Best secondary schools in Eastbourne (2026)
Eastbourne has 6 ranked secondary schools with published results. The top-ranked is The Cavendish School, in the top 33% in England. The average Attainment 8 here in 2025 was 42.8, against 46.1 for England. 0 are in England's top 10%, and 0 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Eastbourne has no grammar schools.
| Rank | School | Attainment 8 (2023–2025 average) | Attainment 8 2025 | Trend | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 33% in England |
The Cavendish School Eastbourne |
48.8 | 47.3 | 53% | Not judged | |
2 Top 42% in England |
Gildredge House Eastbourne |
47.3 | 46.7 | 45% | Not judged | |
3 Top 45% in England |
St Catherine's College Eastbourne · Church of England |
46.8 | 47.6 | 46% | Good | |
4 Bottom 39% in England |
Ratton School Eastbourne |
43.4 | 43.0 | 43% | Report card | |
5 Bottom 4% in England |
The Eastbourne Academy Eastbourne |
34.0 | 37.7 | 25% | Not judged | |
6 Bottom 3% in England |
The Turing School Eastbourne |
32.9 | 34.6 | 27% | Report card |
Other towns in East Sussex
Also see
Questions
What is the best secondary school in Eastbourne?
On exam results over the last three years, The Cavendish School is the top-ranked secondary school in Eastbourne, in the top 33% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.