Best Primary & Secondary Schools in Brighton and Hove 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 82 schools across Brighton and Hove. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Brighton and Hove has 82 open primary & secondary schools. Of the 72 with a published Ofsted inspection, 9 (13%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 90% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Brighton and Hove follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

82
Total schools
9
Outstanding (historic grade)
13%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
57.9%
Avg KS2 SATs
37.6
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College
16 plus
 Outstanding 97 View school
2. Downs Infant School
Primary
 Outstanding 76 View school
3. West Hove Infant School
Primary
 Outstanding 73 View school
4. Bilingual Primary School - Brighton & Hove
Primary
 Good 72 View school
5. Cottesmore St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 71 View school
6. Patcham Junior School
Primary
 Good 70 View school
7. St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 69 View school
8. Balfour Primary School
Primary
 Good 68 View school
9. St Paul's CofE Primary School
Primary
 Requires Improvement 68 View school
10. Varndean College
16 plus
 Good 67 View school
11. Peter Gladwin Primary School
Primary
 Good 67 View school
12. Hove Junior School
Primary
 Good 67 View school
13. Carlton Hill Primary School
Primary
 Good 67 View school
14. Dorothy Stringer School
Secondary
 Good 66 View school
15. Woodingdean Primary School
Primary
 Good 65 View school
16. Bevendean Primary School and Nursery
Primary
 Good 64 View school
17. St Luke's Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 63 View school
18. King's School
Secondary
 Good 63 View school
19. St Martin's CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 63 View school
20. St Andrew's CofE (Aided) Primary School
Primary
 Good 62 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Brighton and Hove

Best primary schools in Brighton and HoveTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in Brighton and HoveTop-ranked Year 7 onwards Primary schools in Brighton and HoveReception–Year 6 only Secondary schools in Brighton and HoveYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in West SussexCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in East SussexCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in SurreyCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in CroydonCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary & secondary schools are there in Brighton and Hove?
There are 82 open primary & secondary schools in Brighton and Hove (closed schools are excluded). 9 of the 72 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary & secondary schools in Brighton and Hove?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary & secondary school in Brighton and Hove is Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Brighton and Hove?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Brighton and Hove?
Primary and secondary applications in Brighton and Hove are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Brighton and Hove council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.