Ocklynge Junior School, Eastbourne
Ocklynge Junior School is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Eastbourne, part of South Downs Learning Trust. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 12th-highest of the 14 schools in Eastbourne with published results, and 12,028th of 14,452 across England. It was 89% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2022)
- Capacity
- 89% full
- Attendance
- In line with England
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Ocklynge Junior School in detail
Ocklynge Junior School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am extremely proud to be the Headteacher at Ocklynge Junior School. Our children are inquisitive, polite and well-behaved. They enjoy learning and relish the wider opportunities we offer, whether that be sports, Forest School or our creative arts. Ocklynge is a very happy and welcoming school with a staff team that is talented, nurturing and inspirational."
Coming up: an open day on Monday 30 November 2026, an open day on Tuesday 1 December 2026 and an open day on Wednesday 2 December 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in East Sussex
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 68% of Year 6 pupils at Ocklynge Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 61% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 72% in East Sussex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 76% in reading and 68% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Ocklynge Junior School
Across East Sussex, 91% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 98% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in East Sussex lodged 82 appeals against primary school offers; 42 reached a hearing and 2 succeeded (4.8% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Ocklynge Junior School are Motcombe Infants' School (0.6 miles, Good); Pashley Down Infant School (0.6 miles, Good); Parkland Infant School (1.1 miles, Good); and Parkland Junior School (1.1 miles, Good, 79% reading, 76% maths).
Motcombe Infants' SchoolPashley Down Infant SchoolParkland Infant SchoolParkland Junior School
The trust
Ocklynge Junior School is one of 2 schools run by South Downs Learning Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
110 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ocklynge Junior School (as of September 2025): 81% would recommend the school, 90% say their child is happy there and 63% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (63%).
Who goes there
In 2026, 173 pupils (24%) received SEN support and 15 (2.1%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hampden Park (Sussex) Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ocklynge School (opposite), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Ocklynge Junior School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 160 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in East Sussex (65), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Ocklynge Junior School issued 17 suspensions, 2.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Ocklynge Junior School are Ratton School (0.4 miles), The Cavendish School (0.4 miles), The Eastbourne Academy (1.2 miles) and Gildredge House (1.3 miles).
Ratton SchoolThe Cavendish SchoolThe Eastbourne AcademyGildredge House
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
The school has pupils' best interests at the heart of all it does. Pupils enjoy learning because they experience an ambitious and exciting curriculum. It strives to develop the whole child and it does this superbly. The school meets pupils' personal needs and removes any barriers to learning. As a result, pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well.
Pupils behave exceptionally well in lessons and around school. Pupils confidently discuss their school values: responsible, respectful, reflective and resilient. They know what they mean in practice and model these to each other. Pupils develop trusting relationships with staff and each other. They feel safe. Bullying is not tolerated. Pupils are confident that staff will deal with issues quickly and fairly. Pupils respond well to clear and consistently applied routines. They value the praise they receive for their hard work and achievements. As a result, pupils adopt a positive mindset.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The trust has taken decisive and effective action to drive rapid improvement at this school. Leaders at all levels and those responsible for governance are united in their vision for a high-quality education for all. Since the last inspection, they have redesigned and reinvigorated the curriculum. Knowledge has been coherently sequenced to ensure teachers know precisely what to teach and when. This means the knowledge taught builds on what pupils know and in logical order. This positive work is at an earlier stage in a small number of subjects, where redevelopment work is ongoing.
From Ofsted's November 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Requires Improvement at its April 2022 inspection - up from Inadequate.
Rated Good for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development.
Areas Ofsted flagged
Quality of education (Requires Improvement), Leadership & management (Requires Improvement).
At a Glance
28.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
110 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 76% to 68% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 68% to 61% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 66% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
31.7
Avg class size
31.7
KS2
19
Total classes
11 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Ocklynge Junior School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Ocklynge Junior School.
- Active Education Sussex Holiday Camp - EastbourneAt the school · Not yet graded
- Stagecoach EastbourneAt the school · Not yet graded
- Premier Education - Ocklynge Junior SchoolAt the school · Not yet graded
- Fireflies childcare700m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Ocklynge Junior School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see East Sussex's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ocklynge Junior School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ocklynge Junior School is in East Sussex; for families living there:
Apply to East Sussex for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 15
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 13 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
7 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
89%
Available places
745 pupils
840 places
95 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Eastbourne
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Eastbourne
Across East Sussex council
Places available
5,501
Applications
4,559
Got 1st preference
91.1%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All primary applications across East Sussex council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
173
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
26.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
720
Total Pupils
358
Boys
362
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
32
Teachers
22.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,187
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,959
Per pupil
£4115k
Total funding
£324k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.1%
Overall absence
11.8%
Persistent absence
770
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Ocklynge Junior School
Questions parents ask about Ocklynge Junior School
What are SATs results like at Ocklynge Junior School?
Of the pupils at Ocklynge Junior School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 68% reached the expected standard in reading and 61% did so in maths.
What is Ocklynge Junior School's Ofsted rating?
Ocklynge Junior School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2022, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Ocklynge Junior School?
No fixed boundary. When Ocklynge Junior School is oversubscribed, East Sussex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Ocklynge Junior School?
Ocklynge Junior School was not full in 2025: it ran at 89% of its 840 places.
How big are the classes at Ocklynge Junior School?
Classes at Ocklynge Junior School average 31.7 pupils (2025/26). 11 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Ocklynge Junior School?
Ocklynge Junior School has around 720 pupils on roll. 28% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Ocklynge Junior School?
5.1% of sessions were missed at Ocklynge Junior School in 2024/25. 11.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ocklynge Junior School?
Apply through East Sussex's coordinated admissions process, naming Ocklynge Junior School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Does Ocklynge Junior School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 3 out-of-school clubs at the school: Active Education Sussex Holiday Camp - Eastbourne (registered, not yet graded), Stagecoach Eastbourne (registered, not yet graded) and Premier Education - Ocklynge Junior School (registered, not yet graded). There is another within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Ocklynge Junior School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 13 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 7 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Ocklynge Junior School?
Ocklynge Junior School is at Victoria Drive, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 8XN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)