Dorothy Stringer School
About Dorothy Stringer School
Dorothy Stringer School sits fifth out of ten secondary schools in Brighton and Hove when ranked by Progress 8, placing it squarely in the middle of the local pack. The top three performers in the local authority are King's School, Cardinal Newman Catholic School, and Varndean College, all of which post higher Progress 8 scores. The school is a mixed, non-faith state secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form on site. It is noticeably oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, 902 families applied for 322 places, and only 179 of those offers went to first-preference applicants. That works out at 2.8 applications per place, which tells you it is a popular choice among Brighton families. The headteacher is Matt Hillier, and the school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2023, rated it Good across every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
10 Oct 2023Source: Ofsted, 20 Nov 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Dorothy Stringer School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications