Best Secondary Schools in East Sussex 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 23 schools across East Sussex. Updated with 2025–26 data.

East Sussex has 23 secondary schools, of which 3 (13%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted and a further 16 rated Good — 83% of secondary schools in East Sussex are rated Good or Outstanding overall. St Richard's Catholic College currently leads the local rankings on our composite SNM Score.

Catchment data available for 5 schools in East Sussex. We publish last-admitted distance and three-year history wherever the council has released it — useful before you commit to a postcode in the area.

Application deadlines in East Sussex follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry. Offers go out on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

23
Total schools
3
Outstanding
13%
Outstanding rate
61.3%
Avg KS2 SATs
32.3
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted SNM Score
🥇 St Richard's Catholic College
Secondary
 Good 80 View school
🥈 Beacon Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 73 View school
🥉 Seaford Head School
Secondary
 Outstanding 72 View school
4. Uckfield College
Secondary
 Outstanding 69 View school
5. Heathfield Community College
Secondary
 Good 66 View school
6. Claverham Community College
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
7. Chailey School
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
8. King's Academy Ringmer
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
9. St Catherine's College
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
10. Priory School
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
11. Willingdon Community School
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
12. Ratton School
Secondary
 Good 56 View school
13. Uplands Academy
Secondary
 Good 56 View school
14. Seahaven Academy
Secondary
 Good 53 View school
15. Peacehaven Community School
Secondary
 Good 52 View school
16. Rye College
Secondary
 Good 48 View school
17. Ark Alexandra Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 46 View school
18. The Hastings Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 40 View school
19. Bexhill High Academy
Secondary
 Good 40 View school
20. The Turing School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 36 View school

Related lists for East Sussex

All schools in East SussexPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in East SussexReception–Year 6 only Outstanding schools in East Sussex3 schools rated Outstanding

See full data for any school in East Sussex

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

Search schools in East Sussex

Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in East Sussex?
There are 23 secondary schools in East Sussex, of which 3 (13%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
What are the best schools in East Sussex?
Based on our composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance and class sizes, the top school in East Sussex is St Richard's Catholic College. See the full ranked list above.
How do I apply for a school place in East Sussex?
Primary and secondary school applications in East Sussex are managed by the Local Authority. Applications for secondary places typically open in September for the following academic year. Visit the East Sussex council website for application forms and deadlines.
What is the average Ofsted rating in East Sussex?
13% of secondary schools in East Sussex are rated Outstanding and 70% are rated Good. 78.6% are rated Good or Outstanding.

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.