East Sussex secondary schools league table 2025
Secondary and all-through schools teaching Key Stages 3 and 4. Ranked by the Success Index (England) from official English data; 34 schools in East Sussex, South East. Rank positions shown on each profile are within England and South East.
- 186St Richard's Catholic CollegeBexhill-on-Sea · Academy Secondary14.3% Free school meals · 1,029 students
- 283Lewes Old Grammar SchoolLewes · Independent All-through60.4 Attainment 8 · 675 students
- 378Mayfield SchoolMayfield · Independent Secondary63.5 Attainment 8 · 349 students
- 476Heathfield Community CollegeHeathfield · Local authority Secondary50.6 Attainment 8 · 1,416 students
- 575Beacon AcademyCrowborough · Academy Secondary50.2 Attainment 8 · 1,642 students
- 675The Cavendish SchoolEastbourne · Academy All-through47.3 Attainment 8 · 1,399 students
- 773Chailey SchoolLewes · Local authority Secondary49.3 Attainment 8 · 862 students
- 873Claverham Community CollegeBattle · Local authority Secondary50.3 Attainment 8 · 1,147 students
- 968Seaford Head SchoolSeaford · Academy Secondary49.4 Attainment 8 · 1,461 students
- 1066Uckfield CollegeUckfield · Local authority Secondary47.0 Attainment 8 · 1,671 students
- 1164Priory SchoolLewes · Local authority Secondary46.4 Attainment 8 · 1,153 students
- 1259King's Academy RingmerLewes · Academy Secondary47.6 Attainment 8 · 659 students
- 1359Willingdon Community SchoolEastbourne · Local authority Secondary45.0 Attainment 8 · 1,117 students
- 1458St Catherine's CollegeEastbourne · Academy Secondary47.6 Attainment 8 · 1,064 students
- 1557Robertsbridge Community CollegeRobertsbridge · Academy Secondary25.2% Free school meals · 644 students
- 1651Hailsham AcademyHailsham · Academy All-through27.3% Free school meals · 1,577 students
- 1749Gildredge HouseEastbourne · Academy All-through46.7 Attainment 8 · 1,169 students
- 1845Ratton SchoolEastbourne · Academy Secondary43.0 Attainment 8 · 1,183 students
- 1941Ark Alexandra AcademyHASTINGS · Academy Secondary42.6 Attainment 8 · 1,315 students
- 2041Uplands AcademyWadhurst · Academy Secondary42.5 Attainment 8 · 699 students
- 2137Michael Hall SchoolForest Row · Independent All-through35.8 Attainment 8 · 384 students
- 2237Peacehaven Community SchoolPeacehaven · Academy Secondary40.1 Attainment 8 · 890 students
- 2336Battle Abbey SchoolEast Sussex · Independent All-through42.3 Attainment 8 · 459 students
- 2436Bexhill High AcademyBexhill-on-Sea · Academy Secondary41.7 Attainment 8 · 1,441 students
- 2533Seahaven AcademyNewhaven · Academy Secondary40.3 Attainment 8 · 701 students
- 2633Eastbourne CollegeEastbourne · Independent Secondary40.2 Attainment 8 · 560 students
- 2725Rye CollegeRye · Academy Secondary36.8 Attainment 8 · 645 students
- 2823Claremont SchoolSt Leonards-on-Sea · Independent All-through36.3 Attainment 8 · 418 students
- 2921Bede's Senior SchoolHailsham · Independent Secondary26.4 Attainment 8 · 763 students
- 3020Mulberry Academy HastingsHastings · Academy Secondary38.2 Attainment 8 · 833 students
- 3118The Turing SchoolEastbourne · Academy Secondary34.6 Attainment 8 · 771 students
- 3218The Eastbourne AcademyEastbourne · Academy Secondary37.7 Attainment 8 · 776 students
- 3316Greenfields SchoolForest Row · Independent All-through14.6 Attainment 8 · 93 students
- 3411Buckswood SchoolEast Sussex · Independent All-through16.1 Attainment 8 · 193 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (England) | Key result | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Richard's Catholic College Bexhill-on-Sea · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 85.7 Top 10% | 14.3% Free school meals | 1,029 |
| 2 | Lewes Old Grammar School Lewes · All-through · Ages 3–19 | Independent | 83.4 Top 25% | 60.4 Attainment 8 | 675 |
| 3 | Mayfield School Mayfield · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Independent | 78.2 Top 25% | 63.5 Attainment 8 | 349 |
| 4 | Heathfield Community College Heathfield · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Local authority | 75.8 Top 25% | 50.6 Attainment 8 | 1,416 |
| 5 | Beacon Academy Crowborough · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Academy | 75.0 Top 25% | 50.2 Attainment 8 | 1,642 |
| 6 | The Cavendish School Eastbourne · All-through · Ages 2–16 | Academy | 74.7 Top 25% | 47.3 Attainment 8 | 1,399 |
| 7 | Chailey School Lewes · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Local authority | 73.2 Top 25% | 49.3 Attainment 8 | 862 |
| 8 | Claverham Community College Battle · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Local authority | 72.7 Top 25% | 50.3 Attainment 8 | 1,147 |
| 9 | Seaford Head School Seaford · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Academy | 68.4 Top 50% | 49.4 Attainment 8 | 1,461 |
| 10 | Uckfield College Uckfield · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Local authority | 66.0 Top 50% | 47.0 Attainment 8 | 1,671 |
| 11 | Priory School Lewes · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Local authority | 63.8 Top 50% | 46.4 Attainment 8 | 1,153 |
| 12 | King's Academy Ringmer Lewes · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 59.1 Top 50% | 47.6 Attainment 8 | 659 |
| 13 | Willingdon Community School Eastbourne · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Local authority | 58.5 Top 50% | 45.0 Attainment 8 | 1,117 |
| 14 | St Catherine's College Eastbourne · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 58.1 Top 50% | 47.6 Attainment 8 | 1,064 |
| 15 | Robertsbridge Community College Robertsbridge · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 56.5 Top 50% | 25.2% Free school meals | 644 |
| 16 | Hailsham Academy Hailsham · All-through · Ages 2–16 | Academy | 50.6 Top 50% | 27.3% Free school meals | 1,577 |
| 17 | Gildredge House Eastbourne · All-through · Ages 4–16 | Academy | 48.6 Top 50% | 46.7 Attainment 8 | 1,169 |
| 18 | Ratton School Eastbourne · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 44.5 Lower 50% | 43.0 Attainment 8 | 1,183 |
| 19 | Ark Alexandra Academy HASTINGS · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 41.4 Lower 50% | 42.6 Attainment 8 | 1,315 |
| 20 | Uplands Academy Wadhurst · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 40.6 Lower 50% | 42.5 Attainment 8 | 699 |
| 21 | Michael Hall School Forest Row · All-through · Ages 2–19 | Independent | 37.2 Lower 50% | 35.8 Attainment 8 | 384 |
| 22 | Peacehaven Community School Peacehaven · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 37.1 Lower 50% | 40.1 Attainment 8 | 890 |
| 23 | Battle Abbey School East Sussex · All-through · Ages 0–18 | Independent | 36.4 Lower 50% | 42.3 Attainment 8 | 459 |
| 24 | Bexhill High Academy Bexhill-on-Sea · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 36.0 Lower 50% | 41.7 Attainment 8 | 1,441 |
| 25 | Seahaven Academy Newhaven · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 33.2 Lower 50% | 40.3 Attainment 8 | 701 |
| 26 | Eastbourne College Eastbourne · Secondary · Ages 12–19 | Independent | 33.0 Lower 50% | 40.2 Attainment 8 | 560 |
| 27 | Rye College Rye · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 25.1 Lower 50% | 36.8 Attainment 8 | 645 |
| 28 | Claremont School St Leonards-on-Sea · All-through · Ages 1–19 | Independent | 23.2 Lower 50% | 36.3 Attainment 8 | 418 |
| 29 | Bede's Senior School Hailsham · Secondary · Ages 13–19 | Independent | 21.2 Lower 50% | 26.4 Attainment 8 | 763 |
| 30 | Mulberry Academy Hastings Hastings · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 19.8 Lower 50% | 38.2 Attainment 8 | 833 |
| 31 | The Turing School Eastbourne · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 18.2 Lower 50% | 34.6 Attainment 8 | 771 |
| 32 | The Eastbourne Academy Eastbourne · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 17.9 Lower 50% | 37.7 Attainment 8 | 776 |
| 33 | Greenfields School Forest Row · All-through · Ages 2–19 | Independent | 16.1 Lower 50% | 14.6 Attainment 8 | 93 |
| 34 | Buckswood School East Sussex · All-through · Ages 10–19 | Independent | 11.0 Lower 50% | 16.1 Attainment 8 | 193 |
St Richard's Catholic College in Bexhill-on-Sea leads the 2025 list of secondary schools in East Sussex with a Success Index (England) of 85.7. Of the 34 schools shown, 19 are academy, 9 are independent, 6 are local authority.
For the full picture see the wider South East secondary schools league table, every school on the East Sussex page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best secondary school in East Sussex?
St Richard's Catholic College in Bexhill-on-Sea, South East ranks first among secondary schools in East Sussex with a Success Index (England) of 85.7 out of 100 (Pupils on roll: 1,029).
How are secondary schools in East Sussex ranked?
Each school's Success Index (England) combines 9 factors: ks2: reading, writing & maths expected standard (35%), ks2: higher standard (20%), ks2: reading progress (10%), ks2: maths progress (10%), progress 8 (20%), attainment 8 (30%), grade 5+ in english & maths (15%), a level points per entry (10%), community advantage (fewer pupils on free school meals) (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across England. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.
Are these 2025 rankings official?
No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official English data (DfE – Get Information About Schools; DfE – Compare school and college performance). Independent schools rarely appear in the performance tables, so most receive no attainment components and no score.