Bexhill Independent Special School, Bexhill-on-Sea
Bexhill Independent Special School is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 18 in Bexhill-on-Sea.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Bexhill Independent Special School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Bexhill Independent Special School are Headstart (1.5 miles, Good); St Mary's School and 6th Form College (1.7 miles, Good); Glyne Gap School (2.5 miles, Outstanding); and ISP School (3.2 miles, Good).
HeadstartSt Mary's School and 6th Form CollegeGlyne Gap SchoolISP School
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Collington Rail Station, about 2 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 40 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well below the typical figure around schools in East Sussex (65).
Sources: NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 9 months agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school is designed specifically for pupils with special educational needs, offering personalised learning through bespoke curriculum pathways and high staff-to-pupil ratios. Leaders have created a warm, supportive environment with excellent facilities including a sensory room and dedicated medical room. The school prioritises individual progress, self-esteem and preparing pupils for life after school with a strong focus on communication and literacy skills.
Key Strengths
- Bespoke curriculum tailored to individual pupil needs with three flexible pathways
- Ambitious English and mathematics programmes with strong focus on communication and literacy
- High staff to pupil ratios enabling personalised one-to-one support
- Sound safeguarding policies and procedures with planned training for all staff
- Well-designed premises in rural location with dedicated sensory room and medical facilities
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - the school has sound policies meeting current requirements, leaders have attended appropriate training, and comprehensive staff induction and ongoing training are planned.
Extracurricular Activities
Educational visits, outside professional enrichment visits, physical education and sports programmes at external facilities
Bexhill Independent Special School is a proposed independent special school for pupils with education, health and care plans, up to age 18. The school is likely to meet all independent school standards when it opens.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Bexhill Independent Special School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 5 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Bexhill-on-Sea
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bexhill-on-Sea
Across East Sussex council
Places available
5,496
Applications
4,990
Got 1st preference
86.3%
Got preferred school
95.9%
All secondary applications across East Sussex council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
Special educational needs provision
Bexhill Independent Special School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: Get Information about Schools (GIAS), Department for Education.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Bexhill Independent Special School
Does Bexhill Independent Special School have specialist SEN provision?
Bexhill Independent Special School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Bexhill Independent Special School?
Bexhill Independent Special School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Bexhill Independent Special School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 5 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bexhill Independent Special School?
Bexhill Independent Special School is at Shimba Lodge, Freezeland Lane, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN39 5JD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)