SchoolScoresHeadstart
Independent special school · All-through, ages 5 to 21 · Mixed
Crouch Lane, Ninfield, Battle, TN33 9EG
01424 893803 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 21 November 2023.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
At its last standard inspection the school met all of the independent school standards, the legal requirements every independent school must meet.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted non-association independent schools inspection data.
What parents say
13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school | 77% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school | 69% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved | 77% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 13 parents who had raised a concern | 77% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent | 77%said yes | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
We don't show GCSE or primary results for independent schools. DfE's tables often leave out the IGCSEs and other qualifications many independent schools use, so their published figures can look far lower than pupils' real results. Ask the school for its results.
Admissions
Independent schools run their own admissions and set their own fees. Contact the school directly.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round.
| Pupils | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 0.0% | 49.2%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 100.0% | 98.8%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 0.0% | 1.2%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | Not published | 5.6%* | 14.4% |
Comparisons are with special schools. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Questions parents ask
What is Headstart's Ofsted rating?
Headstart was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 21 November 2023.
Would parents recommend Headstart?
77% of the 13 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Headstart to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 134148.
- Inspections: Ofsted non-association independent schools management information, data to 31 July 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.