Best Primary & Secondary Schools in East Sussex 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 220 schools across East Sussex. Updated with 2025–26 data.

East Sussex has 220 open primary & secondary schools. Of the 197 with a published Ofsted inspection, 24 (12%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 88% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, High Cliff Academy currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in East Sussex follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

220
Total schools
24
Outstanding (historic grade)
12%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
61.3%
Avg KS2 SATs
32.3
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. High Cliff Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
2. Ark Blacklands Primary Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
3. Brede Primary School
Primary
 Good 83 View school
4. St Peter and St Paul CofE Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 82 View school
5. High Hurstwood Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
6. Blackboys Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 78 View school
7. Sedlescombe Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
8. Catsfield Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 77 View school
9. Burwash CofE School
Primary
 Outstanding 76 View school
10. Netherfield CofE Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 75 View school
11. Five Ashes CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 75 View school
12. Ark Little Ridge Primary Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 74 View school
13. Crowhurst CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 73 View school
14. Hawkes Farm Academy
Primary
 Good 73 View school
15. Bonners CofE School
Primary
 Good 73 View school
16. Etchingham Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 72 View school
17. Breakwater Academy
Primary
 Good 72 View school
18. Icklesham Church of England Primary School and Nursery
Primary
 Good 72 View school
19. Mark Cross Church of England Aided Primary School
Primary
 Good 72 View school
20. Parkside Community Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 71 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for East Sussex

Best primary schools in East SussexTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in East SussexTop-ranked Year 7 onwards Primary schools in East SussexReception–Year 6 only Secondary schools in East SussexYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in Brighton and HoveCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in West SussexCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in KentCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in MedwayCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in East Sussex

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary & secondary schools are there in East Sussex?
There are 220 open primary & secondary schools in East Sussex (closed schools are excluded). 24 of the 197 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary & secondary schools in East Sussex?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary & secondary school in East Sussex is High Cliff Academy. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in East Sussex?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in East Sussex?
Primary and secondary applications in East Sussex are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the East Sussex council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.