Bede's Senior School
School summary
Set near Hailsham in East Sussex, Bede's Senior School has grown since its 1978 founding into a co-educational boarding and day school of around 811 pupils, taking children from age 13 through to the sixth form. The Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded the school its top rating of "excellent" for both education quality and personal development, with all compliance standards met. A sizeable sixth form of 290 pupils gives the upper school real momentum. The breadth of qualifications on offer, spanning GCSE, A-level, BTEC and the EPQ, signals a school willing to find the right route for different kinds of learner.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
45%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
62%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
81%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 27 February 2024
Teaching & academics
Results sit comfortably in the upper tier: 62 per cent of A-level entries reached A*-A and 81 per cent A*-B, while 45 per cent of GCSE grades fell in the 9-7 band. Academic strengths range widely, from sciences and languages to the creative and humanities subjects, with Psychology, Physics, History and English Literature among the most popular at A-level. The presence of BTEC and EPQ options alongside traditional courses suggests a curriculum that values both rigour and varied talents. With around 15.6 per cent of pupils receiving SEN support, the school clearly accommodates a spread of learning needs.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Headmaster · Peter Goodyer
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 290
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Creative and sporting life appears central to the school's identity, reflected in scholarships spanning Art, Sport, Design Technology, Swimming and Exhibition awards as well as academics. Drama, photography and design feature prominently among popular subject choices, hinting at strong provision in the arts.
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1978
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 15.59%
- EHC plans
- 0.37%
Mobile phone policy
In year 9-11, phones are not permitted to be seen or used throughout the school day (including in house, between lessons, lunch, breaks etc). In the sixth form, pupils are allowed to use them in the sixth form common room or in house, but are not permitted to use them elsewhere around the campus. In boarding houses, pupils give in technology before bedtime.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £33,570
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £49,485 - £52,575
- Bursaries up to
- 50% of fees
Bursaries offered, usually up to maximum of 50 per cent. Two means-tested sixth form bursaries available.
Schools nearby
Annan School
Uckfield, South East
Anderida Learning Centre
Eastbourne, South East
Eastbourne College
Eastbourne, South East
St Andrew's Prep
Eastbourne, South East
Bede's Preparatory School
Eastbourne, South East
Lewes Old Grammar School
South East
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A medium-sized, top-rated co-ed offering academic and creative breadth, with bursaries of up to 50 per cent helping widen access. Best suited to families wanting boarding or day options and a route that need not be purely traditional.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
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Bede's Senior School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.