Moving back to Brighton – school advice needed please!

[MikeAttu77]

Hi all,

We’re a London-based family looking to move back to Brighton, where I grew up (I went to Dorothy Stringer myself). We have two daughters and would really appreciate any insight into schools in the area.

• Our eldest is 11 and currently in Year 7 at a secondary school in London.
• Our younger daughter is 9 and in Year 4 (she’ll be in Year 5 from September).

Both girls are bright, and we’re keen to find schools that will challenge and support them academically. We’re not religious, so we’re aware that this might limit access to some faith schools. We’d love recommendations on:

• Secondary schools (any particularly good ones, or ones to avoid?)
• Junior/primary schools for our younger daughter
• And also any thoughts on post-16/college options in Brighton

Would be so grateful for any local knowledge or recent experiences.

Thanks in advance!

Where do you want to live/what’s your budget? That will shape a reply.

Secondary schools - Stringer & Varndean are the preferred two in Brighton - though my friends have had mixed experiences with Stringer - Varndean seem better at pastoral care.

Patcham High has a good reputation.

Cardinal Newman (Catholic) & King’s (Christian- not sure what denomination) both take non faith placements - CN doesn’t have a catchment but King’s does - part of Hove. I didn’t like them when we visited - too traditional/reminded me of my secondary but I know people with children at both who really like them.

Blatchington Mill - both mine went here - good school with good music/dance offer if that’s your children’s thing but also good sport. Academically strong. Hove Park is in the same catchment- good school I have friends with children there who did well - BM is considered the ‘better’ school but some of that is longstanding and related to snobbery.

PACA - very good SEN provision, new building but a very mixed reputation - friends gave had both good and dreadful experiences. Portslade catchment.

BACA and Falmer - very poor reputations - but this is socio-economic - they pull from
large estate areas.

The admission rules have changed recently to offer increased priority for pupils on FSM to encourage more access to the popular schools. You need to factor this in when considering your options. You may have very little to no choice doing an in year transfer - talk to admissions. https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/secondary-school-admissions-guide-2025-2026

Junior/Primaries - loads, many excellent. Brighton - I don’t really know but friends with children at St. Luke’s love it. Hove - Hove Juniors, St. Andrew’s and Goldstone all great - others may also be good but they are the three I am familiar with.

Post-16 most children seem to want to go to BHASVIC - academic and you need to be self motivated for it to work for you. Varndean worked really well for a friend’s sons - bit more structured and the Met offers a range including more vocational courses, some people travel to Worthing college too.

Hi

Thanks for the detailed reply, budget wise we're at circa 900k , maybe a tad more.

We have look at the streets in the Dorothy Stringer and Varndean area, and also looked around a couple of areas in hove, ultimately it will be dictated by the school.

Being DFLs with that kind of budget you'll want to join the rest of the DFLs in the golden triangle so you can access the good schools.

Yes I know you're a Brightonian by birth but you're bringing DFL cash 😆

I wouldn’t dream of ever moving back to Brighton tbh, but I wish you all the best OP, I hope you and your family settle. Brighton is very different from when I was growing up.

I don't know what DFL cash is but assuming it's someone pushing up the prices near the schools? I wish I could buy the house I grew up in at the price my parents sold it for !😀

Can you add context? The streets in London are not great with crime and anti social behavior rife, I still come to visit often and find it calming but maybe that's just the escape from London and not the day to day experience?

Down from Londoners! The people who wax lyrical about how cheap their 4 bedroom semi detached house in fiveways is at only £1.2 mil...
you get a pass since you're a local really but it's absolutely an issue for Brighton especially born and bred people who can't possibly make the kind of money they need to buy somewhere, or even rent nowadays, because of DFL price inflation.

@MikeAttu77 where do I start, traffic is a nightmare, A27 is an absolute shitshow. Brighton is just too big now it’s not the friendly place I grew up in. Property prices are ridiculous. Homelessness is a big problem, we stopped having the odd overnighter at The Grand, as literally you walk around and corner and it’s tent city, and just made us feel so sorry for the people having to live like that. Most people I know that still live in Brighton or the surroundings are wanting to move away.

What area is the golden triangle? The area between Dorothy Stringer and Varndean? Does anyone know if the schools are oversubscribed etc.. is one school better at the sports side of things or music for example?

Schools are hugely oversubscribed- you might get lucky with a move outside of normal start dates but you need to be prepared for the idea that none of the ‘good’ schools will have spaces. You really need to talk to Admissions. https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/news/2025/councillors-agree-change-school-admission-arrangements-2026

https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2025/03/05/dozens-of-disadvantaged-kids-get-places-at-popular-schools/

I’d also say that I’m also from Brighton and now live in Hove and have no intention of leaving - neither do my friends - so Brighton’s demise is overstated. The city has issues, homelessness is a significant one, but people want to live here still. I prefer Hove - I love the houses in Fiveways, but don’t like the walk through London Rd/the Level to get into the city.

You may want to check that the school is NOT following the Trans Inclusion Toolkit (almost all Brighton schools are)

https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/support-school/trans-inclusion-schools-toolkit-2024

These guidelines allow males into female spaces, something I am sure your daughters would be concerned about.

My son went to Hove Park and had a really good experience. Both my children attended Varndean College and really liked it as well.