Chailey School
Mill Lane, South Chailey, Lewes, BN8 4PUOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Chailey School is a secondary school in Lewes for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 214 schools in East Sussex. It ranks 1st of 3 secondary schools in Lewes. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in February 2026.
Ofsted report card
Inspected 10 February 2026, report published 17 May 2026
Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.
- Inclusion
- Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching
- Expected standard
- Achievement
- Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour
- Strong standard
- Personal development and wellbeing
- Strong standard
- Leadership and governance
- Strong standard
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 10 February 2026
Pupils are rightly proud to attend Chailey School, where ‘everyone is the best they can be’. This kind, caring and nurturing school provides a wealth of opportunities for its pupils. Values of kindness, resilience, independence, creativity, community and participation shape the way staff and pupils behave. Incredibly warm working relationships between pupils and staff make for a harmonious learning environment. Pupils attend school well. This is because they enjoy school and are keen to learn. They take pride in the work they produce. Pupils trust staff to act in their best interests if they have any worries. They feel safe here. Consistently high expectations for pupils’ behaviour permeate the school. Well-embedded routines help pupils know what they need to do and when. As a result, pupils behave consistently well in lessons and at social times. They enjoy socialising, playing cricket and attending clubs. Pupils embrace difference and treat each other respectfully. They develop lasting friendships that mean their time at Chailey is full of positivity and good memories. Bullying is incredibly rare. Pupils and staff alike do not tolerate discrimination of any sort. Pupils benefit from an ambitious curriculum that they enjoy. Staff teach the curriculum effectively, although leaders are taking steps to further strengthen pupils' experiences in lessons, including the way teachers check on pupils' learning and the feedback they give to them. Staff follow the ‘Chailey Charter’, which helpfully sets out the ingredients of successful teaching. Staff work tirelessly to remove barriers affecting pupils' learning and wellbeing. Teachers adapt the curriculum very well for pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, supporting them to progress through the curriculum and achieve well. When it comes to the end of their time at Chailey, pupils are prepared well and are ready and excited to take their next steps.
What the school should improve
- Leaders should ensure that teaching is further strengthened, particularly assessment practices, so that pupils consistently produce high-quality work and achieve well across all subjects.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
168 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
862 pupils on roll, with places for 870
Schools near Chailey School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burgess Hill Girls | 4 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 39.0 |
| The Burgess Hill Academy | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 44.6 |
| Lewes Old Grammar School | 5 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 60.4 |
| Downlands Community School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 57.3 |
| King's Academy Ringmer | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 47.6 |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Paul Holt
- Phone
- 01273890407
- Address
- Mill Lane, South Chailey, Lewes, BN8 4PU
- Local authority
- East Sussex
- URN
- 114594
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.