Schools by area › East Sussex › The Cavendish School
The Cavendish School
All-through · Mixed · Ages 2–16 · Academy
Eldon Road, Eastbourne BN21 1UE · cavendish.cet.uk · 01323 731340
On the mapSearch near BN21 1UE
Overview
- Ofsted
- No overall grade
- 2019 framework · inspected Jan 2025
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 47.3
- average Attainment 8 score. East Sussex 43.1, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.5
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,399
- 79 over 1,320 places · 106%
- Local authority
- East Sussex
- Sixth form
- No
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 17.9%
- First language not English
- 9.9%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 182 families put the school first and 118 places were offered; 63% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 118 | 182 | 1.5▲ | 63% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 118 | 190 | 1.6▲ | 61% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 117 | 193 | 1.6▲ | 60% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 116 | 217 | 1.9▲ | 53% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 119 | 229 | 1.9▲ | 51% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 47.3, and 52.9% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across East Sussex it was 43.1, and across England 46.
In 2024/25, 82% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 10% the higher standard. Across East Sussex it was 61%, and across England 62%.
Key stage 2 results
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲82% | 62% | ||
| ●10% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●108 | 106 | ||
| ▲109 | 105 | ||
| Grammar and spelling | ▲111 | 105 | |
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●47.3 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲52.9% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲71.8% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲43.5% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.17 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 2.3 | +1.1 |
| Sixth form college | 29 | −9.7 |
| Further education | 55.7 | +10.3 |
| Other education | 2.3 | +0.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.7 | −2 |
| Employment | 2.3 | −0.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.5 | −0.4 |
| Activity not captured | 2.3 | +1.1 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Cavendish School on 28 January 2025 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.
- Overall
- No overall grade
- Inspected
- 28 Jan 2025
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
Previously: Improving, ungraded inspection, Sept 2023
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Sept 2023Ungraded inspectionImproving
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Mar 2018Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Early years Outstanding Safeguarding Effective Sept 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Jun 2009Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
80% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (137 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 80%
- Replies
- 137
- 10% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 78% who raised concerns
based on the 45% who had a child bullied
based on 40 parents (29%) with SEND