East Sussex Academy, Hailsham
East Sussex Academy is an all-through school for pupils aged 4 to 16 in Hailsham, part of London South East Academies Trust.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
East Sussex Academy in detail
Getting a place at East Sussex Academy
Across East Sussex, 86% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 96% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in East Sussex lodged 318 appeals against secondary school offers; 169 reached a hearing and 35 succeeded (20.7% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to East Sussex Academy are Hailsham Academy (0.9 miles, Attainment 8 35.4); Willingdon Community School (3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.2); The Turing School (3.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 31.7); and The Eastbourne Academy (3.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 37.1).
Hailsham AcademyWillingdon Community SchoolThe Turing SchoolThe Eastbourne Academy
The trust
East Sussex Academy is one of 19 schools run by London South East Academies Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
62.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 1.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (88%) and Mixed (8%).
In 2026, 117 pupils (97.5%) received SEN support and 3 (2.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Polegate Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ingrams Way (ne-bound), 140 metres away.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to East Sussex Academy are White House Academy (0.9 miles), Grovelands Community Primary School (1 mile), Thornton Grove Academy (1.1 miles) and Hawkes Farm Academy (1.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
White House AcademyGrovelands Community Primary SchoolThornton Grove AcademyHawkes Farm Academy
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
East Sussex Academy has not been inspected by Ofsted since it took its current form in September 2025. Before that, as College Central (URN 142143), it was rated Inadequate in February 2024.
At a Glance
62.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby all-through schools
Keep up with East Sussex Academy
Before and after school care
East Sussex Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in East Sussex
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to East Sussex Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. East Sussex Academy 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
- 22
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 6 serious and 15 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
4 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
86%
Available places
120 pupils
140 places
20 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Hailsham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Hailsham
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.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
117
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
120
Total Pupils
87
Boys
33
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
33
Teachers
3.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,375
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
East Sussex Academy
Questions parents ask about East Sussex Academy
What is East Sussex Academy's Ofsted rating?
East Sussex Academy has not been inspected by Ofsted since it took its current form in September 2025. Before that, as College Central (URN 142143), it was rated Inadequate in February 2024.
What is the catchment area for East Sussex Academy?
No fixed boundary. When East Sussex Academy is oversubscribed, East Sussex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to East Sussex Academy?
East Sussex Academy has around 120 pupils on roll. 63% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to East Sussex Academy?
Apply through East Sussex's coordinated admissions process, naming East Sussex Academy 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.
Does East Sussex Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
East Sussex Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near East Sussex Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 6 serious and 15 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 4 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 East Sussex Academy?
East Sussex Academy is at Oaklands Way, Hailsham, BN27 3NW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)