Balfour Primary School

Balfour Primary School has made significant improvements since its previous inspection, moving from a grade of requires improvement to good overall. The school is characterized by an inclusive and vibrant atmosphere, where pupils feel safe and engaged in their learning. The curriculum is ambitious and carefully structured, enabling pupils to acquire knowledge effectively. There is a strong emphasis on reading, with well-coordinated phonics instruction and a supportive environment that encourages both reading for pleasure and academic success. The leadership is committed to providing high-quality education and maintains strong community ties, with parents expressing high levels of satisfaction.

Strengths

• Pupils are happy and well-integrated into school life.
• Strong emphasis on reading, with effective phonics instruction.
• Inclusive atmosphere that supports pupils with special educational needs.
• Staff receive high-quality training to support the curriculum.
• Governors are knowledgeable and support the school’s ambitions.
• Pupils have a deep understanding of equality and diversity.
• High expectations of attendance and pupil behavior.

Areas for Improvement

• Teaching consistency varies across the school, impacting pupil achievement.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Balfour Primary School attended 95.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 8.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.6% of pupils at Balfour Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Balfour Primary School had 23.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.4% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 10.9% of pupils at Balfour Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.4% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Balfour Primary School received £5,983 and spent £6,008 for each of its 695 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £148,000 (-£212 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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What is Balfour Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Balfour Primary School is Good, from an inspection in January 2024.

When was Balfour Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Balfour Primary School was last inspected in January 2024.

How many pupils does Balfour Primary School have?

Balfour Primary School has 695 pupils on roll.

What age range does Balfour Primary School cover?

Balfour Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Balfour Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Balfour Primary School?

Balfour Primary School is at Balfour Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 6NE.