Gildredge House
Eastbourne, BN20 8AB · East Sussex · all-through school
Check the area around this school
8th of 24 secondary schools in East Sussex we can score, 26 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 886 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.7/10 among them, against 6.3/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 50.3 · 63 | 46% | 2.90 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.16 · 61 | 38% | 2.36 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 48.9 · 65 | 15% | 1.00 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Gildredge House overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 45.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.16 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.4 out of 10 among them, against 5.7 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
The school provides an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,169 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,232. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific strategies are used to improve progress scores for students from similar backgrounds? How is the after-school club structured to support pupils’ wellbeing and learning?
What Ofsted said about Gildredge House
Overview
Gildredge House is described as a school where pupils feel safe, valued, and part of a strong community. The report highlights a "clear sense of purpose" and a culture where staff and pupils uphold core values of ambition and empathy. Leaders are actively addressing improvement priorities, fostering a collaborative professional environment.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate high attendance and engage positively in learning, supported by "vibrant classrooms" that are "calm and orderly".
- The curriculum has been refined to break down complex concepts, helping pupils make links between lessons and increasing uptake of English Baccalaureate subjects.
- Staff use "strong subject knowledge" to address gaps in understanding, with specific strategies effectively supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
- Early years provision is praised for nurturing curiosity, with staff using expertise to teach early reading skills with "clarity and precision".
- Personal development is well-developed, with pupils gaining age-appropriate understanding of health, relationships, online safety, and careers.
Areas to improve
- The school must refine its assessment approaches to "precisely evaluate the impact of their work on pupils’ learning and development," as current methods are not yet fully embedded.
- Leaders should ensure all staff have the expertise to adapt learning accurately, as some pupils do not learn as well as they could due to insufficient adaptation for knowledge gaps.
- Teaching approaches for developing writing skills need improvement, as they do not always provide "precise support" or address learning gaps effectively.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.0 |
| 2024/25 | 46.7 |
| 2025/26 | 48.9 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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