Battle Abbey School

Battle Abbey School occupies the former abbey site in the centre of Battle, where medieval buildings and views across the 1066 battlefield are part of the school's identity. Founded in Bexhill in 1912 as a girls' finishing school, it moved to the Abbey in 1922, became co-educational in 1989 and now combines prep, senior, sixth-form and boarding provision. Later additions include the Performing Arts Centre, Martlet House and Leeford Lodge, so the historic site is used as a working school.

The senior curriculum is broad and flexible. Key Stage 3 includes English, mathematics, science, music, art, drama, history, geography, religious studies, computing, French, Spanish and PE, with GCSE options in drama, languages, humanities, computer science, music, art and triple science for selected pupils. Post-16, students can combine A levels with BTEC Business Studies or BTEC Sport, and may add an Extended Project Qualification. Academic societies, research, careers guidance and enrichment continue through the sixth form.

The Abbey experience is lived across several distinct spaces. Martlet House provides sixth-form study rooms, a cafe, common room, gym and teaching areas near the High Street, while the main site includes the Performing Arts Centre and older abbey buildings. More than 50 clubs and societies, visiting speakers, community service, work experience, leadership, sport and performing arts extend the core subjects. Boarders add a residential dimension through Leeford Lodge, opened in 2025, and the wider senior-school community.

Battle Abbey is non-selective in academic terms, but entry is assessed. Regular senior entry points are Reception, Year 7, Year 9 and Year 12, with applications direct to the school; Year 7 and Year 9 assessments normally take place in November and help place pupils in suitable teaching groups. Reports, a current-school reference and an interview are considered. Sixth-form offers use predicted GCSE grades, interviews and references, while scholarships span academic, art, music, drama, performing arts, sport and computing.