Ditchling St Margaret's Church of England Primary School vs Downlands Community School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in South East, England, 1.9 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Ditchling St Margaret's Church of England Primary School
Ditchling · Academy primary · Ages 2–11
243 students
Downlands Community School
Hassocks · Local authority secondary · Ages 11–16
1,250 students
| Measure | Ditchling St Margaret's Church of England Primary School Ditchling, South East | Downlands Community School Hassocks, South East |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 90 Top 10% | 90 Top 10% |
| Region rank | #168 of 2,471 | #73 of 679 |
| National rank | #767 of 15,697 | #255 of 4,090 |
| Sector | Academy | Local authority |
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
| Year range | Ages 2–11 | Ages 11–16 |
| Students | 243 | 1,250 |
| Pupils on roll | 243 | 1,250 |
| Free school meals | 6.1% | 8.2% |
| Capacity filled | 150.9% | 104.2% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 81% | – |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | 19% | – |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | – | 57.3 |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | – | 66.2% |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | – | 85.7% |
| EBacc average points | – | 5.33 |
| A level points per entry | – | – |
| town | Ditchling | Hassocks |
| region | South East | South East |
| Website | ditchlingprimary.co.uk | downlands.w-sussex.sch.uk/ |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index (England) scores (90.3 vs 90.2).
- •Downlands Community School is the larger school with 1,250 students compared with 243.
- •Ditchling St Margaret's Church of England Primary School is a academy school while Downlands Community School is a local authority school, so fees and admission rules differ.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Ditchling St Margaret's Church of England Primary School better than Downlands Community School?
The two schools are very close on the Success Index (England). Differences in sector, size, programmes and distance from home will matter more than the score.
How far apart are Ditchling St Margaret's Church of England Primary School and Downlands Community School?
About 1.9 km in a straight line, between Ditchling and Hassocks in South East.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
Ditchling St Margaret's Church of England Primary School: 243. Downlands Community School: 1,250. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do Ditchling St Margaret's Church of England Primary School and Downlands Community School rank in South East?
Ditchling St Margaret's Church of England Primary School is 168th of 2,471 and Downlands Community School is 73rd of 679 among primary schools in South East on the 2025 Success Index (England).