The South Downs School Catchment Area
The South Downs School is an academy special converter not applicable school in Eastbourne, East Sussex , serving pupils aged 4-11, with 178 pupils, and a capacity of 160 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
4-11
Age range
178
Pupils
160
Capacity
111%
Fill rate
Outstanding
Ofsted 2014
The South Downs School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for The South Downs School?
The catchment area for The South Downs School is the geographic zone East Sussex uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. East Sussex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, The South Downs School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with East Sussex. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when East Sussex publishes the 2027 The South Downs School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by East Sussex before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find East Sussex catchment area documents →The South Downs School: heavily oversubscribed at 111% capacity
The South Downs School has a published admission number of 160 places. 178 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 111%. At 111% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. East Sussex allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. Living within the catchment area is a strong but not guaranteed advantage, as the last distance offered shrinks each year as applications rise.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 35.9% of pupils at The South Downs School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across East Sussex.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
East Sussex publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. East Sussex Council school admissions (official) →
The South Downs School: School Information
- Full address
- Beechy Avenue, Eastbourne, BN20 8NU
- Local authority
- East Sussex
- School type
- Academy special converter
- Phase of education
- Not applicable
- Age range
- 4-11 years
- Free school meals
- 35.9% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 142745
Other Not applicable Schools in Eastbourne
If The South Downs School is oversubscribed, these not applicable schools in Eastbourne are the next closest alternatives.
Eastbourne College Catchment Area
Other independent school · BN21 4JX
St Andrew's Prep Catchment Area
Other independent school · BN20 7RP
Bede's Prep School Catchment Area
Other independent school · BN20 7XL
Anderida Learning Centre Catchment Area
Other independent special school · BN22 8HR
The Lindfield School Catchment Area
Academy special converter · BN22 0BQ
Hazel Court School Catchment Area
Academy special converter · BN23 8EJ
Nearest not applicable schools by distance
These are the not applicable schools closest to The South Downs School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
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Frequently Asked Questions: The South Downs School
What is the catchment area for The South Downs School? ▾
The catchment area for The South Downs School is the geographic zone East Sussex uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. East Sussex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is The South Downs School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, The South Downs School currently has 178 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 160 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for The South Downs School? ▾
Admission to The South Downs School is managed by East Sussex. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does The South Downs School cover? ▾
The South Downs School is a not applicable school in Eastbourne, East Sussex, serving pupils aged 4-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for The South Downs School? ▾
The South Downs School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2014. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.