UKSchoolSearch
OpenPrimaryOfsted: Expected standardURN 140385

High Cliff Academy

Academy sponsor led · Newhaven · BN9 9FD

Ages 4–11 · 154 pupils · East Sussex

School website

Ofsted

Expected standard

KS2 expected (RWM)

70%

Overall absence

7.8%

Admissions demand

0.86 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Expected standard

Inspection date

2026-06-09

  • AchievementExpected standard
  • Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
  • InclusionExpected standard
  • Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
  • Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
  • Leadership and governanceExpected standard

Safeguarding standards: Met

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)70%
Higher standard (RWM)0%
Avg scaled score — reading
105.0
Avg scaled score — maths
102.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
107.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence7.8%
Persistent absence (10%+)19.8%
Unauthorised3.2%
Authorised absence
4.6%
Severe absence (50%+)
3.4%
Enrolments in measure
177

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.86 · Often has places

1st preferences

19

Places offered

23

1st-preference offers

19

Total preferences (any rank)
53
Preferred offers (top 3)
22
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill73%

154 pupils · 210 places

Pupils on roll
154
Boys / girls
84 / 70
School capacity
210
Capacity fill
154 / 210 (73%)
Free school meals
37%
FSM pupils
57
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 4–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: STEP ACADEMY TRUST
Academy trust
STEP ACADEMY TRUST
Sponsor
STEP ACADEMY TRUST
Headteacher
Miss Carla Botting

Location

Address
Southdown Road
Postcode
BN9 9FD
Town
Newhaven
County
East Sussex
Local authority
East Sussex
District
Lewes
Constituency
Lewes
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy sponsor led (primary), Ages 4–11, in Newhaven, East Sussex, 154 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy. Free school meals: 37%.

Open schools in Newhaven
5
Primary schools in Newhaven
4
Academies among open schools in Newhaven
60% (3)
Open schools in BN9
5
Primary in BN9
4
Open schools in East Sussex LA
220
Primary in East Sussex LA
144

Nearby primary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in NewhavenNear BN9

  • Harbour Primary and Nursery School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Community school · Primary

    Newhaven · BN9 9LX · East Sussex

    Ages 2–11

    • KS268%
    • Absence8.2%
    • FSM34.0%
    • Demand1.02

    0.4 miles away

  • Breakwater Academy

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Newhaven · BN9 9UT · East Sussex

    Ages 4–11

    • KS274%
    • Absence4.5%
    • FSM41.0%
    • Demand0.86

    0.5 miles away

  • Peacehaven Heights Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Peacehaven · BN10 7QY · East Sussex

    Ages 3–11

    • KS256%
    • Absence6.8%
    • FSM34.9%
    • Demand0.82

    2.1 miles away

  • Telscombe Cliffs Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Peacehaven · BN10 7DE · East Sussex

    Ages 2–11

    • KS261%
    • Absence5.8%
    • FSM20.9%
    • Demand0.79

    2.5 miles away

  • Seaford Primary School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Community school · Primary

    Seaford · BN25 2JF · East Sussex

    Ages 4–11

    • KS247%
    • Absence5.7%
    • FSM11.2%
    • Demand0.91

    2.8 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Miss Carla Botting
Telephone
01273041471
Website
https://highcliffacademy.org/

Official links