Hawkes Farm Academy, Hailsham

From the headteacher's welcome: "I would like to take this opportunity to extend a very warm welcome to you and your child on behalf of the staff and governors of Hawkes Farm Academy. Our aim at Hawkes Farm is to provide a safe, stimulating, and high-quality learning environment for your children where they thrive and develop all the knowledge and skills they need."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care.

In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils at Hawkes Farm Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 76% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 72% in East Sussex and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 68% in reading and 77% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 26 families put Hawkes Farm Academy as their first choice and 96 named it as one of their preferences, for 39 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Hawkes Farm Academy are Grovelands Community Primary School (0.6 miles); Hellingly Community Primary School (0.9 miles); White House Academy (0.9 miles, Good, 68% reading, 86% maths); and Thornton Grove Academy (1.1 miles).

Hawkes Farm Academy is one of 19 schools run by Step Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 80% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

57 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Hawkes Farm Academy (as of September 2025): 77% would recommend the school, 81% say their child is happy there and 47% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (81%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (47%).

5.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 75 pupils (22.9%) received SEN support and 9 (2.7%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Hawkes Farm Academy.

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lansdowne Road (opposite), 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Hawkes Farm Academy stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 7th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 120 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in East Sussex (65), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Hawkes Farm Academy issued 20 suspensions, 6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.