Welcome to Downs View Special School
Welcome to Downs View School and Link College This website will give you key information about Downs View and also help you to understand how we will support your child during their time at school and college. Downs View School, which has students age 4 – 16, is in Woodingdean. Downs View Link College is next to Varndean College and is for learners aged 16 – 19. We also have a separate provision for learners aged 19 – 25 at Downs View Life Skills College in Patcham. We meet the learning needs for pupils with profound and multiple, severe and moderate learning difficulties. Many of our pupils have autism and communication difficulties. We meet needs through an outstanding curriculum that places individual needs at its centre. We value the importance of developing social emotional needs and life skills alongside developing academic knowledge and skills. All pupils have individualised learning goals that are met through a varied range of learning activities and opportunities. We focus on the key skills needed to allow all of our pupils to have fulfilling lives and live as independently as they are able to. Through working collaboratively with parents and a range of professionals we aim to support the whole child. Our vision at Downs View centres around Respect, Aspiration and Resilience. At Downs View, we’ve created an aspirational learning environment with dignity and respect at its core, where everyone reaches their potential through effective communication, building resilience and having fun. We are really proud of the provision we offer at Downs View so please come and see it in action. We would encourage you to visit the school or college if you are interested in your child attending or you are considering working here. This will give you a chance to see the learning in action and meet our staff and pupils. I look forward to welcoming you to Downs View soon. Vanessa
Show full message
Boarding Type
No Boarder
School Type
Secondary, Sixth Form
Suitable Ages
3 to 19
Gender
Mixed
No. of Students
223 Total
No. of Boys
167 (74.9%)
No. of Girls
56 (25.1%)
Academic Excellence
GCSE Results
Latest Examination
0.0%
Students achieving A*/A grades (9/8/7)
A-Level Results
Sixth Form Performance
A* grades
N/A
A*/A grades
N/A
Leavers' Destinations
Destinations after GCSEs
Staying in education
87%
School
79%
England
Apprenticeships
0%
School
3%
England
Further education
School sixth form
Sixth form college
Other education destinations
Courses
Show all coursesExciting Updates Ahead!
We're currently gearing up to offer you a full list of our courses. Stay tuned — amazing learning opportunities are on their way very soon. Thank you for your interest and enthusiasm!
Events
Show all eventsExciting Events Ahead!
A detailed admissions process on ApplicaaOne is coming soon.
Please see our website for more information on our admissions process.
Admissions Process
Go to School Website| Oct 2025 |
|---|
Parent/Carer Meeting at School |
Macmillan Coffee Morning |
Key Dates & Deadlines
Oct 8, 2025
Parent/Carer Meeting at School
Oct 24, 2025
Macmillan Coffee Morning
Term Dates & Half-Term Holidays
Planning ahead for school holidays? Below are the term dates and half-term dates for the 2025/2026 academic year.
Autumn
1 terms
Half Term 1
Sep 4 - Oct 24
Spring
0 terms
Summer
0 terms
Half-Term & Holiday Dates
Autumn Half Term
Oct 27 - Oct 31
Alumni Stories
Show all storiesUpdates Coming Soon!
We’ll be sharing information about the destinations of our alumni here soon.
Enrichment Activities
Show all activitiesUpdates Coming Soon!
Exciting Enrichment Activities Coming Soon!
Stay tune! We'll be sharing information about exciting enrichment activities soon.
Ready to Apply?