Heathfield Community College
Heathfield, TN21 8RJ · East Sussex · secondary school
Check the area around this school
9th 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 811 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.1/10 among them, against 6.6/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 48.0 · 58 | 30% | 1.74 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.3 · 73 | 25% | 1.82 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 50.0 · 70 | 10% | 0.70 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Heathfield Community College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 53.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 50.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.3 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 6.2 out of 10 among them, against 7.2 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted rated the school Good in July 2023.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,416 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,500. 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 improve their Progress 8 scores relative to similar-intake peers? What specific enrichment opportunities are available to students outside of core lessons?
What Ofsted said about Heathfield Community College
Overview
Heathfield Community College is described as a vibrant and nurturing environment where pupils flourish under high aspirations. Leaders have established an ambitious curriculum and a strong culture of personal development, resulting in exceptional outcomes for sixth-form students and well-rounded education for all. The school is characterised by polite, happy pupils who feel safe and are actively involved in improving school life through leadership roles and enrichment activities.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from an "ambitious curriculum" and a "super curriculum" that ensures a well-rounded education, including opportunities for those not studying GCSE subjects.
- Personal development is "exceptionally wide and rich," with pupils taught well about equality, diversity, healthy relationships, and careers, leading to "ambitious destinations" for many.
- Sixth-form provision is outstanding, with students achieving "exceptionally well" due to expert teaching and immersing themselves in the wider school community.
- Behaviour is generally excellent, with bullying being rare and dealt with swiftly; pupils are "well mannered and polite" and feel supported by a well-regarded pastoral team.
- Staff are well supported with high-quality professional development, and governors provide an effective balance of support and challenge to leaders.
Areas to improve
- A small minority of staff lack strong enough pedagogical knowledge, meaning some pupils do not learn as well as they could; leaders should continue providing professional development to ensure strong curriculum delivery across all areas.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a strong culture of vigilance, regular staff training, and swift identification and referral of concerns to ensure students receive necessary support.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 49.5 |
| 2024/25 | 50.6 |
| 2025/26 | 50.0 |
| 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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