Downs Infant School, Brighton

From the headteacher's welcome: "Whether you are a parent, child, friend, neighbour or visitor, we want you to feel welcome and valued at Downs Infant School. Our vision is to create a welcoming and inclusive school community where children can be happy and excited about their opportunities. We want to give children a voice and a feeling of worth."

Coming up: an open evening on Monday 2 November 2026 at 6pm, an open day on Wednesday 4 November 2026 at 9.30am, an admissions event on Monday 9 November 2026 at 3.30pm and an open day on Wednesday 18 November 2026 at 9.30am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

For September 2026 entry, 80 families put Downs Infant School as their first choice and 275 named it as one of their preferences, for 90 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Downs Infant School are Downs Junior School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 84% reading, 73% maths); Fairlight Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 67% reading, 71% maths); St Martin's CofE Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 76% reading, 64% maths); and Stanford Junior School (0.6 miles, Good, 74% reading, 73% maths).

201 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Downs Infant School (as of September 2025): 99% would recommend the school, 99% say their child is happy there and 94% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (99%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (90%).

11.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (70%) and Mixed (13%).

The nearest railway station is London Road (Brighton) Rail Station, about 210 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Springfield Road East (opposite), 10 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Downs Infant School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 4th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 904 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Brighton and Hove (366), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Downs Infant School issued 22 suspensions, 6.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Downs Infant School are Varndean School (0.9 miles), Dorothy Stringer School (0.9 miles), Cardinal Newman Catholic School (1.1 miles) and Patcham High School (1.7 miles).