UKSchoolSearch
OpenOfsted: Standards maintainedURN 142745

The South Downs School

Academy special converter · Eastbourne · BN20 8NU

Ages 4–11 · 164 pupils · East Sussex

School website

Ofsted

Standards maintained

KS2 expected (RWM)

0%

Overall absence

11.2%

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Standards maintained

Inspection date

2024-12-09

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)0%
Higher standard (RWM)0%

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence11.2%
Persistent absence (10%+)41.8%
Unauthorised1.2%
Authorised absence
10.0%
Severe absence (50%+)
4.8%
Enrolments in measure
146

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill102%

164 pupils · 160 places

Pupils on roll
164
Boys / girls
112 / 52
School capacity
160
Capacity fill
164 / 160 (102%)
Free school meals
42%
FSM pupils
66
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy special converter

Age range

Ages 4–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

3 / 6

  • NurseryHas Nursery Classes
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
Has Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: THE SOUTHFIELD TRUST
Academy trust
THE SOUTHFIELD TRUST
Headteacher
Mrs Rachael Smart

Location

Address
Beechy Avenue
Postcode
BN20 8NU
Town
Eastbourne
County
East Sussex
Local authority
East Sussex
District
Eastbourne
Constituency
Eastbourne
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Special classes
Has Special Classes

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy special converter, Ages 4–11, in Eastbourne, East Sussex, 164 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, academy, special school. Free school meals: 42%. SEN provision includes: SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty….

Open schools in Eastbourne
35
Academies among open schools in Eastbourne
63% (22)
Open schools in BN20
9
Open schools in East Sussex LA
220

Nearby schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in EastbourneNear BN20

  • Pashley Down Infant School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Eastbourne · BN20 8NX · East Sussex

    Ages 4–7

    • Absence5.0%
    • FSM12.2%

    0.1 miles away

  • Motcombe Infants' School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Eastbourne · BN21 1SN · East Sussex

    Ages 5–7

    • Absence6.3%
    • FSM21.0%

    0.4 miles away

  • The Cavendish School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · All-through

    Eastbourne · BN21 1UE · East Sussex

    Ages 2–16

    • Att850.7
    • P80.5
    • EM5+56%
    • Absence6.5%

    0.4 miles away

  • Ocklynge Junior School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Eastbourne · BN20 8XN · East Sussex

    Ages 7–11

    • KS244%
    • Absence5.1%
    • FSM28.3%

    0.6 miles away

  • Gildredge House

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Free schools · All-through

    Eastbourne · BN20 8AB · East Sussex

    Ages 4–16

    • Att848.0
    • P80.2
    • EM5+51%
    • Absence6.6%

    0.9 miles away

  • Ratton School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Eastbourne · BN21 2XR · East Sussex

    Ages 11–16

    • Att841.4
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+36%
    • Absence8.6%

    1.0 miles away

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Rachael Smart
Telephone
01323730302
Website
www.thesouthfieldtrust.com

Official links