The South Downs School
Special schoolThe South Downs School is a special school in Eastbourne, for pupils aged 4 to 11. It had 164 pupils at the school census in January 2026.
Ofsted
Latest inspections as at 30 September 2026Standards maintained, November 2024
- Latest ungraded inspection
- Standards maintained, 13 November 2024
Outcomes as Ofsted published them. Report cards (from November 2025) give no overall grade, and grades under different frameworks can’t be compared.
Results
Department for EducationIn 2024/25, 0% of pupils at The South Downs School met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 61% in East Sussex and 62% in England.
0% reached the higher standard (8% in England).
End of primary school (KS2)
2024/25| Measure | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 61% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Average scaled score in reading | Does not apply to this school | 105 | 106 |
| Average scaled score in maths | Does not apply to this school | 104 | 105 |
- The South Downs School teaches pupils with needs that most schools' pupils do not have, often in very small year groups, so its results are not a fair comparison with mainstream schools. They are not shown on the map.
- Progress scores from KS1 to KS2 were not published for 2024/25, because the KS1 tests that give the starting point were cancelled in 2020 and 2021.
- Results reflect the pupils a school admits as well as its teaching, and a year's results can move a lot in a small school.
Schools nearby
In a straight line- Pashley Down Infant SchoolPrimary. School remains Good, March 2024130 m
- Motcombe Infants' SchoolPrimary. School remains Good, February 2023590 m
- The Cavendish SchoolAll-through. Graded inspection, January 2025: no overall grade. 82% met the expected standard at KS2 (2024/25)670 m
- Ocklynge Junior SchoolPrimary. Graded inspection, November 2024: no overall grade. 52% met the expected standard at KS2 (2024/25)990 m
- Gildredge HouseAll-through. Graded inspection, October 2024: no overall grade. 60% met the expected standard at KS2 (2024/25)1.5 km
- Ratton SchoolSecondary. Report card, May 2026: safeguarding met. Attainment 8 of 45.5 (2025/26, provisional)1.6 km
Admissions and catchments are set by councils and schools, which Open Index doesn’t map. Every school in Eastbourne
Where these figures come from
- Schools: the school lists of the Department for Education, the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government, with Ofsted’s latest inspections for England.
- Results: the Department for Education’s school performance tables (Open Government Licence).