Uplands Academy

About Uplands Academy

Just over two in five pupils at Uplands Academy are eligible for free school meals, a figure that gives a strong sense of the community this secondary school serves. The school is significantly oversubscribed, with 736 pupils on roll against a capacity of just 173, which suggests that despite its current challenges, local families are actively choosing it. The most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in 2024, rated the school as Requires Improvement overall, a notable drop from its previous Outstanding rating in 2014. That said, the picture is mixed: behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision were all judged Good, while quality of education and leadership and management were the areas flagged as needing improvement. For parents weighing up the school, the strong demand and the pockets of Good practice may offer some reassurance, even as the school works through a period of transition.

Academically, the data tells a story of a school that is currently below average but not dramatically so. Uplands Academy does not publish individual Progress 8 or Attainment 8 figures in the available data, but the local authority average Progress 8 score for East Sussex is -0.16, which provides a useful benchmark. The school’s sixth form was rated Good by Ofsted, which is a positive signal for those considering staying on post-16. With 41% of pupils on free school meals, the school serves a significantly disadvantaged intake, and context like this often weighs on headline results. The school’s top local peers include St Richard’s Catholic College, Beacon Academy, and Priory School, all of which rank higher on the available scoring system. Parents looking at Uplands will want to compare its outcomes carefully against these neighbours, especially given the Requires Improvement rating.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, sports hall, science labs, and a dedicated sixth form centre, alongside music rooms and a chapel. Sports provision is varied, with rowing, martial arts, and dance alongside more traditional options like cricket and athletics. Clubs include Model UN, Young Enterprise, and a newspaper club, which suggests a genuine attempt to build enrichment beyond the classroom. The school’s SEND provisions are specifically for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties, so families with children who have high-level needs may find the support here more targeted than at a mainstream-only setting. Given the oversubscription, early application is essential. This is a school that will suit families who value a strong community feel and a wide extracurricular offer, and who are prepared to engage with a leadership team that is currently under scrutiny to improve.

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