Ofsted: Not judged

Summerdown School

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

personMiss Penny Kershaw

corporate_fareTHE SOUTHFIELD TRUST

location_onEastbourne, BN22 9PZ

language Visit Website phone 1323921630

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Ofsted

Not judged

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

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Age Range

3-16

summarize

Summerdown School is a Free schools special school in Eastbourne, serving ages 3-16.

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School Summary

Summerdown School is a free schools special in Eastbourne, East Sussex, admitting pupils aged 3-16. It is part of THE SOUTHFIELD TRUST. The school has approximately 161 pupils on roll, of whom 32% are eligible for free school meals.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 8.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2022

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

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Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 58%

Reading0% LA 72%

Writing0% LA 69%

Maths0% LA 68%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 56%England 61%

Reading0% LA 71% · Eng 74%

Writing0% LA 69% · Eng 72%

Maths0% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 55%England 60%

Reading-% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing-% LA 68% · Eng 71%

Maths-% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA -0.9

Write

LA -1.5

Maths

LA -2.0

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

28 January 2025

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

1 Evaluations

2025-01-28

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

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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

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

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

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 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 161 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, 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
2024/25 (Spring term)	161	0	0.0%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	161	0	0.0%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	133	0	0.0%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	132	0	0.0%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	129	1	0.8%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	66	0	0.0%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	67	0	0.0%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	54	0	0.0%	5.9%

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 114 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 19 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 9 pupils

Physical Disability 7 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 6 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 4 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 2 pupils

Summerdown School

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

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)

Funding & Staffing

Staffing

Teacher Turnover