Best secondary schools in Brighton and East Sussex
The best secondary schools in the county are oversubscribed so don’t count on getting a place. However, with plenty of above average performing schools, even if you don’t secure your first choice (80 per cent in Brighton and Hove do; 86 per cent in the rest of the county), your second choice is likely to still be a pretty good option. There are also a handful of excellent Catholic schools, with strict entry criteria.
Checking each school’s admissions policy is essential and it’s also worth checking our guide to secondary schools admissions which should answer most questions about the process. No grammar schools here which makes the admissions process simpler, although if you live in a very specific area in the north east of the county close to Kent, there is a chance of gaining a place at one of the grammars over the county border: Cranbrook School, Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar or Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys, The Judd School and The Skinners’ School. Do your homework and study the priority areas carefully if this is your plan.
Of the 36 secondary schools in the county only nine offer years 12 and 13, so it is worth considering the sixth from options in the area too. These will be either stand-alone colleges or a large sixth form attached to a state secondary school. Some families may choose to move from the state sector into the sixth form of an independent school. Check out our guide to moving school for sixth form to find out more.
Secondary schools in Brighton and Hove
Families love it here – and there is always a steady influx of newcomers from London due to the good schools. So you’ll need to think carefully about where you choose to live to secure your first-choice school. However, there are enough places to go round and a good selection to choose from. There are two highly regarded and wildly oversubscribed faith schools in Hove. For Catholics, Cardinal Newman Catholic School and for Anglicans (although only half the places are awarded according to faith) King’s School. Study the admission policy carefully if either of these appeals. The two leading non church schools are Varndean School and Dorothy Stringer. Both are oversubscribed and in the top 20 per cent nationally for GCSE results. Neither have sixth forms, so pupils tend to continue their sixth form studies at one of the local sixth form colleges.
Sixth form colleges in Brighton and Hove
There are two thriving sixth form colleges in Brighton: Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College (BHASVIC) in Hove and Varndean Sixth Form College in Brighton. The former has particularly impressive acceptance rates to Oxbridge and Russell Group.
Secondary schools near Eastbourne
There’s a good choice here, with four schools posting results above the national average. The clear front runner is Seaford Head School, to the west of Eastbourne in the popular seaside town of Seaford.
In Eastbourne itself there is Willingdon Community School and The Cavendish School both oversubscribed with more than decent GCSE results. Neither have sixth forms so students tend to head to the sixth form at Seaford Head.
Gildredge House School is an all-through school, catering from reception through to year 11. It is oversubscribed due to its historically strong academic record – and although in recent years it has performed less well, itis still a popular choice with families.
Sixth form colleges near Eastbourne
Most students choose to continue their studies at Seaford Head School sixth form which performs well above average at A level and sees 63 per cent of its students heading off to university.
Secondary schools near Hastings
Sitting in the top nine per cent nationally for Progress 8, St Richard’s Catholic College in Bexhill-on-Sea, is an incredibly popular school but note, strict admissions requirements. To the north west of Hastings near Battle is Claverham Community College where parents are impressed by the good behaviour and academic success.
Sixth form colleges near Hastings
With both secondary schools in the area finishing after year 11, the 80-90 per cent of pupils who choose to continue their education tend to head on to Bexhill College.
Secondary schools near Lewes
There are some strong contenders in and around Lewes. Priory School ranks in the top 15 per cent of schools in the country for Progress 8 and there is a wide range of subjects at GCSE. According to our reviewer, ‘The students we met were impressively outward looking, and unusually adept at thinking about the consequences of actions on others.’ Students leave school ‘very well equipped’, said a parent, who added that the school is ‘good at bringing out the best in students’. ‘[My son] got a huge amount out of it’, said another.
North of Lewes in South Chailey is Chailey School. Parents rave about the kindness and inclusivity; it is very oversubscribed, with the majority of families living within four miles of the school.
If you live to the north east of Lewes then you should fall into the catchment for Uckfield College which, thanks to its strong GCSE and A level results, is a much sought-after option.
Sixth form colleges near Lewes
Most students head to Bexhill College or the sixth forms at either Uckfield College or Heathfield Community College. A few might head down to Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College (BHASVIC) or Varndean Sixth Form College in Brighton.
Secondary schools near Crowborough
With a GCSE attainment score well above national average, the Beacon Academy in Crowborough gives families a strong contender. Depending on where you live, you may also like Heathfield Community College or Uckfield College with strong performance records.
Sixth form colleges near Crowborough
Most students head to Bexhill College or the sixth forms at either Uckfield College or Heathfield Community College. At Uckfield College students consistently perform well at A level compared to the rest of the county.
Grammar schools near Crowborough
If you live in a handful of villages to the north east of Crowborough, near the Kent border, you could give a moment’s thought to applying for a place at one of The Skinners’ School, The Judd School, Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar or Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys. Do your homework and look at the oversubscription criteria carefully if this is your plan. Each of these schools ringfence places for around 20 applicants living beyond the priority admissions area. This means East Sussex families are in with a chance though it is by no means guaranteed.
State secondary schools for children with special educational needs in Brighton and East Sussex
All mainstream state secondary schools in East Sussex cater for children with special educational needs. However, some are better at this than others and certain schools have their own specialist support units within a mainstream environment.
Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Hove is reported to have excellent support for SEN and children achieve good results, with a focus on literacy.
The Hastings Academy has a specialist speech and language centre for students with an EHCP.
The Da Vinci Centre at Robertsbridge Community College is a mainstream facility specialising in autism and those with a specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia). Students are supported to attend mainstream lessons, with the centre acting as a hub with a dedicated team of five specialist teachers.
Uckfield College has a specialist centre for students with autism and SpLD and Heathfield Community College has 12 places for students with an EHCP for autism.
St John’s College in Brighton is a residential college for students aged 19-25 with autism, offering a supportive and structured environment that helps young adults to develop independence and life skills.
Downs View in Brighton is a state maintained co-ed special school for 3-18 years, with its own sixth form college. Their aim is to meet the learning needs for pupils with profound and multiple, severe and moderate learning difficulties.