The Ropemakers' Academy

About The Ropemakers' Academy

The Ropemakers' Academy is a free school special in Hailsham, East Sussex, England, for pupils aged 4–16. It has 111 pupils on roll. It is part of THE BECKMEAD TRUST. Its most recent Ofsted inspection (21 June 2023) rated it Good. At GCSE, pupils achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 1 (2025/26). At the end of Key Stage 2, 0% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. 61.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0.9% have English as an additional language.

School Information

Local Authority

East Sussex →

School Type

Free schools special

Age Range

Ages 4–16

Gender

Mixed

Pupils / Capacity

111 / 80 (139%) · over capacity

Sixth Form

Does not have a sixth form

Nursery

No Nursery Classes

Religious Character

None

Admissions Policy

Non-selective

Last Ofsted Inspection

21 June 2023

Who attends this school — useful context if you’re considering teaching here.

Source: DfE School Census, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Official Department for Education results, pupil destinations and attendance.

Source: Department for Education performance tables, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Some independent schools’ qualifications (e.g. IGCSEs) are not all reflected in these figures.

Staffing at this school, with the trend over recent years — useful if you’re considering working here.

Data for the 2024/25 academic year (trend lines show 3 years). Source: DfE School Workforce Census, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. State-funded schools only.

How this school is funded and where the money goes — per pupil.

Source: DfE school finance returns (CFR for council-maintained schools, AAR for academies), 2024-25, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Per-pupil figures are calculated from total income/expenditure.

Contact Details

Address

Reef Way, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 1FB

Phone

01323368374

Head Teacher

Simon Hawthorne

Website

https://www.beckmeadtrust.org/ropemakers

Academy Trust

Frequently asked questions

What type of school is The Ropemakers' Academy?

The Ropemakers' Academy is a free school special in Hailsham, East Sussex, England, for pupils aged 4–16.

How many pupils does The Ropemakers' Academy have?

The Ropemakers' Academy has 111 pupils on roll, according to Department for Education data.

What is The Ropemakers' Academy's Ofsted rating?

The Ropemakers' Academy was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection (21 June 2023).

How does The Ropemakers' Academy perform at GCSE?

Pupils at The Ropemakers' Academy achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 1 in 2025/26.

How does The Ropemakers' Academy perform at Key Stage 2 (SATs)?

0% of pupils at The Ropemakers' Academy met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of Key Stage 2.

Is The Ropemakers' Academy part of an academy trust?

Yes — The Ropemakers' Academy is part of THE BECKMEAD TRUST.

Where is The Ropemakers' Academy?

The Ropemakers' Academy is located at Reef Way, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 1FB.