School Chooser

Ocklynge Junior School

Primary · ages 7-11MixedAcademy720 pupilsEastbourneEast Sussex
School Chooser Score
21
Below
similar schools
Likely range 14 to 32
Out of 100. Better than 29% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedNo overall gradeLast Ofsted inspection, November 2024
Reached the expected level at 1152%England 63%
Attendance94.9%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families28%About the same as most schools in England
Places120 spare720 pupils, 840 places
Pupils per teacher24.1School workforce census

Ocklynge Junior School is a sponsored academy in Eastbourne for boys and girls aged 7 to 11. It has 720 pupils and room for 840. About 28 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 21 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 29% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was inspected 2024, no overall grade.

Victoria Drive, Eastbourne, BN20 8XN01323 725839ocklynge.co.uk/index.htmlMr Paul Reilly headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 5 November 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Not judged Between September 2024 and November 2025, Ofsted graded each area but stopped giving one overall word.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Outstanding
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Outstanding
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

207 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1152%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level3%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score104.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score102.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 48%48%20172018: 60%60%20182019: 64%64%20192023: 44%44%20232024: 56%56%20242025: 52%52%2025
Since 2017: +4%Steady overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure20252024202320192018†2017†East SussexEngland
Pupils tested207210206209211209
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths52%56%44%64%60%48%61%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths3%3%2%1%8%5%6%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score104.0105.0104.0104.0106.0104.0105.5105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score102.0103.0101.0103.0103.0101.0103.9104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score103.0104.0102.0106.0106.0103.0103.5105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard68%76%65%77%77%73%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard61%68%61%79%68%60%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)66%66%59%78%76%73%
Reading progressReading progress score-1.8-0.7+0.1-0.3
Maths progressMaths progress score-4.1-2.3-1.8-3.4
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged23%35%27%36%32%20%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged65%63%49%71%66%55%

There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.

† These results are for Ocklynge Junior School, the school this one replaced in December 2017. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 2 of the 4 gaps are smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
23%65%
Gap 42 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
49%54%
Gap 5 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Pupils learning English vs all pupils
41%52%
Gap 11 ptsEngland 4 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
2%3%
Gap 1 ptsEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published.

A few spare places745 pupils for 840 places, 2024/25
89% full

About 95 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have fallen by 7% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

Will my child get a place?

The last child to get a place lived 140 m away in 2026. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils, faith and other priority groups are placed first. After that, the closer you live, the better your chances. Type in your postcode to see how far away you are.

We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.

How places were given out for September 2026. More children applied than there were places. The last place went to a child living 140 m from the school. Living closer than that didn't guarantee a place, but living much further away meant missing out that year. 131 families put it down as their first choice and 136 of them got in (104%).

EntryPlacesPut it firstApplied at allFirst choices who got inHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Primary210131166104%140 mLA

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll720Census January 2026
Places84086% full
Pupils from low-income families28%28% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English14%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support24%173 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan2%15 pupils with a plan
Average class size31.719 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils58%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)27%£297,600 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls358 / 362
White British pupils75%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (78), emotional and mental health (49), Specific learning difficulty (35), language and communications needs (11), Moderate learning difficulty (5), Physical disability (5).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll720741770798795789
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals28%30%28%26%23%20%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language14%14%14%14%12%13%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support24%20%19%17%15%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans2%1%1%1%1%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 94.9% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance94.9%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school11.8%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils2.32024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission1.4%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence5.1%5.1%5.2%5.8%2.9%4.5%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence3.7%3.9%4.0%4.9%2.3%3.7%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence1.4%1.2%1.2%0.9%0.7%0.9%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence11.8%13.3%13.9%15.6%6.1%9.5%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate2.30.80.41.10.4
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers29.9full-time equivalent, 32 people
Pupils per teacher24.1Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants21.4full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£50,186
Teachers who left in the year17%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher9.12024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£5,537England £7,128. Total £4.1m
Income per pupil£5,941England £7,587. Total £4.4m
Spent on teachers per pupil£2,884England £3,405
Money in reserve0%Very little put by: £0, £0 per pupil. England 9%
Money in against money out+£299kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£5,537spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m17712 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate111 per 1,000 people22% higher than the England average
Typical house price£277,000Eastbourne
Nearest bus stop70 mOcklynge School, 15 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
The Cavendish SchoolAcademy700 m1,399No overall grade 202584Compare
Motcombe Infants' SchoolCouncil940 m219Good 202313Compare
Pashley Down Infant SchoolCouncil0.6 miles230Good 202422Compare
Parkland Infant SchoolAcademy1.1 miles178Report card 202615Compare
Parkland Junior SchoolAcademy1.1 miles243Good 202034Compare
St Thomas A Becket Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy1.1 miles432Good 2022Compare
Gildredge HouseFree school1.3 miles1,169No overall grade 202466Compare
Oakwood Primary AcademyAcademy1.4 miles300Good 202218Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Ocklynge Junior School with the 49 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 49 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats29%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the lower half of its group. Its score of 21 is 29 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 3 · middle 50 · highest 91100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 49 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Ocklynge Junior School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Saltdean Primary SchoolCouncil13.1 miles533Good 202429Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 21 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 21% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 14 to 32. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%below
-0.16
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 207 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%above
+0.18
Ofsted grade, 1.9 years old
Progress pupils make20%well below
-0.32
DfE progress measure; 207 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
+0.02
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%in line
+0.01
2024/25; 770 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%well below
-0.12
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 207 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Ocklynge Junior School a good school?

The figures are weak. Ocklynge Junior School scores 21 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 29% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 14 to 32, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Ocklynge Junior School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Ocklynge Junior School not judged at its last full inspection on 5 November 2024.

How good are Ocklynge Junior School's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 52% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 3% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does Ocklynge Junior School have?

720 pupils aged 7 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 840 places, so it is 86% full.

Is Ocklynge Junior School oversubscribed, and how far away can you live?

Yes. For September 2026 the last place went to a child living 140 m away. 131 families put it down as their first choice and 136 of them got in. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils and other priority groups come before distance, so the cut-off moves every year.

What is attendance like at Ocklynge Junior School?

Pupils were in school 94.9% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 12% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Ocklynge Junior School?

The average class had 31.7 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 58% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Victoria Drive, Eastbourne, BN20 8XN
Telephone
01323 725839
Website
www.ocklynge.co.uk/index.html
Headteacher
Mr Paul Reilly
Type of school
Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, academies)
Phase
Primary school, ages 7-11
Gender
Mixed
Multi-academy trust
South Downs Learning Trust (2 schools)
Local authority
East Sussex
Ward
Old Town
Constituency
Eastbourne
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 December 2017 (new provision)
URN
144954 · LAESTAB 8452022 · UKPRN 10065093
Formerly
Ocklynge Junior School

Where these figures come from