Willingdon Community School, Eastbourne

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are Willingdon. We are a united, vibrant community which demonstrates personal excellence in all that we do. Learning at Willingdon transforms lives by igniting curiosity and expecting the very best from staff and students alike. We value opportunities, aiming for success today to prepare for challenges and opportunities tomorrow."

In 2026, pupils at Willingdon Community School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.5 in East Sussex and 47 across England.

49% 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 45.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.08: pupils made about 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 29.6, against 49.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 19.5 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 28 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 248 families put Willingdon Community School as their first choice and 532 named it as one of their preferences, for 206 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 51 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Willingdon Community School are The Eastbourne Academy (1.4 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 37.1); Ratton School (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.5); The Turing School (2.2 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 31.7); and The Cavendish School (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.2).

Willingdon Community School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Of the 194 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 58% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 6% into work.

3.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

Willingdon Community School has a resourced provision for hearing impairment: 4 places, 4 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Polegate Rail Station, about 1080 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Willingdon Community School (outside), 80 metres away.

In 2024/25, Willingdon Community School issued 189 suspensions, 17.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Willingdon Community School are Willingdon Primary School (0.2 miles), Polegate Primary School (1 mile), Oakwood Primary Academy (1.3 miles) and Parkland Infant School (1.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.