Eastbourne College
Same East Sussex area with a comparable local commute
School profile
Verified 17 August 2026
Bede's Senior School is a private secondary-stage school in Hailsham, East Sussex, with a published age range of 13-19.
Private school Co-ed Ages 13-19 Sixth form Boarding school
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 13-19
- ISI ?
- Standards met
- Boarding ?
- Boarding school
Bede's Senior School
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 13-19
- Boarding ?
- Boarding school
- Route check
- Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
- ISI ?
- Standards met
Overview
Overview
Bede's Senior School grew from Bede's Preparatory School in Eastbourne after Peter Pyemont founded the senior school in 1978. The move to Upper Dicker placed it on an estate of more than 100 acres in the Sussex Downs National Park, with a lake and gardens. Co-educational day and boarding provision, a house system and a sixth form now share that rural setting.
Most pupils enter in Year 9, where the First Year combines English, mathematics, science and languages with creative work and the Twenty-First Century carousel. First aid and cookery are among the practical skills in that programme. The Fifth Form leads into GCSE, IGCSE and BTEC courses, while sixth-form pupils can choose A levels or BTEC alongside academic enrichment, learning enhancement and careers provision.
The co-curricular offer is unusually distinctive. More than 100 clubs and activities span sport, visual and performing arts, educational enrichment, hobbies, community links, volunteering, trips and expeditions. Bede's Legat Dance Academy, Bede's Zoo and animal-management provision give the rural campus specialist roles beyond the usual sports and arts list, while boarding adds another dimension to school life.
Admissions centre on Year 9 and Year 12, with some Year 10 places and an international Pre-Sixth route. Year 9 applicants attend an Experience Day with group tasks, discussion, interview, reasoning tests and a chosen activity; offers are not conditional on Common Entrance. Sixth-form applicants have an interview and references, with specified grade thresholds for A level and BTEC entry.
Key points
Key points
- Assessment route
- Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
- Places and demand
- Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
- Catchment
- Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
- Results
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths and 26.4 Attainment 8
- Sixth form
- Sixth form available with 23.3% AAB or better.
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with East Sussex and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 26.4
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 0%
- EBacc APS
- 2.16
- EBacc entry
- 0%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with East Sussex and England.
School Local authority England
School details
School details
- Sector
- Private school
- School type
- Other independent school
- Funding
- Independent fee-paying
- Application
- Apply direct to school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Age range
- 13-19
- Headteacher
- Mr Peter Goodyer
- Pupil roll
- 763 pupils
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Boarding
- Boarding school
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- The Dicker, Upper Dicker, Hailsham, East Sussex
- Postcode
- BN27 3QH
- Area
- East Sussex
School leadership
- Headteacher
- Mr Peter Goodyer
School contact
- School phone
- 01323843252
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions
- Admissions phone
- 01323843252
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 13-19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Boarding
- Boarding school
- Day fees
- £11,750/term (including VAT)
- Boarding fees
- Full boarding: £18,400/term (including VAT)
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Entrance details
- Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Admissions note
- GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
Oversubscription and eligibility
Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.
Exam and test format
Exam and test format
Entrance route and assessment
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Assessment route
- Apply direct to school
- Papers and stages
- 2 stages
- Format
- Mixed format
Papers and rounds
-
Round 1
Other, Interview
Years 7-9 Bede's Experience Day
For Years 7 to 9 entry, applicants take part in team tasks, group discussions, an individual chat and a computer-based assessment.
-
Round 2
Interview
Sixth Form interview and predicted-grade review
Sixth Form entry requires a formal interview and review of predicted GCSE grades.
Published assessment components
Interview is listed across the school's published assessment routes.
Published
-
Interview
For Years 7 to 9 entry, applicants take part in team tasks, group discussions, an individual chat and a computer-based assessment.
Application
Application
Key dates
Get date reminders-
11+ (2027 entry) scholarship application deadline
15 January 2027
Scholarship applications close on 15 January 2027.
-
13+ (2027 entry) scholarship application deadline
4 January 2027
Scholarship applications close on 4 January 2027.
-
16+ (2027 entry) scholarship application deadline
13 October 2026
Scholarship applications close on 13 October 2026.
-
16+ (2027 entry) scholarship assessment window
9-20 November 2026
Scholarship assessments take place from 9 to 20 November 2026.
How to apply
- 1
Apply direct to the school
Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
Check school admissions
Results
Results
Attainment snapshot
- Attainment 8 ?
- 26.4 Attainment 8
- GCSE results
- 0% grade 4+ in English and maths
- Grade 5+ English and maths ?
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths
- EBacc average point score ?
- 2.16 EBacc APS
- A-level results
- 23.3% AAB or better
- A-level average points
- 41.79 A-level points per entry
Inspection
Inspection
Standards met
Latest inspection: 27 February 2024
- Leadership, management and governance
- Standards met
- Quality of education, training and recreation
- Standards met
- Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Standards met
- Social and economic education and contribution to society
- Standards met
- Safeguarding
- Standards met
Quick summary
- Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2024 records an inspection beginning 27 February 2024. The report says the relevant standards were met.
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Shortlist comparisons
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Related pages and guides
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Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does Bede's Senior School handle admissions?
Bede's Senior School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to Bede's Senior School?
1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
When are the key dates for Bede's Senior School?
11+ (2027 entry) scholarship application deadline: 15 January 2027. 13+ (2027 entry) scholarship application deadline: 4 January 2027. 16+ (2027 entry) scholarship application deadline: 13 October 2026. 16+ (2027 entry) scholarship assessment window: 9-20 November 2026
What does the latest inspection picture look like for Bede's Senior School?
Bede's Senior School is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 27 February 2024.