SchoolScoresWillingdon Community School
Community school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Broad Road, Lower Willingdon, Eastbourne, BN20 9QX
01323 485254 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 3 October 2012.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 14 June 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
198 pupils in this year group.
49% — 7 points above the East Sussex average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 49% | 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. | 45 | 43.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.0 | 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.
200 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 | 1% | 14% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 22% | 24% | 13% |
| Further education college | 50% | 44% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 6% | 2% | 3% |
| Work | 6% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 93% | 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 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 206 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 248 |
| Of those, offered a place | 197 (79%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 532 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.2
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 4 places for hearing impairment. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Higher than 29% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 19.6% | 24.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Higher than 65% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.6% | 2.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Higher than 78% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 17.8% | 14.6%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 7th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Higher than 12% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.1% | 6.6%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Lower than 67% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.4% | 9.5%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Lower than 71% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 19.1% | 25.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 3rd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Lower than 44% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 17.3 | 29.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Lower than 51% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.7% | 9.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.13% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Higher than 79% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 18.3 | 16.4 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Higher than 33% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.1 | 11.2 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Eastbourne. Higher than 22% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 8.9% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- The Eastbourne Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- Ratton School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected · 43% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Turing School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 expected, 5 needs attention · 27% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Cavendish School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 53% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Willingdon Community School's Ofsted rating?
Willingdon Community School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 3 October 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 14 June 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Willingdon Community School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 49% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 3 points above the England average of 45%.
Is Willingdon Community School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 248 families put Willingdon Community School as their first choice for 206 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 197 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 114592.
- 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.