SchoolScoresThe Flagship School
Special free school · All-through, ages 7 to 16 · Mixed
Part of THE BECKMEAD TRUST
The Ridge, Hastings, TN34 2AE
01424 311023 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 20 January 2026 , published 28 May 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.
What parents say
31 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school | 65% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school | 61% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved | 48% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 30 parents who had raised a concern | 60% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 31 parents of children with SEND | 61% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent | 65%said yes | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 51%). 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
6 pupils in this year group.
Only 6 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.
17% — 25 points below the East Sussex average, and 29 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 17% | 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. | 6 | 43.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.1 |
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
| 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|
| Not published | Not published | 17% |
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.
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 | 73.8% | 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 | 0.0% | 5.6%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 29.3% | 15.9%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 60.3% | 38.1%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 63.9 | 21.8 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 21.3% | 9.2% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 1.64% | 0.06% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 2.1 | 2.7 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 50.0% | 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
- Torfield School 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2023 · 0% met expected standard (KS2)
- New Horizons School (Part of the Sabden Multi Academy Trust) 2.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 0% grade 5+ English and maths
- Saxon Mount School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 0% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Flagship School's Ofsted rating?
The Flagship School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 20 January 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 The Flagship School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 17% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 29 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend The Flagship School?
65% of the 31 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend The Flagship 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 149695.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.