This schoolOther secondary schools in East Sussex
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026| Area | Outstanding | Good | Requires improvement | Inadequate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good | |||
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good | |||
| Personal development | Good | |||
| Leadership and management | Good |
Inspection history
- 21 May 2025Ungraded inspection: Standards maintained
- 19 November 2019Graded inspection: Good
Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades
About these grades
Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.
How hard is it to get a place?
DfE · Sept 2026 entry490 applications · 211 places offered · 296 named it first
FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.
- 2026 2.3; East Sussex median median 1.9
- 2025 2.6; East Sussex median median 1.9
- 2024 2.2; East Sussex median median 1.9
- 2023 2.2; East Sussex median median 1.9
- 2022 2.2; East Sussex median median 1.8
- 2021 2.1; East Sussex median median 1.9
- 2020 1.8; East Sussex median median 1.7
- 2019 1.8; East Sussex median median 1.8
- 2018 1.8; East Sussex median median 1.7
- 2017 2.0; East Sussex median median 1.6
- 2016 1.7; East Sussex median median 1.7; as the previous school
- 2015 1.5; East Sussex median median 1.4; as the previous school
- 2014 1.7; East Sussex median median 1.5; as the previous school
- This school
- East Sussex median
Dashed bars: as The Bishop Bell Church of England Mathematics and Computing Specialist School (URN 114613), the previous school.
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council
How this is measured
Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 211 | 490 | 2.3 | 296 | 1.40 |
| Sep 2025 | 208 | 531 | 2.6 | 290 | 1.39 |
| Sep 2024 | 214 | 475 | 2.2 | 266 | 1.24 |
| Sep 2023 | 214 | 470 | 2.2 | 303 | 1.42 |
| Sep 2022 | 213 | 467 | 2.2 | 296 | 1.39 |
| Sep 2021 | 220 | 457 | 2.1 | 287 | 1.30 |
| Sep 2020 | 222 | 399 | 1.8 | 267 | 1.20 |
| Sep 2019 | 223 | 395 | 1.8 | 229 | 1.03 |
| Sep 2018 | 222 | 406 | 1.8 | 242 | 1.09 |
| Sep 2017 | 222 | 442 | 2.0 | 273 | 1.23 |
| Sep 2016 * | 212 | 357 | 1.7 | 214 | 1.01 |
| Sep 2015 * | 200 | 300 | 1.5 | 186 | 0.93 |
| Sep 2014 * | 183 | 315 | 1.7 | 177 | 0.97 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 208 | 45.6 | 45% | 66% | – |
| 2024/25 | 215 | 47.6 | 46% | 73% | – |
| 2023/24 | 209 | 48.1 | 51% | 76% | +0.09 |
| 2022/23 | 212 | 44.7 | 42% | 66% | −0.19 |
Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.
Schools nearby
The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority
- St Catherine's CollegeThis schoolThis schoolStandards maintained20252.3applications per place 45.6Attainment 8
- 2.1 km · East Sussex20261.2applications per place 31.7Attainment 8
- 3.4 km · East SussexSerious weaknesses Graded · no overall grade20250.9applications per place 37.1Attainment 8
- 4.2 km · East Sussex20262.7applications per place 45.5Attainment 8
- 4.5 km · East SussexGraded · no overall grade20255.3applications per place 48.2Attainment 8
- 4.7 km · East SussexGraded · no overall grade20244.0applications per place 48.9Attainment 8
- 5.6 km · East SussexRemains Good20232.6applications per place 45.2Attainment 8
- 8.7 km · East SussexSerious weaknesses Inadequate20230.9applications per place 35.4Attainment 8
- 11.6 km · East SussexGraded · no overall grade20251.3applications per place 45.7Attainment 8
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
- Does not apply
Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.
School details
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 143035 · 845/4610
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Capacity
- 1,040 pupils · 1,064 on roll
- Free school meals
- 27.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 August 2016
- Replaced
- The Bishop Bell Church of England Mathematics and Computing Specialist School (URN 114613)
- Address
- Priory Road, Eastbourne, BN23 7BL
- Local authority
- East Sussex · Eastbourne
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources