St Paul's CofE Primary School, Brighton

Ofsted's report card from its 14 April 2026 inspection grades St Paul's CofE Primary School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders have established a well-sequenced and ambitious early years' curriculum that secures strong foundations across all areas of learning."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders provide a strong programme of personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well from their starting points, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who are disadvantaged."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have established high expectations for attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Teaching is typically effective across the school."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders foster an inclusive culture and identify pupils' needs in a timely and appropriate way, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), disadvantaged pupils and those known to, or previously known to, social care."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders provide compassionate, dedicated and ambitious strategic leadership and have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and areas for development."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teaching activities are precisely designed and adapted to help all pupils achieve highly across the curriculum"; "Leaders and governors should continue their efforts to reduce persistent absence of disadvantaged pupils".

In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils at St Paul's CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 86% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 69% in Brighton and Hove and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 80% in reading and 68% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 20 families put St Paul's CofE Primary School as their first choice and 41 named it as one of their preferences, for 20 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Paul's CofE Primary School are St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 83% reading, 70% maths); Middle Street Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 83% reading, 77% maths); Carlton Hill Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 84% reading, 77% maths); and Brunswick Primary School (0.7 miles, Requires improvement, 77% reading, 69% maths).

St Paul's CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

33.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (44%), Mixed (15%) and Asian (7%).

St Paul's CofE Primary School had 14 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Brighton Rail Station, about 380 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

31 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Buckingham Road (w-bound), 120 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Paul's CofE Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 1847 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.

St Paul's CofE Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.