SchoolScoresMulberry Academy St Leonards
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of MULBERRY SCHOOLS TRUST
Edinburgh Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN38 8HH
01424 448740 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 28 January 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
Category of concern: Special measures.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Inadequate |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Inadequate |
| Personal development | Inadequate |
| Leadership and management | Inadequate |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
155 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
East Sussex comparisons use the 16 of its 26 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 10 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 13th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in East Sussex. Higher than 22% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 82% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 14th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in East Sussex. Higher than 13% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 68% | 84% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 13th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in East Sussex. Higher than 10% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 48% | 75% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 87 parents whose child had been bullied 13th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in East Sussex. Higher than 34% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 44% | 51% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 136 parents who had raised a concern 13th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in East Sussex. Higher than 18% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 54% | 70% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 48 parents of children with SEND 7th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in East Sussex. Higher than 12% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 38% | 53% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 13th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in East Sussex. Higher than 20% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63%said yes | 80% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 12%). 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. East Sussex figures pool parents at the East Sussex 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
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
257 pupils in this year group.
These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 136400), before it changed to its current form.
25% — 16 points below the East Sussex average, and 20 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 25% | 42% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 33.2 | 43.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 2.8 | 3.8 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
287 pupils in this year group.
These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 136400), before it changed to its current form.
87% — 3 points below the East Sussex average, and 5 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 87% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 1% | 14% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 37% | 24% | 13% |
| Further education college | 45% | 44% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | Not published | 2% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 3% | 3% |
"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 88% | 87% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2025 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 282 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 258 |
| Of those, offered a place | 258 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 425 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.6 · 2025: 0.9
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 2025 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 18 places for autism; Physical disability. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 26 state secondary schools in East Sussex. Higher than 85% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 46.5% | 24.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 13th highest of 26 state secondary schools in East Sussex. Higher than 26% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.0% | 2.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 26th highest of 26 state secondary schools in East Sussex. Higher than 6% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 5.6% | 14.6%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 26 state secondary schools in East Sussex. Higher than 45% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.4% | 6.6%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 19th lowest of 26 state secondary schools in East Sussex. Lower than 13% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 11.1% | 9.5%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 23rd lowest of 26 state secondary schools in East Sussex. Lower than 8% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 35.5% | 25.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 24th lowest of 26 state secondary schools in East Sussex. Lower than 5% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 73.7 | 29.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 24th lowest of 26 state secondary schools in East Sussex. Lower than 4% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 19.4% | 9.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.13% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 20th highest of 26 state secondary schools in East Sussex. Higher than 24% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.5 | 16.4 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 25th highest of 26 state secondary schools in East Sussex. Higher than 5% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.1 | 11.2 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 26 state secondary schools in East Sussex. Higher than 75% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 18.3% | 13.3%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Ark Alexandra Academy 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Richard's Catholic College 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2021, before conversion) · 69% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Mulberry Academy St Leonards's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 28 January 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Mulberry Academy St Leonards do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 25% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 20 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Mulberry Academy St Leonards?
63% of the 155 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Mulberry Academy St Leonards to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Mulberry Academy St Leonards oversubscribed?
For the September 2025 intake, 258 families put Mulberry Academy St Leonards as their first choice for 282 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 258 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 152503.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.