	162	6	3.7%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	162	0	0.0%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	162	0	0.0%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	159	0	0.0%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	158	0	0.0%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	160	0	0.0%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	162	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	162	1	0.6%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	161	0	0.0%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	145	0	0.0%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	141	0	0.0%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	140	0	0.0%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	138	0	0.0%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	138	0	0.0%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	133	0	0.0%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	135	0	0.0%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	136	0	0.0%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	133	0	0.0%	3.1%

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 116 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 23 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 11 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 9 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 6 pupils

Visual Impairment 4 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

health_and_safety

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.

89.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

96.0%Positive

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

0.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree62%

agree19%

disagree8%

don't know12%

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

strongly agree73%

agree23%

strongly disagree4%

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

strongly agree50%

agree12%

disagree8%

strongly disagree4%

not applicable27%

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

yes100%

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

strongly agree73%

agree19%

disagree4%

strongly disagree4%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree50%

agree38%

disagree4%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree73%

agree15%

disagree8%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree73%

agree23%

strongly disagree4%

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

strongly agree69%

agree23%

disagree8%

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

strongly agree46%

agree27%

disagree4%

strongly disagree4%

don't know19%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree77%

agree15%

disagree4%

strongly disagree4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes92%

no8%

The South Downs School

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

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

Staffing

Teacher Turnover