The South Downs School, Eastbourne
The South Downs School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Eastbourne, part of The Southfield Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
The South Downs School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The South Downs School are Summerdown School (1.4 miles); Anderida Learning Centre (1.7 miles, Good); The Lindfield School (1.8 miles, Outstanding); and Hazel Court School (3 miles, Outstanding).
Summerdown SchoolAnderida Learning CentreThe Lindfield SchoolHazel Court School
The trust
The South Downs School is one of 4 schools run by The Southfield Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The South Downs School (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 89% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).
Who goes there
42.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 11.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (77%) and Mixed (8%).
Almost every pupil at The South Downs School has an education, health and care plan (163 of 164 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
The South Downs School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Eastbourne Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Beechy Avenue (adjacent), 250 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The South Downs School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 7th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 130 crimes within a mile of the school, most often shoplifting, violence and sexual offences 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
The South Downs School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: 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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from June 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school is exceptionally good at understanding each child's individual needs and supporting them to learn and thrive. Staff create a warm, inclusive community where pupils develop confidence, independence and strong communication skills. Parents consistently praise the school as an amazing place with supportive staff who keep them well informed about their child's progress.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional quality of education with a highly personalised curriculum tailored to each pupil's needs -
- Expert staff who know exactly how to teach each child, including through a specialist multi-sensory reading programme -
- Strong focus on communication and language at the heart of learning -
- Positive, caring relationships between staff and pupils with skilled behaviour support -
- Excellent preparation for life in modern Britain, teaching pupils about rights, responsibilities and mutual respect
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Cooking, gardening, outdoor learning, school trips and visits, charity events and fundraising, visits to places of worship
The South Downs School is a happy, welcoming and inclusive community where pupils with complex special educational needs settle quickly and excel in all areas of learning. The school has maintained the high standards identified at its previous outstanding inspection.
At a Glance
42.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Speech and language, Autism, MLD +2
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
26 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)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The South Downs School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The South Downs School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The South Downs 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
- 24
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 24 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 17 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
2 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
102%
Over capacity
164 pupils
160 places
4 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Eastbourne
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Eastbourne
Across East Sussex council
Places available
5,496
Applications
4,990
Got 1st preference
86.3%
Got preferred school
95.9%
All secondary applications across East Sussex council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
1
SEN Support
163
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The South Downs School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
164
Total Pupils
112
Boys
52
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
27
Teachers
6.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,926
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.9%
Overall absence
32.4%
Persistent absence
148
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
The South Downs School
Questions parents ask about The South Downs School
What are SATs results like at The South Downs School?
Of the pupils at The South Downs School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is The South Downs School's Ofsted rating?
The South Downs School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for The South Downs School?
No fixed boundary. When The South Downs School is oversubscribed, East Sussex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The South Downs School?
The South Downs School has around 164 pupils on roll. 42% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The South Downs School have specialist SEN provision?
The South Downs School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at The South Downs School?
9.9% of sessions were missed at The South Downs School in 2024/25. 32.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The South Downs School?
Apply through East Sussex's coordinated admissions process, naming The South Downs 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.
How many road collisions happen near The South Downs School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 24 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 17 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 2 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 The South Downs School?
The South Downs School is at Beechy Avenue, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 8NU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)