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Willingdon Community School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Community school
Broad Road, Lower Willingdon, Eastbourne BN20 9QX · willingdonschool.org.uk · 01323 485254
On the mapSearch near BN20 9QX
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Jun 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 45
- average Attainment 8 score. East Sussex 43.1, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 3.27 mi
- 5.26 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Category 4 · East Sussex Council
- Demand for places
- 1.2
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,117
- 64 over 1,053 places · 106%
- Local authority
- East Sussex
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 20.1%
- First language not English
- 3.5%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Category 4” went to a home 3.27 mi (5.26 km) from the school. Source: East Sussex Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 248 families put the school first and 206 places were offered; 79% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 206 | 248 | 1.2▲ | 79% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 206 | 265 | 1.3▲ | 75% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 229 | 301 | 1.3▲ | 70% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 231 | 246 | 1.1▲ | 89% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 203 | 210 | 1▲ | 88% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 – Category 4 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 3.27 mi5.26 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 45, and 48.5% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across East Sussex it was 43.1, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●45 | 46 | ||
| ▲48.5% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲70.7% | 64.8% | ||
| ●39.4% | 40.5% | ||
| ●3.98 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 3.1 | +2.1 |
| Sixth form college | 22.2 | −7.1 |
| Further education | 58.2 | +4.7 |
| Other education | 2.1 | +0.1 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.6 | +2.1 |
| Employment | 5.7 | +2.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 2.1 | −3.5 |
| Activity not captured | 2.1 | −0.9 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 14 June 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for Willingdon Community School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 13 Jun 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Oct 2012
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Oct 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Feb 2008Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
82% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (252 replies, to 1 April 2024).
- Recommend
- 82%
- Replies
- 252
- 25% · 1 Apr 2024
based on the 85% who raised concerns
based on the 50% who had a child bullied
based on 60 parents (24%) with SEND