Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #20 in East Sussex public Top 40% UK

The Eastbourne Academy

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

personMr Dan Wynne Willson

corporate_fareSWALE ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onEastbourne, BN22 9RQ

language Visit Website phone 1323514900

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

856

trending_up

Attainment 8

37.7

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#20 in East Sussex

#2,806 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The Eastbourne Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Eastbourne, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

The Eastbourne Academy is an academy sponsor led in Eastbourne, East Sussex, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of SWALE ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 800 pupils on roll, of whom 47% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 37.7, placing the school #20 in East Sussex and #2,806 of 3,216 nationally. 25.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 7.5% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Inadequate, behaviour and attitudes Inadequate, personal development Requires improvement, and leadership and management Inadequate.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.6× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 4 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 17.0 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

37.7

Grade 5+ E&M

25.00%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)7.5%

Entering EBacc20.60%

EBacc APS3.14

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.88

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

29.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc15.60%

EBacc APS2.38

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.52

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

35.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc14%

EBacc APS2.88

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.27

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc13%

EBacc APS3.14

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc4%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.3

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc14%

EBacc APS3.13

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.18

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc26%

EBacc APS3.51

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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

86%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

84%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

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

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

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

Apprenticeships3%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

28 January 2025

Inspection Report

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24 May 2022

Inspection Report

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17 January 2017

Inspection Report

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21 November 2012

Inspection Report

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04 October 2011

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2025-01-28

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Inadequate

Behaviour

Inadequate

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Inadequate

2022-05-24

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-01-17

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2012-11-21

Academy First Section 5 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2008-11-18

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

12.9%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

6.0%(48 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 800 pupils. During this period, there were 103 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 12.9%, which is above 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)	800	103	12.9%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	795	168	21.1%	7.8%	3
2023/24 (Summer term)	828	162	19.6%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	835	143	17.1%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	834	119	14.3%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	842	89	10.6%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	856	134	15.7%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	877	120	13.7%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	844	38	4.5%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	850	3	0.4%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	850	5	0.6%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	787	2	0.3%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	788	0	0.0%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	772	52	6.7%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	744	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	744	41	5.5%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	768	207	27.0%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	719	73	10.2%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	696	56	8.0%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	700	38	5.4%	3.8%	3
2017/18 (Summer term)	621	18	2.9%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	632	29	4.6%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	630	26	4.1%	3.7%	2
2016/17 (Summer term)	604	15	2.5%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	603	28	4.6%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	602	36	6.0%	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.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 47 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 40 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 31 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Physical Disability 5 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 5 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 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.

50.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

53.0%Positive

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

13.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree5%

agree50%

disagree20%

strongly disagree20%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree5%

agree35%

disagree25%

strongly disagree33%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree13%

agree25%

disagree8%

strongly disagree38%

don't know3%

not applicable15%

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

yes43%

no58%

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

agree24%

disagree35%

strongly disagree29%

dont know12%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree13%

agree55%

disagree8%

strongly disagree15%

don't know10%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree18%

agree40%

disagree18%

strongly disagree20%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree13%

agree40%

disagree28%

strongly disagree20%

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

strongly agree23%

agree58%

disagree8%

strongly disagree10%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree18%

agree58%

disagree13%

strongly disagree5%

don't know8%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree13%

agree28%

disagree18%

strongly disagree30%

don't know13%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes50%

no50%

Top Secondary Schools in East Sussex

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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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