When the five schools: Blatchington Mill, Varndean, Dorothy Stringer, Hove Park and Steyning Grammar formed a teaching school Alliance in November 2016, they needed a name which reflected the significant fact that this new alliance crossed LA borders. Thus ‘Pavilion and Downs’ was born to capture the unique characteristics of both Brighton & Hove and West Sussex.

In March 2018 Pavilion and Downs grew with the addition of a sixth member, Cardinal Newman Catholic School of Hove. This coastal region, with the sweeping Sussex Downs, is an area of outstanding natural beauty and growing diversity making it highly rated as an area to live and work. It also presents unique challenges and potential contextual complexity.