SchoolScoresTelscombe Cliffs Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of STEP ACADEMY TRUST
Telscombe Cliffs Way, Telscombe Cliffs, Peacehaven, BN10 7DE
01273 583113 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 14 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 | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
67 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
| Statement | This school | Peacehaven | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Peacehaven. Higher than 11% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 86% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Peacehaven. Higher than 15% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 86% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Peacehaven. Higher than 17% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79% | 79% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 23 parents whose child had been bullied 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Peacehaven. Higher than 55% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 57% | 53% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 58 parents who had raised a concern Joint 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Peacehaven. Higher than 26% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 74% | 74% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 18 parents of children with SEND 31st highest of 32 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in East Sussex. Higher than 5% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 39% | – | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Peacehaven. Higher than 17% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78%said yes | 82% | 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. Peacehaven figures pool parents at the Peacehaven 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
84 pupils in this year group.
62% — about the same as the East Sussex average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 62% | 61% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 2% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 69% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 75% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 70% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 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 | 65 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 57 |
| Of those, offered a place | 57 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 132 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 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 3 state primary schools in Peacehaven. Higher than 49% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.1% | 25.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Peacehaven. Higher than 34% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.3% | 2.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Peacehaven. Higher than 59% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.6% | 16.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 3 state primary schools in Peacehaven. Higher than 63% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.6% | 9.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 3 state primary schools in Peacehaven. Lower than 32% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.6% | 5.7%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 3 state primary schools in Peacehaven. Lower than 31% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 15.3% | 14.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 3 state primary schools in Peacehaven. Lower than 25% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.2 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 3 state primary schools in Peacehaven. Lower than 33% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 3 state primary schools in Peacehaven. Higher than 56% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.1 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 3 state primary schools in Peacehaven. Higher than 85% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.1 | 10.9 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 3 state primary schools in Peacehaven. Higher than 74% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 20.1% | 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
- Peacehaven Heights Academy 0.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Meridian Community Primary School and Nursery 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 31% met expected standard (KS2)
- Saltdean Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2025 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Breakwater Academy 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- Our Lady of Lourdes RC School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- High Cliff Academy 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Harbour Primary and Nursery School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2025 · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Telscombe Cliffs Academy's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 14 January 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Telscombe Cliffs Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 62% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Telscombe Cliffs Academy?
78% of the 67 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Telscombe Cliffs Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Telscombe Cliffs Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 57 families put Telscombe Cliffs Academy as their first choice for 65 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 57 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 148927.
- 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.