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BrightonHub

Schools & Education

Schools and educational facilities across Brighton & Hove

Understanding Schools in Brighton & Hove

Brighton & Hove City Council is the Local Education Authority (LEA) responsible for school admissions, SEND provision, and education welfare. The city operates a comprehensive system with no grammar schools.

Secondary school admissions use a lottery-based system (random allocation within catchment areas) rather than proximity alone — one of the few areas in England to do so. This aims to improve social mixing across schools.

Schools are inspected by Ofsted and rated Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. Academies and free schools are funded by central government but operate independently of the council.

Key Terms
LEA

Local Education Authority — the council department responsible for state school provision and admissions

Ofsted

Office for Standards in Education — inspects and rates schools, childcare, and children's services

Academy

A state-funded school run by an academy trust independent of the local council

Free School

A type of academy set up by parents, teachers, charities, or businesses — funded by government

SEND

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities — additional support for children who need it

Key Stage

Age-related stages of the national curriculum: KS1 (5–7), KS2 (7–11), KS3 (11–14), KS4 (14–16)

School data is sourced from OpenStreetMap via the Overpass API. Coverage spans the Brighton & Hove urban area including Shoreham and surrounding areas. Data depends on community contributions and may not include all schools.