Heathfield Community College, Heathfield

In its own words: "I am delighted to welcome you to Heathfield Community College, a high performing secondary school and Sixth Form, which I feel privileged to lead. Heathfield is a happy and successful environment; we are very proud of our inspirational and ambitious community."

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a school based Sixth Form in East Sussex with an established reputation of delivering high quality education to Post 16 students over a number of years. Our core strengths are supported by committed and experienced staff alongside students who become part of our unique community."

Coming up: an open day on Monday 23 November 2026, an open day on Tuesday 19 January 2027, an open day on Wednesday 10 March 2027 and an open day on Friday 23 April 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Heathfield Community College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.5 in East Sussex and 47 across England.

48% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in East Sussex and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 50.6.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.3: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 36.6, against 52.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Art and Design and History.

For September 2026 entry, 271 families put Heathfield Community College as their first choice and 482 named it as one of their preferences, for 248 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 35 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

Of the 230 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 93% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 50% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 115 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 32% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 36% into work. 18% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

14.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.8% 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 (5%).

In 2026, 57 pupils (4%) received SEN support and 35 (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 autism.

Heathfield Community College has a resourced provision for autism: 12 places, 14 pupils on roll.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Heathfield Community College.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Heathfield Community College (adjacent), 60 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 10 crimes within a mile of the school, most often burglary, violence and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in East Sussex (65).

In 2024/25, Heathfield Community College issued 214 suspensions, 14.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Heathfield Community College are All Saints' and St Richard's Church of England Primary School (0.4 miles), Parkside Community Primary School (0.8 miles), Punnetts Town Community Primary School and Nursery (1.2 miles) and Cross-in-Hand Church of England Primary School (1.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.