Downs Junior School
Community primary school in Brighton (Brighton and Hove).
KS2 RWM expected
60%
▼ 2pp England 2024/25: 62%
2024/25
Reading expected
84%
▲ 9pp England 2024/25: 75%
2024/25
Maths expected
73%
▼ 1pp England 2024/25: 74%
2024/25
Writing expected
69%
▼ 3pp England 2024/25: 72%
2024/25
Attendance rate
94.6%
▼ 0.2pp England 2024/25: 94.8%
2024/25 academic year
Pupil : Teacher
23.3
▲ 2.6 England 2025/26: 20.7
2025/26
Eligible for free school meals
17.2%
▼ 8pp England 2025/26: 24.9%
school census 15/01/2026
Capacity
97%
495 / 512 pupils
register figure (GIAS)
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
iWritten by WhatSchool from official school data (Get Information about Schools, DfE and Ofsted).Downs Junior School is a primary school located in Brighton, Brighton and Hove. The school caters for boys and girls aged 7 to 11 and currently has 499 pupils on roll, with a capacity of 512. The school is led by Mrs Katie Blood.
Enrichment
1 activityiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Take Shelter
Awards
2 awardsiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Eco SchoolsEnvironment
- Healthy SchoolsHealth and wellbeing
Key facts
- URN
- 114366
- Type
- Community school
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 7 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Does not have a sixth form
- Nursery
- No Nursery Classes
- Local authority
- Brighton and Hove
- Constituency
- Brighton Pavilion
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Governing body (13 current, 5 former)
Maintained school governing body.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roz Buchan | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Rebecca Elton Former | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2022 · term ended 2026 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Rudd | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mr Gareth Hughes | Governor | Nominated by LA and appointed by GB | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mr Shaun Meaney | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mr Tom Corr | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Orla Fee | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Suki Joy | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Rebecca Elton | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Felicity Thomas | Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Jodie Speight | Governance Professional - Local Authority Maintained SchoolGovernance professional | since 2025 | |
| Ms Katie Blood | Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2025 |
| Mr Hedley Swain | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Gavin Nettleton | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Jairiah Hovell Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · term ended 2026 |
| Cassie Hissey Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · term ended 2026 |
| Ms Hesione Quinn Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · term ended 2025 |
| Anna Bush Former | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2024 · term ended 2026 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 1 November 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record