SchoolScoresSummerdown School
Special free school · All-through, ages 3 to 16 · Mixed
Part of THE SOUTHFIELD TRUST
3 Broadwater Way, Eastbourne, BN22 9PZ
01323 921630 · 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.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
23 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school | 70% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school | 87% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved | 70% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 19 parents who had raised a concern | 63% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 23 parents of children with SEND | 70% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent | 83%said yes | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 14%). 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
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
13 pupils in this year group.
0% — 61 points below the East Sussex average, and 62 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 61% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 0% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 0% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 0% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 80 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 81 | 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 secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
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 | 32.3% | 49.2%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 99.4% | 98.8%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 0.6% | 1.2%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 6.2% | 5.6%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 12.4% | 15.9%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 32.2% | 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% |
| Pupils per teacher | 7.6 | 6.5 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 5.7% | 13.7%* | 14.3%* |
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; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby special schools
- The Lindfield School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 0% grade 5+ English and maths
- Anderida Learning Centre 1.3 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- The South Downs School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 0% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hazel Court School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Summerdown School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 28 January 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend Summerdown School?
83% of the 23 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Summerdown School 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 149138.
- 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, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.