Hove Junior School

About Hove Junior School

Hove Junior School is a state primary for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Brighton and Hove, and it is currently operating below its full capacity. With 673 pupils on roll against a school capacity of 768, there is some headroom, though the school is clearly a popular choice in the area. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 22.9%, which is worth noting in the context of the local authority average for primary schools. Demand is strong: the school ranks 2nd out of 48 primary schools in Brighton and Hove, placing it in the top 5% locally. It is one of only three outstanding-rated primaries in the LA, and its nearest outstanding neighbour is West Hove Infant School, which feeds directly into it. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and led by headteacher Madeleine Southern. The pupil body is diverse in terms of need, with 21% of parents responding to the Parent View survey indicating their child has special educational needs or disabilities.

Academically, Hove Junior School performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 KS2 assessments, 72% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 59%. That puts the school 3rd out of 40 primaries in Brighton and Hove on this metric, and in the top 50 nationally. Pupils also achieve strong scores in individual subjects: average reading and maths scores are 109 and 107 respectively, and the proportion reaching the higher standard in reading is 45%, with 35% in maths. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2025 awarded Outstanding grades across the board — for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is a significant upgrade from its previous Good rating in 2011, and reflects sustained improvement under the current leadership.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including playing fields, an outdoor playground, a sensory room, a library, art studios and a chapel. Sports provision covers football, cricket, swimming, cross country, dance, athletics and tennis, while clubs include book, art, science and gardening. SEND support is well-developed, with provisions for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 94% of respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agree that children are happy, safe and well-supported. For families in central Brighton and Hove looking for a high-performing junior school with strong SEND provision and a clear upward trajectory, Hove Junior School is a compelling option.

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