SchoolScoresHigh Cliff Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Part of STEP ACADEMY TRUST
Southdown Road, Newhaven, BN9 9FD
01273 041471 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 9 June 2026 , published 15 July 2026.
In short: 7 expected, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
44 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
| Statement | This school | Newhaven | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newhaven. Higher than 4% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 89% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newhaven. Higher than 6% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newhaven. Higher than 2% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 55% | 82% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 20 parents whose child had been bullied 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newhaven. Higher than 26% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 45% | 53% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 38 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newhaven. Higher than 1% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 73% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newhaven. Higher than 4% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 61%said yes | 86% | 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. Newhaven figures pool parents at the Newhaven schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between 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
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
29 pupils in this year group.
76% — 15 points above the East Sussex average, and 14 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 76% | 61% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 79% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 76% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 83% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in East Sussex. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 22 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 11 |
| Of those, offered a place | 11 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 43 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.5
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Higher than 75% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 35.8% | 25.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Higher than 63% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.7% | 2.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Higher than 89% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 22.8% | 16.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Higher than 47% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.6% | 9.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Lower than 9% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.2% | 5.7%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Lower than 22% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 17.3% | 14.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 3rd lowest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Lower than 58% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.6 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Lower than 51% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.6% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Higher than 13% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.5 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Higher than 20% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.9 | 10.9 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Higher than 45% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 11.1% | 15.0%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * 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; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Harbour Primary and Nursery School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2025 · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Breakwater Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- Denton Community Primary School and Nursery 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Meridian Community Primary School and Nursery 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 31% met expected standard (KS2)
- Peacehaven Heights Academy 2.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Telscombe Cliffs Academy 2.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Seaford Primary School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is High Cliff Academy's Ofsted rating?
High Cliff Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 9 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 7 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did High Cliff Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 76% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 14 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend High Cliff Academy?
61% of the 44 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend High Cliff Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is High Cliff Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 11 families put High Cliff Academy as their first choice for 22 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 11 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 140385.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.