Cuckmere House School

Cuckmere House School is a special school for boys aged 6 to 16 with social, emotional and mental health needs, and all pupils have an education, health and care plan. It is part of The Sabden Multi Academy Trust and operates across three sites, including Tower House for specialist autism support and The Unit for off-site construction and carpentry learning. This graded inspection in July 2025 judged the school good in each key area; the previous inspection grade was outstanding, and a new principal took up post in September 2024. Staff have high expectations and work determinedly to understand and remove pupils’ barriers to learning. Pupils feel valued, safe and happy, behave well and achieve well from their starting points. The curriculum has been improved, reading is central across subjects, and staff use EHC plans well to adapt teaching. Personal development is a priority, with strong careers guidance, a wide options programme, Duke of Edinburgh opportunities and pupil leadership roles. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. The main concerns are that some pupils do not attend school regularly enough and therefore miss important learning and experiences, and that in a few subjects the school does not use its subject expertise effectively enough for all pupils. Trustees have not provided enough challenge over time, although they are taking action, and the trust’s new local governing board is at an early stage and has not yet made a tangible difference.

Strengths

• Staff have high expectations and work determinedly to understand pupils’ SEMH needs.
• Pupils feel valued, safe and happy and achieve well from their starting points.
• Pupils are proud of their inclusive school and develop genuine friendships and a sense of belonging.
• Behaviour is a strength, and staff create a calm and positive environment.
• The curriculum has been improved, including the specialist Tower House provision.
• Reading is central to the curriculum, with accurate phonics identification and tailored support.
• Staff use EHC plan information well to adapt curriculum delivery.
• Personal development is a priority, with effective careers advice and wellbeing education.
• Pupils benefit from a wide options programme, Duke of Edinburgh award and leadership roles.
• Older pupils achieve nationally accredited courses and are well prepared for their next stage.
• Staff appreciate work to reduce workload and support their wellbeing.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils do not attend school regularly enough and miss essential learning and wider experiences.
• In a few subjects, the school does not use its subject expertise effectively enough for all pupils.
• Trustees have not provided enough challenge over time, although they are taking action.
• The trust’s local governing board is at an early stage and has not yet made a tangible difference.

In 2024–25 pupils at Cuckmere House School attended 75.7% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 45.7% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 23.5% of pupils at Cuckmere House School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Cuckmere House School had 4.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 16.5% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 Cuckmere House School had 92 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: moderate learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or disability.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Cuckmere House School received £28,109 and spent £31,811 for each of its 85 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £41,000 (£485 per pupil).

Across all 3 schools of The Sabden Multi Academy Trust, income was £29,855 and spending £31,484 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Seaford · East Sussex local authority: places and applications

Cuckmere House School is part of The Sabden Multi Academy Trust, which runs 3 schools. The nearest others:

• St Mary's School Heathfield
• New Horizons School (Part of the Sabden Multi Academy Trust) St Leonards-On-Sea

What is Cuckmere House School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Cuckmere House School is Good, from an inspection in September 2025.

When was Cuckmere House School last inspected by Ofsted?

Cuckmere House School was last inspected in September 2025.

How many pupils does Cuckmere House School have?

Cuckmere House School has 92 pupils on roll.

What age range does Cuckmere House School cover?

Cuckmere House School for pupils aged 6 to 16.

What are Cuckmere House School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 13.2, and 0% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

What are Cuckmere House School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Cuckmere House School?

Cuckmere House School is at Eastbourne Road, Seaford, East Sussex, BN25 4BA.