Secondary school

Beacon Academy

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 11–18
  • Mixed
  • East Sussex
  • TN6 2AS
  • Sixth form
Ofsted Outstanding · inspected Apr 2024

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 923 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 29%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 31%31%2016/17: top 15%15% · 2016/172017/18: top 27%2018/19: top 17%2021/22: top 21%2022/23: top 24%2023/24: top 22%2024/25: top 29%No exams

A-level results

#222 of 394 South East sixth forms, state and independent, 2024/25

Independent and selective (grammar) schools choose their pupils, so high results partly reflect who gets in, not only teaching. Some independent schools don't publish results.

Against South East

Attainment 850.2 · South East 467/10 Above−6.8 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths61.1% · South East 44.8%8/10 Above
EBacc point score4.43 · South East 4.037/10 Above−10.4 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.50 · South East +0.019/10 Top 20%−16.6 pts since 18/19
A level points per entry34.47 · South East 33.476/10 Middle
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 53 · 232 pupils · South East 50.92016/17: 53.8 · 184 pupils · South East 46.72017/18: 50.7 · 197 pupils · South East 46.72018/19: 54 · 204 pupils · South East 47.12021/22: 55 · 216 pupils · South East 49.12022/23: 51.7 · 248 pupils · South East 46.52023/24: 52.1 · 259 pupils · South East 46.22024/25: 50.2 · 252 pupils · South East 465550.2No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 59% · 184 pupils · South East 43%2017/18: 55% · 197 pupils · South East 43.5%2018/19: 65% · 204 pupils · South East 43%2021/22: 63% · 216 pupils · South East 51%2022/23: 60% · 248 pupils · South East 45%2023/24: 59.5% · 259 pupils · South East 45.9%2024/25: 61.1% · 252 pupils · South East 44.8%65%55%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 27.95 · 157 pupils · South East 28.942016/17: 32.12 · 140 pupils · South East 29.962017/18: 32.36 · 119 pupils · South East 30.252018/19: 35.33 · 102 pupils · South East 31.762021/22: 37.57 · 101 pupils · South East 36.42022/23: 32.71 · 97 pupils · South East 32.822023/24: 35.19 · 109 pupils · South East 32.832024/25: 34.47 · 122 pupils · South East 33.4737.5727.95No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in95.0%
226 of 238 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 95.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st238226
2nd9524
3rd535

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2007–2024

  1. 2007Satisfactoryas predecessor
  2. 2010Goodas predecessor
  3. 2013Good
  4. 2017Good
  5. 2022Remains Good
  6. 2024Outstanding

5 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Sixth form provision
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

0 weak areas

5 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,642
Free school meals (past 6 years)14.8%
First language not English5.3%
SEN support10.5%
EHC plan1.6%
Absence (sessions missed)9.1%
Persistently absent pupils23.8%

Girls 50.8%Boys 49.2%

105.9% full · 1,550 places · 316 in sixth form

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 288 responses (17.8% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school82.3% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school83% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved67.7% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 62.1% not applicable47.7% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year68.8% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 17.4% not applicable74.8% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed54.5% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child83.3% agree
  • My child does well at this school83.7% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing84.7% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school91.7% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school92.4% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development71.9% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent82.3% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher17.6
Pupils per adult12.4
  • Classroom teachers 84.9
  • Leadership 8.3
  • Teaching assistants 19.9
  • Other support 51

Teachers 93.2 FTE · Whole workforce 164.1 · 202 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£7,169
Spend per pupil£6,485
Staff spend per pupil£5,162
Reserve per pupil£876
  • +£1,457,000revenue reserve
  • +£1,138,000in-year balance

Grants £7,079 · self-generated £179 · premises £241 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: MARK EDUCATION TRUST (2 academies) · trust reserve £640,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

259 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained95.4%
  • Education87.6%
  • Apprenticeship2.7%
  • Employment5%
  • Not sustained1.9%
  • Unknown2.7%

After sixth form (16–18)

118 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained89.8%
  • Education52.5%
  • Higher education50%
  • Apprenticeship3.4%
  • Employment33.9%
  • Not sustained6.8%
  • Unknown3.4%