The Eastbourne Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 January 2025

For too long pupils have not achieved as well as they should. Disruption spoils many of their lessons and some pupils worry about the behaviour and conduct of others. Despite the school being ambitious for all pupils, and knowing their needs well, pupils have not had a consistent and positive experience of school. Pupils recognise the changes that the school's new leadership team are making. They appreciate the new approach to promoting positive behaviour, although this is in its early stages. Following a period of staff turbulence, the school's staffing is now more stable. This benefits pupils, many of whom are keen to build positive relationships with their teachers. The school's pastoral support offer is well developed. Pupils can get help should they have concerns or need support. However, the school has not been successful in improving the behaviour of some pupils. Bullying is a concern for some, and some pupils feel that they cannot be themselves for fear of being singled out. As a result, they restrict themselves to certain areas or activities where they feel most secure.

What the school should improve

• Over time, leadership and oversight of the school has been ineffective. Pupils' underachievement and disruptive behaviour have not been tackled with sufficient urgency. The school and those responsible for governance should make sure that strong oversight of the school drives rapid improvement.
• Pupils' achievement, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND, remains low. As a result, many pupils do not attain the qualifications that they need to progress to their next stages of education, training or employment. The school should ensure that achievement of all pupils improves, and that all pupils are given access to high-quality education.
• Over time, too many pupils have been regularly absent from school. The proportion of pupils who miss a significant amount of their schooling remains high. Consequently, many pupils miss vital learning and do not have the knowledge and skills they need to achieve well. The school should ensure that it continues to review and adapt its current approaches, so that attendance improves rapidly, persistent absence decreases and that in-school truancy is eradicated.
• The school does not ensure that the expectations of pupils' behaviour are consistently high. Many pupils are unclear about the expectations of their behaviour or the importance of treating others with respect. In lessons, disruption is frequent and, as a result, some pupils feel anxious or uncomfortable. This negatively affects pupils' learning. The school should clarify its expectations for pupils, including what happens when these are not met. It should ensure that there are systems in place to support staff and to follow up on sanctions when required.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)