SchoolScoresRatton School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of SOUTH DOWNS LEARNING TRUST
Park Avenue, Eastbourne, BN21 2XR
01323 504011 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 19 May 2026 , published 7 July 2026.
In short: 6 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. |
| 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.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
236 pupils in this year group.
43% — 1 points above the East Sussex average, and 2 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 43% | 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. | 43 | 43.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.5 | 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.
236 pupils in this year group.
89% — about the same as the East Sussex average, and 3 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. | 89% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 2% | 14% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 23% | 24% | 13% |
| Further education college | 60% | 44% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 2% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 94% | 89% |
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 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 237 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 217 |
| Of those, offered a place | 180 (83%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 644 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 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 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 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Higher than 49% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 26.6% | 24.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Higher than 12% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.3% | 2.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Higher than 81% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 18.5% | 14.6%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Higher than 54% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 13.5% | 6.6%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Lower than 37% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.1% | 9.5%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Lower than 48% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 23.7% | 25.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Lower than 33% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 22.9 | 29.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Lower than 35% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.6% | 9.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.13% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Higher than 30% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.9 | 16.4 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Higher than 42% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.5 | 11.2 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Higher than 4% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 4.5% | 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.
Nearby secondary schools
- The Cavendish School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 53% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Eastbourne Academy 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- Gildredge House 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
- Willingdon Community School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 49% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Turing School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 expected, 5 needs attention · 27% grade 5+ English and maths
- Eastbourne College 2.2 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 42% A*/A at A level
- St Andrew's Prep 2.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- St Catherine's College 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bede's Prep School 2.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Ratton School's Ofsted rating?
Ratton School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 19 May 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did Ratton School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 43% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 2 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Ratton School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 217 families put Ratton School as their first choice for 237 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 180 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 138474.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- 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.