Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #12 in East Sussex public Top 24% UK

Willingdon Community School

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

personMrs Emily May

location_onEastbourne, BN20 9QX

language Visit Website phone 1323485254

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2017

groups

Students

1,019

trending_up

Attainment 8

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#12 in East Sussex

#1,727 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Willingdon Community School is a Community school secondary school in Eastbourne, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.3×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Willingdon Community School is a community school in Eastbourne, East Sussex, admitting pupils aged 11-16. The school has approximately 1,093 pupils on roll, of whom 20% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 45, placing the school #12 in East Sussex and #1,727 of 3,216 nationally. 48.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 16.1% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.3× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.9:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 5.2 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

Grade 5+ E&M

48.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)16.1%

Entering EBacc39.40%

EBacc APS3.98

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.08

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc34.50%

EBacc APS4.16

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.06

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.0

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc8%

EBacc APS3.67

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.31

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc12%

EBacc APS4.34

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.08

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc35%

EBacc APS3.99

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.06

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39%

EBacc APS3.98

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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

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)77%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

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

Apprenticeships3%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

13 June 2023

Inspection Report

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13 June 2017

Inspection Report

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03 October 2012

Inspection Report

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07 January 2011

Inspection Report

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03 June 2009

Inspection Report

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13 February 2008

Inspection Report

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17 May 2004

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2017-06-13

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2012-10-03

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2008-02-13

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

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

5.2%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.6%(39 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,093 pupils. During this period, there were 57 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 5.2%, 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)	1,093	57	5.2%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,091	57	5.2%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,051	71	6.8%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,051	41	3.9%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,055	42	4.0%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,018	32	3.1%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,019	36	3.5%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,018	27	2.7%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,004	42	4.2%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,006	38	3.8%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,001	13	1.3%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	999	17	1.7%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,006	14	1.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,005	46	4.6%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	984	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	984	25	2.5%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	995	45	4.5%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	990	46	4.6%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	992	59	5.9%	3.8%	2
2018/19 (Autumn term)	995	60	6.0%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	995	40	4.0%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	997	22	2.2%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,001	50	5.0%	3.7%	2
2016/17 (Summer term)	993	43	4.3%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	995	38	3.8%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	995	29	2.9%	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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psychology_alt

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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 72 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 47 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 32 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 30 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 28 pupils

Hearing Impairment 6 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 6 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Multi-Sensory 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.

85.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

88.0%Positive

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

28.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree42%

agree43%

disagree8%

strongly disagree4%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree36%

agree46%

disagree13%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree41%

agree25%

disagree10%

strongly disagree6%

don't know1%

not applicable17%

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

yes22%

no78%

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

strongly agree26%

agree32%

disagree19%

strongly disagree17%

dont know6%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree54%

agree37%

disagree6%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree43%

agree41%

disagree9%

strongly disagree4%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree41%

agree47%

disagree8%

strongly disagree3%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree51%

agree45%

disagree3%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree57%

agree40%

disagree2%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree41%

agree38%

disagree12%

strongly disagree3%

don't know5%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes86%

no14%

Top Secondary Schools in East Sussex

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Claverham Community College

Good

location_on Battle, TN33 0HT

emoji_events #1 in LA

Heathfield Community College

Good

location_on Heathfield, TN21 8RJ

emoji_events #2 in LA

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

View all schools in East Sussex arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

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

Heathfield Community College

Beacon Academy

Chailey School

Seaford Head School

King's Academy Ringmer