SEN2gether

St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 21 of its 208 pupils (10.1%) were getting SEN support and 4 (1.9%) had an EHC plan.

  • Ages 4–11
  • 208 pupils

Special educational needs here

From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in East Sussex.

10.1% get SEN support

21 of 208 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.

  • This school10.1%
  • England15.4%
  • East Sussex17.2%

Lower than the England average.

1.9% have an EHC plan

4 of 208 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.

  • This school1.9%
  • England4.1%
  • East Sussex2.5%

Lower than the England average.

Most common needs

  • Autism9
  • Social, emotional and mental health5

Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.

Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.

School details

Type
Mainstream primary school
Run as
Voluntary aided school
Ages
4 to 11
Boys and girls
Boys and girls
Pupils
208 (places for 211)
Headteacher
Mr Damien McKeever
Faith
Roman Catholic
Free school meals
10.1% of pupils eligible
Council
East Sussex
School reference (URN)
114565

How SEN support works

4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
  1. Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO

    If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.

  2. SEN support

    The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.

  3. An EHC needs assessment

    If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask East Sussex council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.

  4. Free, independent advice

    Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.

Questions to ask the SENCO

10 questions to tick off as you go

Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.

Ofsted

Graded by area, January 2025; school remains Good (September 2019)

Inspected in January 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.

  • Quality of educationGood
  • Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
  • Personal developmentOutstanding
  • Leadership and managementGood
  • Early yearsGood
  • SafeguardingEffective

Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, September 2019).

Contact and getting there

Hastings Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN40 2ND

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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive

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The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.

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Nearby

Specialist schools and SEN units

Other mainstream schools

All mainstream schools in East Sussex SEND schools in East Sussex

Questions about St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School

How many pupils at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School have special educational needs?

In the January 2026 school census, 21 of the 208 pupils (10.1%) were getting SEN support and 4 (1.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.

What are the most common needs at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School?

Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (9 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (5 pupils).

Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School?

The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.

How do I apply for a place at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School?

Through East Sussex council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.

Can my child with an EHC plan go to St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School?

You can ask for St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.

Does St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?

Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is All Saints Church of England Primary School, Bexhill, about 1.2 miles away.

Where is St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School?

Hastings Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN40 2ND, in East Sussex.

School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.

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