Best Schools in Brighton & Hove 2026 — Rankings, Ofsted Ratings & Reviews
Compare 62 schools and nurseries in Brighton — Ofsted ratings, exam results & admissions data.
Brighton and Hove has 62 primary, secondary and independent schools educating over 29,000 pupils. The city is known for its progressive educational ethos, with several schools pioneering innovative approaches to wellbeing, inclusion and creative curriculum. Brighton operates a comprehensive system with no grammar schools, and school admissions are strongly linked to catchment areas.
Brighton's school performance varies considerably by area. The city has some of the highest-performing state schools in the South East alongside schools facing significant challenges. Independent options include Brighton College, one of the UK's top co-educational schools, and Roedean, a prestigious girls' boarding school.
Brighton at a Glance
Top Primary Schools in Brighton
| School | Area | Ofsted | KS2 RWM % | Reading | Maths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilingual Primary School - Brighton & Hove | Brighton and Hove | Good | 77% | — | — |
| Hove Junior School | Brighton and Hove | Outstanding | 72% | — | — |
| Stanford Junior School | Brighton and Hove | Good | 72% | — | — |
| Aldrington CofE Primary School | Brighton and Hove | Good | 71% | — | — |
| Bevendean Primary School and Nursery | Brighton and Hove | Good | 71% | — | — |
Top Secondary Schools in Brighton
| School | Area | Ofsted | Progress 8 | 5+ GCSE % | EBacc % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's School | Brighton and Hove | Good | +0.84 | 92% | 36% |
| Cardinal Newman Catholic School | Brighton and Hove | Outstanding | +0.56 | 81% | 34% |
| Varndean College | Brighton and Hove | Good | +0.42 | 80% | 66% |
| Blatchington Mill School | Brighton and Hove | Good | +0.30 | 79% | 53% |
| Dorothy Stringer School | Brighton and Hove | Good | +0.11 | 74% | 73% |
Admissions in Brighton — Key Dates
Brighton & Hove City Council coordinates admissions for state schools. For September 2026, the secondary deadline was 31 October 2025 with offers on 1 March 2026. The primary deadline is 15 January 2026 with offers on 16 April 2026. Brighton has no grammar schools. Catchment areas are tightly drawn for popular schools. Apply through brighton-hove.gov.uk.
Tip: Classpot shows the applications-to-places ratio for every school so you can gauge how competitive admissions are before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best schools in Brighton?
Brighton College (independent) consistently ranks among the top schools nationally. For state schools, Dorothy Stringer School and BHASVIC sixth-form college are highly regarded. At primary level, Balfour Primary and Westdene Primary achieve strong KS2 results.
Are there grammar schools in Brighton?
No. Brighton and Hove operates a fully comprehensive system. The nearest grammar schools are in Kent and Buckinghamshire. All state secondaries in Brighton admit based on catchment area, distance and sibling criteria.
How competitive are school admissions in Brighton?
Very competitive for top-performing schools. Catchment areas for popular secondaries like Dorothy Stringer and Varndean are tightly drawn. Classpot shows historical admission distances to help you assess your chances.
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