East Sussex College Group, Eastbourne
East Sussex College Group is a post-16 school for pupils aged 16 to 99 in Eastbourne. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
East Sussex College Group in detail
East Sussex College Group in its own words
Coming up: an open day on Thursday 19 November 2026 and an open day on Thursday 18 March 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in East Sussex
Source: The school's own website
Where pupils go next
Of the 2085 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 16% went on to university or other higher education, 6% to apprenticeships and 38% into work. 4% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hampden Park (Sussex) Rail Station, about 960 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sussex Downs College (outside), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 189 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in East Sussex (65), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE destination measures; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Contribution to meeting skills needs: Strong
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
East Sussex College Group creates a supportive and inclusive environment where students develop real-world skills through expert teaching and industry partnerships. The college excels at tailoring courses to match local job opportunities, with adult learners progressing successfully to employment and students gaining valuable practical experience through work placements and hands-on projects. Staff provide personalised support to all learners, including those with complex needs, helping them build confidence and achieve their potential.
Key Strengths
- Teachers use vocational expertise effectively, sharing industry experience to help students apply learning to real-world situations
- Highly supportive and aspirational environment where students feel safe, valued and motivated to complete their studies
- Strong collaboration with employers and local stakeholders to design courses that meet regional skills needs and job vacancies
- Comprehensive support for students with additional learning needs and high needs through personalised programmes and therapy services
- Wide range of enrichment activities that develop students' confidence, employability and personal skills
Safeguarding
Students feel safe at college and in their placements and know how to report concerns, with the college providing a well-planned tutorial curriculum covering topics such as online safety and county lines.
Extracurricular Activities
British Sign Language learning, grade II listed building restoration project, uniformed public services training, virtual art gallery visits, industry days, sector-based academy programmes
East Sussex College Group is a large further education college with three main campuses in Hastings, Eastbourne and Lewes, plus specialist sites offering academic, vocational and technical courses to over 13,000 students and apprentices. The college has been rated as Good overall, maintaining its previous inspection grade.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Special Measures
Sixth Form Performance (A-Level)
A-Level Results
C-
Average grade
28.2
Points per entry
C-
Best 3 A-Levels
3%
Achieving AAB+
Below average
Value added
460
A-Level students
82%
Retention rate
2024/25 academic year
A-Level Subjects Offered
+ 15 more subjects
2024/25 academic year - entries by number of students
After A-Levels - Leaver Destinations
After A-Levels (Year 13) - 2,085 students
2023/24 data
University & Higher Education Destinations
4%
Top-third university
30%
Degree course
37%
Any L4+ destination
2%
Apprenticeships
Based on 1,051 students completing 16-18 study
2022/23 cohort - "Top-third" = most selective third of UK universities by student intake
Latest from East Sussex College Group
Young creatives celebrated at Emerging Sussex exhibition
1 Oct 2026
East Sussex College Students Join Fire & Rescue Training
1 Oct 2026
Your Next Step After GCSEs: Meet V-Levels
30 Sep 2026
From East Sussex College Group's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with East Sussex College Group
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 22
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 16 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 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 - Eastbourne
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Eastbourne
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(15)
Questions parents ask about East Sussex College Group
What is East Sussex College Group's Ofsted rating?
East Sussex College Group was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025.
What is the catchment area for East Sussex College Group?
No fixed boundary. When East Sussex College Group is oversubscribed, East Sussex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to East Sussex College Group?
Apply through East Sussex's coordinated admissions process, naming East Sussex College Group 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 East Sussex College Group?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 16 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 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 College Group?
East Sussex College Group is at Cross Levels Way, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 2UF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)