Primary Schools in Hove, Brighton

[sophie1000]

Hi there,

We are looking to move to Brighton this year, ideally to Hove or quite near Brighton mainline station. Can anyone give me some advice on which the good primary schools are? I know there are good local Catholic and C of E schools where we have been looking but can't seem to figure out where the good non faith schools are.

Thank you!!

Hello

I don't live in Brighton but we have friends whose dd has just started at Davigdor (sp?). It sounds lovely.

Hope this helps!

The good news is there are loads of good primary schools including Balfour and Downs (Fiveways area) Stanford, Davigdor and Westdene.

But be very careful! Some of the catchment areas are tiny and there are big areas of Hove where you won't get in anywhere local and will be sent across town. Look at the council website for last year's figues.

Davigdor's catchment was 800m last year, and that was with a "bulge class" which they said was a one off (my nephew started then and sil was told that he only got in because of the bulge - they live 780 m from the school!). You always needed to live pretty much on the doorstep of Balfour to get in and I would imagine that Stanford and Downs are similar now - they are all popular schools.

Do your research carefully; just because your nearest school is one you would like doesn't mean you will get a place there. Some of sil's friends assumed they would get into Davigdor, being their local school (and they would have once upon a time), and were offered Whitehawk instead. So many people have moved from London in the past ten years the schools are overflowing.

there are plans to add a bulge class to a few Hove schools this year, and consultation is starting on a permanent extra intake class for a couple of schools. So the prospect of getting in somewhere local should be better in a couple of years.

do you know which area you want yet?

most of the primaries are pretty good. The only one I have heard negative things about is Moulsecoomb, and it isn't the school, it's the lack of parental interest or involvement that's the problem.

Hi, my son attends Westdene Primary School, it is great, he loves it! But as other people have already mentioned you must be careful about where you move to - it seems you have to live literally within a few streets of the really popular schools, there are just so many families with school age children down here (and those with older siblings already in the school get prioity). Brighton & Hove does have immense pressure on it's schools, we eventually got in to our choice of school via the waiting list system but it took a year! I would suggest you call the Schools Admission Department at the Council for updated advice. Good luck - it is a fantastic place to live!!

If you are prepared to travel - and several do - and to go independent - have a look at Lewes New School.

Jaidee do your dcs go to Lewes New School?