Rye College
The Grove, Rye, TN31 7NQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Rye College is a secondary school in Rye for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 214 schools in East Sussex. It ranks 19th of 22 secondary schools in East Sussex. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 17 January 2023, report published 6 March 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 17 January 2023
Rye College has taken great strides forward in recent years. Work is demanding and current pupils are learning well across a wide range of subjects. Much of this is due to the strong leadership of the headteacher and the executive headteacher and extensive staff teamwork. All staff want the very best for their pupils. Pupils and parents recognise and appreciate the many improvements in the school. There is a happy, friendly atmosphere throughout. Pupils feel safe. One pupil described the school as 'one big happy family'. Relationships are strong. Leaders have high expectations of pupils' learning and conduct. Pupils work hard to uphold the school's values of 'be proud, committed, positive, employable, kind'. Most pupils behave well in lessons and during breaktimes. If bullying occurs, staff in the school's 'Hub' quickly sort it out. Pupils benefit from a range of extra-curricular activities, including sports clubs, revision clubs and crochet club. Some pupils are participating in a French exchange programme and a forthcoming trip to Paris and Normandy. A number of cultural visits on offer, such as to the theatre and local universities, extend opportunities to learn. The student leadership team raises money for local charities.
What the school should improve
- Sometimes teachers move on to new learning before checking that pupils have understood what is being taught. When this happens, some pupils struggle with the learning that follows. Leaders should ensure that teachers thoroughly check that pupils have grasped key knowledge and concepts before moving on so that pupils' learning is securely embedded in their memory.
- Some staff are not always adapting the curriculum well enough to meet the needs of pupils with SEND. Consequently, some pupils with SEND do not achieve sufficiently well. Leaders should ensure that staff receive appropriate training to adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of pupils with SEND so that they are supported to do as well as they can.
- All pupils do not attend as regularly as they should. This means they miss out on valuable learning opportunities. Leaders should continue to prioritise their work with families so that pupils attend school more regularly.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
103 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
645 pupils on roll, with places for 750
Schools near Rye College
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buckswood School | 5 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 16.1 |
| Mulberry Academy Hastings | 7 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | Attainment 8: 38.2 |
| Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre | 9 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 39.7 |
| Claremont School | 9 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 36.3 |
| Ark Alexandra Academy | 9 miles | Report card: Strong standard | Attainment 8: 42.6 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- AQUINAS CHURCH OF ENGLAND EDUCATION TRUST LIMITED
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Dominic Downes
- Phone
- 01797222545
- Address
- The Grove, Rye, TN31 7NQ
- Local authority
- East Sussex
- URN
- 146825
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.