Dudley Infant Academy, Hastings

Good
Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 57

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~335m)Possible (~479m)Unlikely (~623m)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Stuart Maclean
Pupils:169 / 180 capacity
LA:East Sussex
Phone:01424422981
Address:Harold Road, Hastings, TN35 5NJ
Trust:DIOCESE OF CHICHESTER ACADEMY TRUST
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 November 2013

Ofsted Rating

Good

Overall

URN:140311
UKPRN:10043934
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Hastings and Rye
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Dudley Infant Academy is a welcoming, happy school where children feel safe and loved. Staff know pupils and their families exceptionally well and provide the support each child needs to thrive. The school excels at teaching reading and developing children's character through its values-based approach and enriching experiences like visits from authors and trips to local galleries.

Key Strengths

  • Strong reading programme with expert support for struggling pupils - most become fluent readers by end of Year 2
  • Broad and ambitious curriculum with staff who have secure subject knowledge and explain learning clearly
  • Excellent character development through school values and enrichment opportunities like planetarium visits and art gallery trips
  • Strong support for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils
  • Effective attendance support - staff understand families well and act immediately on any decline

Areas for Improvement

  • Checks on pupils' understanding during lessons are not carried out consistently
  • Teaching is not always adapted based on what pupils know, which means some develop gaps in understanding
  • Activities are not always well-designed to help pupils understand concepts securely before moving to more difficult ideas

Safeguarding

Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created a positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.

Extracurricular Activities

School council, friendship ambassadors, fundraising events, school clubs, planetarium visits, trips to local art galleries, trips to places of historic interest, author visits

Dudley Infant Academy has maintained good standards and is a happy, welcoming school where pupils feel safe and achieve well across the curriculum. The school has a broad, ambitious curriculum and prioritises reading, with most pupils becoming fluent readers by the end of Year 2.

At a Glance

25.4%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

What Parents Think

53 responses
Would recommend100%
Child is happy100%
Well taught98%
Good progress89%
Feels safe100%
Well behaved94%
Bullying dealt with15%
Kept informed96%
Handles concerns70%
Wider development93%

Source: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree

Class Sizes

28.5

Avg class size

28.5

Infant (KS1)

6

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Ore Rail Station
758m · 12 min walk

Bus Stops

Dudley Road (opp)
71m · 1 min walk
Barley Lane (opp)
100m · 2 min walk
Sacred Heart School (adj)
220m · 4 min walk
Robertsons Hill (opp)
302m · 5 min walk
Godwin Road (adj)
323m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

94%

Near capacity

169 pupils

180 capacity

11 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Hastings

Low pressure
New homes approved:651
Projected new pupils:163

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Hastings

Admissions Demand - East Sussex

Low demand0.83x oversubscription

Places available

5,643

Applications

4,708

Got 1st preference

91.2%

Got preferred school

98.0%

Primary admissions across East Sussex (2025/26)

Inspection History(103)

Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

6.04234%

Overall absence

14.87603%

Persistent absence

121

Enrolments

Authorised4.40818%
Unauthorised1.63416%
Persistent (10%+)14.87603%
Severe (50%+)0%

Absence trend

3.08795%
18/19
4.61936%
20/21
6.03363%
21/22
6.15855%
22/23
6.40844%
23/24
6.04234%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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