St Catherine's College
Eastbourne, BN23 7BL · East Sussex · secondary school
Check the area around this school
13th 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 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 6.2/10 against 867 of them, against 5.2/10 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 | 45.2 · 50 | 30% | 1.51 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.09 · 57 | 25% | 1.41 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 45.6 · 48 | 10% | 0.47 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Catherine's College overview
How it's doing
St Catherine's College was rated Good by Ofsted in July 2025. In 2024/25, 45.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 47.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.09 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, World Challenge, Bushcraft, and Volunteering clubs. Sports include hockey, dance, rock climbing, swimming, wheelchair basketball, and yoga. Arts activities feature productions, concerts, exhibitions, and competitions. Trips have included Uganda, Gambia, USA, Nepal, Azores, Belgium, France, and Italy.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,064 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,040. 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
What support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How are the various
What Ofsted said about St Catherine's College
Overview
St Catherine’s College has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The report describes a “welcoming, caring school” where pupils are “proud and happy” and benefit from high expectations for their achievement and conduct. Leaders and staff work collaboratively to support pupil development and well-being.
Strengths
- The curriculum is “broad and ambitious,” with learning “organised coherently” to help pupils tackle complex tasks and make “strong gains in what they know and remember.”
- Pupils enjoy “warm, positive relationships” with staff and peers, supported by a “strong pastoral system” that prioritises personal development alongside academic success.
- Staff are “knowledgeable and enthusiastic,” presenting information clearly, while pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are identified promptly and achieve well from their starting points.
- The school offers a “wide range of additional opportunities,” including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme and performing arts, which “enrich pupils’ learning and nurture their personal development.”
- Leaders are “mindful of [staff] workload and well-being,” providing professional development opportunities that leave staff “immensely proud to work at the school.”
Areas to improve
- Some teachers do not “promptly address the gaps and misconceptions” in pupil learning, causing some to move on before they are ready; the school should share good practice for checking understanding.
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 | 48.1 |
| 2024/25 | 47.6 |
| 2025/26 | 45.6 |
| 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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