Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #19 in East Sussex public Top 40% UK

Mulberry Academy Hastings

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

personHead not listed

corporate_fareUNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onHastings, TN35 5DN

language Visit Website phone 1424711950

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

862

trending_up

Attainment 8

38.2

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#19 in East Sussex

#2,771 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

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

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School Summary

Mulberry Academy Hastings is an academy sponsor led in Hastings, East Sussex, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 808 pupils on roll, of whom 46% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 38.2, placing the school #19 in East Sussex and #2,771 of 3,216 nationally. 27.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 13.6% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

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

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.7× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.0:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 6 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 34.5 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

38.2

Grade 5+ E&M

27.00%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)13.6%

Entering EBacc8.80%

EBacc APS3.15

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.29

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

33.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc30.10%

EBacc APS2.86

2023

Progress 8 Score

-1.48

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

30.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc9%

EBacc APS2.54

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.85

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc9%

EBacc APS3.04

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc4%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.39

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc19%

EBacc APS3.02

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.33

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc14%

EBacc APS3.05

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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

85%

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

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

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

Apprenticeships1%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)73%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment10%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

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

Apprenticeships0%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

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

Apprenticeships1%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

26 September 2023

Inspection Report

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18 March 2020

Inspection Report

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30 January 2018

Inspection Report

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12 May 2017

Inspection Report

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14 January 2016

Inspection Report

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15 May 2013

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2023-09-26

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2018-01-30

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2017-05-12

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2016-01-14

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2013-05-15

None Legacy

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

30.1%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

12.6%(102 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

2pupils

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 808 pupils. During this period, there were 243 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 30.1%, 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)	808	243	30.1%	7.3%	2
2024/25 (Autumn term)	823	320	38.9%	7.8%	4
2023/24 (Summer term)	831	355	42.7%	7.4%	3
2023/24 (Spring term)	839	461	54.9%	7.1%	2
2023/24 (Autumn term)	867	541	62.4%	8.2%	7
2022/23 (Summer term)	844	565	66.9%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	862	684	79.4%	6.4%	7
2022/23 (Autumn term)	869	556	64.0%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	852	371	43.5%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	857	288	33.6%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	871	456	52.4%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	869	360	41.4%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	877	72	8.2%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	890	112	12.6%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	896	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	896	83	9.3%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	893	54	6.0%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	886	182	20.5%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	886	223	25.2%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	885	107	12.1%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	860	167	19.4%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	860	139	16.2%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	852	137	16.1%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	832	83	10.0%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	844	173	20.5%	3.3%	2
2016/17 (Autumn term)	850	122	14.4%	3.1%	2

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 55 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 46 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 40 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 39 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 19 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 3 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

health_and_safety

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.

78.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

76.0%Positive

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

20.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree6%

agree62%

disagree15%

strongly disagree13%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree21%

agree53%

disagree15%

strongly disagree9%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree4%

agree49%

disagree9%

strongly disagree13%

don't know2%

not applicable23%

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

yes47%

no53%

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

strongly agree9%

agree68%

disagree9%

strongly disagree14%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree13%

agree68%

disagree11%

strongly disagree9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree17%

agree62%

disagree6%

strongly disagree13%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree4%

agree77%

disagree9%

strongly disagree11%

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

strongly agree13%

agree74%

disagree6%

strongly disagree6%

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

strongly agree15%

agree74%

disagree6%

strongly disagree4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree11%

agree64%

disagree13%

strongly disagree13%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes74%

no26%

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