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Headstart[1]

Special · ages 5–21

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Headline results

Special schools' results are not shown as headlines: they are not comparable with mainstream schools'.

Results

Results at special schools and alternative provision aren't comparable with mainstream schools'. Shown as published, not compared.

GCSE (key stage 4)

Attainment 8
4.7 2025/26[2]
Grade 5+ in English & maths
16.7% 2025/26[2]
Grade 7+ in English & maths
0% 2025/26[2]
Progress 8, 2025/26
Not calculated[3]
Progress 8, 2024/25
Not calculated[3]
All results, 2020/21
Not published (exams cancelled, COVID-19)[4]
All results, 2019/20
Not published (exams cancelled, COVID-19)[5]
Earlier years
Year Attainment 8 Grade 5+ in English & maths Grade 7+ in English & maths
2024/25 0.1[6] 0%[6]
2021/22 3.2[7] 0%[7]
2018/19 3.5[8] 0%[8]
2015/16 10.4[9]

Ofsted

Inspected by
Ofsted[10]
Latest inspection
21 Nov 2023[11]
Type
Independent School standard inspection[11]
Report published
15 Jan 2024[11]
Personal development
Outstanding[11]
Quality of education
Good[11]
Overall effectiveness
Good[11]
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding[11]
Safeguarding is effective?
Yes[11]
Independent school standards
All standards Met[11]
Sixth form provision (where applicable)
Good[11]
Effectiveness of leadership and management
Good[11]

Ofsted inspects this independent school against the Independent School Standards; "Independent school standards" says whether it met all of them at its latest standard inspection.

Competition to get in

No published data for this school.

Character & practicalities

Type
Other independent special school[1]
Ages
5–21[1]
Boys / girls
Mixed[1]
Boarding
No boarders[1]
Capacity
50[1]
Local authority
East Sussex[1]
Website
www.headstartschool.co.uk[1]
Special classes
Has Special Classes[10]
Section 41 (can be named in an EHC plan)
Not approved[10]
District
Wealden[12]
Postcode
TN33 9EG[1]
URN
134148[1]

School details as recorded in Get Information About Schools on 14 Oct 2026.

Pupils

Number on roll
47 2024/25[13]
SEN support
0% 2024/25[13]
EHC plan
100% 2024/25[13]
Free school meals in the last 6 years
0% 2024/25[13]

Sources

  1. Department for Education: Get Information About Schools: all establishments. Period 2026-10-14, published 2026-10-14. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  2. Department for Education: Performance tables schools data (explore education statistics). Period 2025/26, provisional, published 2026-10-15. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  3. Department for Education: Key stage 4 performance 2024/25: data guidance. Period 2024/25. Archived copy; original. Licence: OGL-3.0.
    Quote
    It is not possible to calculate Progress 8 for academic years 2024/25 and 2025/26 due to gaps in the baseline caused by COVID-19 disruption.
  4. Department for Education: Key stage 4 performance 2020/21. Period 2020/21. Archived copy; original. Licence: OGL-3.0.
    Quote
    Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the summer exam series for the 2020/21 academic year was cancelled
  5. Department for Education: Key stage 4 performance 2019/20. Period 2019/20. Licence: OGL-3.0.
    Quote
    Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the summer exam series was cancelled in 2020
  6. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  7. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  8. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2018/19, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  9. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2015/16, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  10. Department for Education: Get Information About Schools: all establishments (independent schools' inspectorate and provision). Period 2026-10-17, published 2026-10-17. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  11. Ofsted: Non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes. Period 2026-07-31, provisional. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  12. Office for National Statistics: Parish to Ward to Local Authority District (May 2026) Lookup in EW. Period 2026-05-01. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  13. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: School census. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.