St Mary's School and 6th Form College

Independent special school · All-through, ages 5 to 19 · Mixed · Inter- / non- denominational · Sixth form · Boarding

Wrestwood Road, Bexhill on Sea, TN40 2LU

01424 730740 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 22 March 2022
Pupils221Room for 250 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 63 in 2019, 76 in 2021, 85 in 2022, 111 in 2023, 140 in 2024, 179 in 2025, 221 in 2026. Across England, special state school pupil numbers were up 39% from 2019 to 2025.
Free school meals39%of pupils eligible now

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 22 March 2022.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted non-association independent schools inspection data.

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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. DfE has published no A level results for this school. 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. It caters for: Specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Other difficulties or disabilities; Hearing impairment; Speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Multi-sensory impairment; Physical disability; Moderate learning difficulties.

PupilsThis schoolEast SussexEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 35.3% 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 3.4% 5.6%* 14.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed) 7.8% 15.9%* 12.8%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 23.3% 38.1%* 35.3%
Suspensions per 100 pupils 0.0 21.8 12.3
Pupils suspended at least once 0.0% 9.2% 5.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.06% 0.08%

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; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25.

SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).

Nearby special schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is St Mary's School and 6th Form College's Ofsted rating?

St Mary's School and 6th Form College was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 22 March 2022.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.