St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean is a mainstream primary school in Brighton, Brighton and Hove, for children aged 5 to 11. In January 2026, 28 of its 172 pupils (16.3%) were getting SEN support and 9 (5.2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 5–11
- 172 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Brighton and Hove.
16.3% get SEN support
28 of 172 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
5.2% have an EHC plan
9 of 172 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism14
- Speech, language and communication8
- Social, emotional and mental health7
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Voluntary aided school
- Ages
- 5 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 172 (places for 210)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Rachel Kershaw
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 15.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Brighton and Hove
- School reference (URN)
- 114537
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Brighton and Hove council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, June 2016; standards maintained (April 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2016. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, April 2025).
Contact and getting there
Whiteway Lane, Rottingdean, Brighton, BN2 7HB
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Longhill High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 0.9 miles
- Downs View Special School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 2.3 miles
- Meridian Community Primary School and Nursery Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.6 miles
- St. John's College (Brighton) Independent · Ages 16–25 2.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Our Lady of Lourdes RC School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 10%, EHC plans 3.3% 0.1 miles
- Saltdean Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 15.6%, EHC plans 3.2% 0.8 miles
- Rudyard Kipling Primary School & Nursery Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 22.8%, EHC plans 5.1% 1.9 miles
All mainstream schools in Brighton and Hove SEND schools in Brighton and Hove
Questions about St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean
How many pupils at St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 28 of the 172 pupils (16.3%) were getting SEN support and 9 (5.2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (14 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (8 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (7 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean?
Through Brighton and Hove council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean?
You can ask for St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Longhill High School, about 0.9 miles away.
Where is St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean?
Whiteway Lane, Rottingdean, Brighton, BN2 7HB, in Brighton and Hove.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.