Best State Schools in East Sussex

Bowden House School is a welcoming and secure boarding school for boys aged 9-18. With a student-teacher ratio of 2:1, our dedicated staff provide exceptional support to meet the individual, holistic needs of our pupils. We have maintained a good quality of education with a broad curriculum and strengths in art and expressive arts. Our well-behaved pupils make good progress in mathematics and writing. Our effective safeguarding arrangements ensure the safety of all students.

Seaford Head School is an outstanding secondary school in Seaford, South East. Led by a dedicated headteacher, Robert Ellis, the school provides excellent support for the well-being and success of its students. With enthusiastic and knowledgeable teachers, the school has seen rising GCSE results, especially for disadvantaged pupils. The school also offers planned support for vulnerable and special needs students. With effective safeguarding arrangements and outstanding leadership, Seaford Head School ensures a safe and nurturing environment for its students.

Ark Castledown Primary Academy is a co-educational primary school located in Hastings. With a low student-teacher ratio of 18:1, the school provides a safe and nurturing environment for children aged 2-11. The school offers nursery classes and focuses on providing a well-rounded education, with strong emphasis on academic progress, personal development, and leadership skills. With an outstanding leadership and management team, the school ensures high quality education and a positive learning experience for all students. The school also boasts excellent resources and a diverse community, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for children to thrive.

Downs View Special School is an outstanding all-through school in Brighton and Hove, offering education and support for children aged 3-19 with a range of special educational needs. With a student-teacher ratio of 5:1 and an overall grade of A from Snobe, the school provides a welcoming and safe environment for its students. The school excels in its curriculum, teaching quality, and behaviour management, ensuring that every child receives a personalised education. Additionally, the school has excellent resources and a strong focus on communication and interaction skills. Downs View Special School is committed to the holistic development of its students, providing them with the best opportunities for success.

St Mark's CofE Primary School is a Church of England school located in Brighton and Hove. With a student-teacher ratio of 17:1, our dedicated staff ensures that every child receives an excellent education. We prioritize personal development and offer a stimulating curriculum that fosters curiosity, resilience, and optimism. Our inclusive environment promotes mutual respect and trust. Our exam results showcase our commitment to academic achievement, with high scores in maths and reading. Join us at St Mark's, where learning is enjoyable and every child's potential is nurtured.

St Bartholomew's CofE Primary School is a welcoming and well-rounded educational institution located in Brighton and Hove. With a strong and inspiring leadership, the school focuses on providing quality teaching and ensuring good progress for its students. The school's good OFSTED rating and positive attitudes towards learning ensure that students receive fair and equitable treatment. The spacious indoor and outdoor areas allow for ample recreational and physical education opportunities. Additionally, the school shows improvement in exam results, with a significant increase in the percentage of students meeting expectations in reading, writing, and mathematics.

Hill Park School is an outstanding all-through school in Brighton and Hove. With a student teacher ratio of 7:1, the school provides a highly tailored curriculum to meet the specific needs of pupils, including those with visual impairments, speech and language difficulties, autism, and other special educational needs. The school focuses strongly on personal development and emotional literacy, ensuring a safe and positive environment for all students. Although the extra-curricular offer has been restricted due to COVID-19, the school maintains its commitment to providing an excellent education with skilled staff who know their pupils well. With an outstanding Ofsted rating and positive feedback from parents and students, Hill Park School is a great choice for families seeking inclusivity, high academic standards, and exceptional leadership and management.

St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School is a well-rounded and inclusive school located in Hastings. With a strong emphasis on academic achievement and personal development, the school provides a caring and nurturing environment for students aged 4-11. The dedicated teaching staff and effective leadership ensure that pupils, including those with special educational needs, achieve well. The school's commitment to improving behaviour and attendance has been successful, and children make good progress in early years. Although there are areas for improvement, such as consistently challenging the most able students and promoting understanding across different subjects, St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School is dedicated to providing a quality education for all its students.

Bevendean Primary School and Nursery is a vibrant and inclusive school located in Brighton and Hove. With a student teacher ratio of 16:1 and a strong focus on academic achievement, the school provides a nurturing environment for children aged 3-11. The school offers a range of resources, dedicated teachers, and excellent leadership, ensuring a good overall effectiveness and high-quality teaching. With an impressive average score in maths and reading, as well as a high percentage of students achieving gcse 4 or higher, Bevendean Primary School and Nursery is committed to helping every child succeed.

Saxon Mount School is a secondary school located in Hastings, South East. With an outstanding leadership and management, it offers a safe and engaging curriculum. The school has exemplary behavior of pupils and provides impartial careers guidance. However, there are areas for improvement, such as inconsistent challenge in some subjects and post-16 provision plans still in infancy.

St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School is a vibrant and inclusive primary school in Brighton and Hove. With a student teacher ratio of 18:1 and a diverse student body, our school fosters a nurturing environment for children aged 3-11. Our dedicated staff and strong leadership ensure good overall effectiveness and high-quality education. Additionally, our pupils' average scores in maths and reading are above the national average, demonstrating our commitment to academic excellence. We prioritize the personal development and well-being of every child, creating a safe and supportive learning community.

Beacon Academy is a secondary school located in Crowborough, South East. With an outstanding leadership and management, the school provides a high-quality learning environment for students aged 11-18. The school boasts excellent exam results, with 66% achieving Grade 5 or above in English & maths GCSEs and 19.60% achieving AAB or higher in A-levels. Additionally, the school offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities, ensuring a well-rounded education for its pupils.

Hove Park School and Sixth Form Centre is a co-ed secondary school located in Brighton and Hove. With a student-teacher ratio of 14:1, the school provides a supportive learning environment for students aged 11-18. The school has a strong focus on academics, with an overall grade of B and an A- in both academics and teaching. The Ofsted report highlights the good leadership, achievement of pupils, and quality of teaching. With a diverse student population, including students with special educational needs, Hove Park School and Sixth Form Centre is committed to providing a well-rounded education for all students.

Carlton Hill Primary School is a co-ed primary school located in Brighton and Hove. With a strong emphasis on teaching poetry and a widening range of activities for pupils, the school offers a good quality education. The leadership team cares for the whole community and provides effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs. The school has a good overall effectiveness rating and achieves good results in achievement, teaching, and behavior and safety of pupils.

Blatchington Mill School is a secondary school located in Brighton and Hove, offering education to students aged 11-16. With an excellent student-teacher ratio of 18:1, the school provides a nurturing and supportive environment for students. The school prides itself on its good overall effectiveness, outstanding behaviour and safety of pupils, and quality teaching. With a strong focus on academic achievement, 57% of students achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs in 2019. Blatchington Mill School is committed to providing a well-rounded education and ensuring the success and well-being of all its students.

Harbour Primary and Nursery School is a co-educational primary school located in Newhaven, South East. With an average student-teacher ratio of 23:1, the school ensures individual attention to each child. The school offers outstanding early years provision and has a good overall effectiveness rating from Ofsted. The school also achieves good exam results with high scores in maths and reading. With a focus on personal development and welfare, Harbour Primary and Nursery School provides a nurturing and inclusive learning environment for children aged 2-11.

Dorothy Stringer School is a secondary school located in Brighton and Hove. With a student-teacher ratio of 15:1, the school focuses on improving pupils' progress and achievements. It is known for its inclusive nature, positive relationships between staff and students, and effective safeguarding practices. The school has achieved good ratings in leadership, teaching quality, personal development, and outcomes for pupils. However, there is room for improvement in supporting disadvantaged pupils, developing students' skills, and ensuring regular attendance for students with special needs and disabilities. With an overall grade of B-, Dorothy Stringer School strives to provide a safe and nurturing learning environment.

Breakwater Academy is a primary school located in Newhaven, South East. With a student-teacher ratio of 16:1, our dedicated staff provides a consistent and effective approach to teaching. Our strong values and interesting curriculum promote pupils' development, resulting in rapid progress. We prioritize the personal development, behaviour, and welfare of our students, ensuring a safe and inclusive learning environment. Though standards in writing lag behind reading and mathematics, our school embraces diversity and encourages achievement for all students.

Varndean School is a secondary school located in Brighton and Hove. With an outstanding rating for behaviour and attitudes, the school provides a safe and supportive environment for students aged 11-16. The dedicated staff, led by Mrs Shelley Baker, ensure a student teacher ratio of 17:1, allowing for individualized attention. The school's overall effectiveness and leadership and management are rated as outstanding by Ofsted. Varndean School focuses on the personal development of students, encouraging their academic achievements with 62% of students achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs. With excellent resources and a commitment to inclusivity, Varndean School is a top choice for parents seeking a quality education for their children.

Willingdon Community School is a successful secondary school that prioritizes personal excellence. With strong relationships between staff and pupils, the school fosters ambition, compassion, courtesy, and honesty. Their focus on academic achievement is accompanied by the development of fundamental moral principles. The school has maintained a good Ofsted rating and outstanding behavior and safety of pupils. However, there is a need for improved outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and literacy in certain subjects. Overall, Willingdon Community School strives to provide a quality education while instilling values that will benefit students throughout their lives.