School profile

Uplands Academy

Secondary · Academy converter · Wadhurst, TN5 6AZ

Good

Map showing Uplands Academy

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#1,564 of 3,312

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#2,059 of 2,536

Worse than 81% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

Uplands Academy Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 4 Jul 2013

Ofsted rating
Good
Leadership and management
Good

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 16
Pupils699
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMs Zoe James
TrustMARK EDUCATION TRUST
Local authorityEast Sussex
Opened01 Sept 2022
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 148945.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolEast SussexEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.46.4, similar to England, better than East Sussex43.746.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.74%, better than England, better than East Sussex63.5%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.52.1%, better than England, better than East Sussex44.1%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.11%, worse than England, similar to East Sussex10.2%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths63%, similar to England, better than East Sussex58.6%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4146--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolEast SussexEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.27.85, worse than England, worse than East Sussex32.6835
Average A-level gradeC---
Average points, best three A-levels30.51, worse than England, similar to East Sussex31.4835.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsC--
AAB or better15.4%, similar to England, better than East Sussex9.8%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.11, similar to England--
A-level progressAverage, similar to England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study27--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Merit+--

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils699
Girls321
Boys378
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.22.7%
First language not English3.6%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,000
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.30.1%
Sixth form places2024/25210
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.93
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.26
Average class size23.4

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
85.4%
Other White
5%
Other mixed
2.1%
White and Asian
1.3%
White and Black African
1.1%
White and Black Caribbean
0.9%
Other ethnic group
0.7%
Gypsy/Roma
0.4%
Other Asian
0.4%
African
0.3%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher15.6
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.10.3
Teachers (FTE)44.8
Teaching assistants (FTE)10.28
Support staff (FTE)40.99
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2545.1
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2533.7
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/253
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/258.4

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.166
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.314
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.124
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.124
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)129

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolEast SussexEngland
Overall absence8.3%, similar to England, better than East Sussex8.9%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.22.3%, similar to England, similar to East Sussex23.6%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.5.5%, worse than England, worse than East Sussex4.3%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate53.4%
Pupils with one or more suspensions14.7%
Permanent exclusion rate0.1%
Permanent exclusions1

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.83.7%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.74.8%
Further education44.4%
School sixth form20.7%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.12.6%
Sixth form college9.6%
Employment5.9%
Apprenticeship3%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.86.7%
Higher education51.1%
Employment35.6%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.4.4%
Further education0%
Apprenticeship0%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near Uplands Academy
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.5 miPrimaryWadhurst CofE Primary School and NurseryVoluntary controlled school
Good
0.8 miNot applicableSacred Heart SchoolOther independent school
Unrated

Frequently asked questions about Uplands Academy

What is Uplands Academy's Ofsted rating?

Uplands Academy is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 4 Jul 2013.

How does Uplands Academy rank in England?

Uplands Academy ranks 1,564 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools) and 2,059 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (worse than 81% of schools).

What are Uplands Academy's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 52.1% of pupils at Uplands Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 46.4 (England 46.2).

What are Uplands Academy's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Uplands Academy was C-, and 15.4% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into Uplands Academy?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Uplands Academy made 166 offers from 314 applications (1.9 per offer), and 124 of 124 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Uplands Academy?

Uplands Academy has 699 pupils aged 11 to 16.

What is the capacity of Uplands Academy?

Uplands Academy had 1,000 school places in 2024/25.

Does Uplands Academy have a sixth form?

Yes, Uplands Academy has a sixth form with 210 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at Uplands Academy?

At Uplands Academy, the average class had 23.4 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 15.6 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Uplands Academy?

In 2025/26, pupils at Uplands Academy missed 8.3% of sessions (England 8%), and 22.3% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.