Chailey Heritage School, Lewes
Chailey Heritage School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 in Lewes. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Chailey Heritage School in detail
Chailey Heritage School in its own words
In its own words: "Each child and young person should have every opportunity to explore what's possible - no matter the challenges. That’s why our expert multi-disciplinary team of highly trained teachers, therapists, technologists and specialist education assistants nurture the potential of every child and young person we work with. Our CHILD Curriculum puts each student at the centre of their own educational journey."
Coming up: an admissions event on Wednesday 9 December 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in East Sussex
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Chailey Heritage School are Central Education Ltd (1.7 miles, Requires improvement); Hambrook School (4.5 miles, selective); and Woodlands Meed (4.7 miles, Good).
What parents say
10 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Chailey Heritage School (as of September 2025): 80% would recommend the school, 90% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school supports their child's wider development (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 7 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
20.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 4.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (75%) and Mixed (6%).
Almost every pupil at Chailey Heritage School has an education, health and care plan (68 of 68 in 2026). The most common need among them is a physical disability.
Chailey Heritage School provides for pupils with physical disability.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Sheffield Park (Bluebell Railway), about 2.1 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chailey Heritage (outside), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, public order offences and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in East Sussex (65).
Suspensions and exclusions
Chailey Heritage School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from October 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school is a life-changing place where pupils with complex medical and learning needs are treated with the highest ambition. Staff know each child deeply and provide expert, personalised support using innovative technology and communication systems. Pupils develop as independent communicators and are given real control over their learning experiences.
Key Strengths
- Highly ambitious and personalised CHILD curriculum tailored to each pupil's individual needs and developmental stage
- Expert staff with superb knowledge of profound and multiple learning difficulties who provide exemplary support
- Innovative use of bespoke technology and communication systems designed by on-site engineers to give pupils agency and control
- Exceptional physical development provision using specialist therapies including hippotherapy, rebound therapy and hydrotherapy
- Strong leadership driven by moral purpose to ensure the best possible experiences for pupils
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Patchwork Farm, hippotherapy, rebound therapy, hydrotherapy, computer games using bespoke devices
Chailey Heritage School is a specialist school for pupils with profound and multiple learning disabilities that has maintained its outstanding standards. Pupils thrive through an ambitious, personalised curriculum supported by specialist staff and bespoke technology.
About
Chailey Heritage School is a special school located in North Chailey, East Sussex, England. It is owned and operated by the Chailey Heritage Foundation.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
20.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Physical
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
10 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby schools
Latest from Chailey Heritage School
Carry the Load Challenge Raises Money in Memory of Jemima and Luna
30 Sep 2026
Newick Primary School Enjoys Prize Day at Patchwork Farm
29 Sep 2026
Paula Laces Up for London Marathon Challenge
25 Sep 2026
From Chailey Heritage School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Chailey Heritage School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Chailey Heritage School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Chailey Heritage School is in East Sussex; for families living there:
Apply to East Sussex for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 10
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 5 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
2 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
School Occupancy
62%
Available places
68 pupils
110 places
42 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Lewes
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Lewes
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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
68
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Chailey Heritage School provides for pupils with physical disability.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
68
Total Pupils
40
Boys
28
Girls
2026 academic year
Pupil Absence2024/25
19.0%
Overall absence
63.6%
Persistent absence
44
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Chailey Heritage School
Questions parents ask about Chailey Heritage School
What is Chailey Heritage School's Ofsted rating?
Chailey Heritage School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Chailey Heritage School?
No fixed boundary. When Chailey Heritage School is oversubscribed, East Sussex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Chailey Heritage School?
Chailey Heritage School has around 68 pupils on roll. 21% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Chailey Heritage School have specialist SEN provision?
Chailey Heritage School provides for pupils with physical disability.
What is attendance like at Chailey Heritage School?
19% of sessions were missed at Chailey Heritage School in 2024/25. 63.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Chailey Heritage School?
Apply through East Sussex's coordinated admissions process, naming Chailey Heritage School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Chailey Heritage School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 5 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 2 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 Chailey Heritage School?
Chailey Heritage School is at Haywards Heath Road, North Chailey, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 4EF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)