Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #2 in East Sussex public Top 13% UK

Heathfield Community College

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMs Caroline Barlow

location_onHeathfield, TN21 8RJ

language Visit Website phone 1435866066

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

1,470

trending_up

Attainment 8

50.6

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#1 in East Sussex

#861 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Heathfield Community College is a Community school secondary school in Heathfield, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Heathfield Community College is a community school in Heathfield, East Sussex, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. The school has approximately 1,437 pupils on roll, of whom 16% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 50.6, placing the school #1 in East Sussex and #861 of 3,216 nationally. 53.90% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 23.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 23 A-level subjects. 61.4% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 35.3% at A*–A. A-level value added: 0.07 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.2:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 5.3 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

50.6

Grade 5+ E&M

53.90%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)23.9%

Entering EBacc51.70%

EBacc APS4.49

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.3

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc42.20%

EBacc APS4.34

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.53

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

54.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc33%

EBacc APS4.64

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.39

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc36%

EBacc APS3.97

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc46%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.42

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

54.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc64%

EBacc APS5.06

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.49

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc34%

EBacc APS4.52

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)94%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)93%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.07

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

125

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*13.7%

Achieving A*–A35.3%

Achieving A*–B61.4%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate97.6%

A-level subjects offered23

2024

A-Level Value Added

0.0

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

104

Retention rate93.30%

2023

Avg Grade

C+

Students

134

Retention rate94.00%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

117

Retention rate97.4%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

23 May 2023

Inspection Report

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10 March 2020

Inspection Report

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24 May 2016

Inspection Report

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20 March 2014

Inspection Report

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14 March 2012

Inspection Report

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09 February 2011

Inspection Report

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14 January 2009

Inspection Report

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30 November 2005

Inspection Report

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30 October 2000

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-05-23

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2016-05-24

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2012-03-14

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2009-01-14

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

4.7%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.1%(44 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,437 pupils. During this period, there were 67 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 4.7%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,437	67	4.7%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,450	85	5.9%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,447	75	5.2%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,450	74	5.1%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,461	51	3.5%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,462	38	2.6%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,470	46	3.1%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,466	39	2.7%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,476	26	1.8%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,478	30	2.0%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,475	11	0.7%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,470	9	0.6%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,477	0	0.0%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,489	7	0.5%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,480	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,480	8	0.5%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,479	13	0.9%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,436	16	1.1%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,439	28	1.9%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,448	19	1.3%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,432	19	1.3%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,440	13	0.9%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,446	17	1.2%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,447	15	1.0%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,444	20	1.4%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,446	6	0.4%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Specific Learning Difficulty 56 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 53 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 14 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 2 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

89.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

91.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

24.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree41%

agree50%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree41%

agree41%

disagree12%

strongly disagree4%

don't know2%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree45%

agree23%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

not applicable20%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes26%

no74%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree54%

agree24%

disagree10%

strongly disagree12%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree62%

agree31%

disagree3%

strongly disagree1%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree55%

agree34%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree54%

agree37%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree54%

agree44%

disagree2%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree59%

agree38%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree43%

agree41%

disagree8%

strongly disagree2%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes89%

no11%

Top Secondary Schools in East Sussex

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Claverham Community College

Good

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Beacon Academy

Outstanding

location_on Crowborough, TN6 2AS

emoji_events #3 in LA

Chailey School

Good

location_on Lewes, BN8 4PU

emoji_events #4 in LA

Seaford Head School

Outstanding

location_on Seaford, BN25 4LX

emoji_events #5 in LA

King's Academy Ringmer

Good

location_on Lewes, BN8 5RB

emoji_events #6 in LA

Uckfield College

Outstanding

location_on Uckfield, TN22 3DJ

emoji_events #7 in LA

View all schools in East Sussex arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in East Sussex

Claverham Community College

Beacon Academy

Chailey School

Seaford Head School

King's Academy Ringmer

Uckfield College