Peacehaven Community School, Peacehaven

In its own words: "At Peacehaven Community School, our vision is to be a learning organisation that provides outstanding education within a supportive environment that enhances students' cognitive and social-emotional outcomes, including their wellbeing. We believe in setting high expectations for all students and supporting them to achieve their full potential, preparing them for their future in a changing world."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, dance, chess, cooking, art, film, Duke of Edinburgh and Spanish.

In 2026, pupils at Peacehaven Community School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 38.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.5 in East Sussex and 47 across England.

27% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in East Sussex and 47% in England.

That is down from 40.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.21: 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 32.4, against 40.5 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 8.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Statistics.

For September 2026 entry, 176 families put Peacehaven Community School as their first choice and 326 named it as one of their preferences, for 176 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. 7 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Peacehaven Community School are Seahaven Academy (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.7); Longhill High School (3.5 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 36.3); and Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (6 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 33.2).

Peacehaven Community School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

Peacehaven Community School is one of 19 schools run by Swale Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 38.5 in 2024/25.

Of the 179 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 81% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 39% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

2.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 146 pupils (16.4%) received SEN support and 60 (6.7%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

Peacehaven Community School has a SEN unit for speech, language and communication needs and autism: 22 places, 22 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Newhaven Town Rail Station, about 2.2 miles away in a straight line.

1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Meridian Centre (outside), 200 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 143 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, Peacehaven Community School issued 125 suspensions, 13.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Peacehaven Community School are Peacehaven Heights Academy (0.3 miles), Meridian Community Primary School and Nursery (0.6 miles), Telscombe Cliffs Academy (0.7 miles) and Breakwater Academy (1.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.