The successful trust which runs Beacon Academy in Crowborough is to expand once more – bringing Hailsham Community College into the partnership.
The MARK Education Trust grew in 2022 when Uplands Community College in Wadhurst joined Beacon. Now, from September this year, Hailsham will become the third school in the trust.
Beacon’s Headteacher, Anna Robinson, who is also the CEO and Executive Headteacher at MARK , has been supporting Hailsham in an advisory capacity and the trust has been working with East Sussex County Council (ESCC) and the Department of Education on the plans.
Opportunities to be shared
In a letter to parents, the MARK Chair of Trustees, Clare Collins, said: “Hailsham has much to offer our trust. As another East Sussex school in a similar context, it is close enough for our expertise and opportunities to be shared, not only to benefit the education of our young people but also the continuing professional development, retention and recruitment of our staff.”
She added Hailsham also includes a primary phase with nursery, infant and junior provision. “This has been rated Good by Ofsted, and as the nursery and primary occupy a newly built school, it is a considerable asset to our trust.”
Committed
Ms Collins said everyone was excited about the opportunity “We are excited about the opportunities this growth will bring, and remain committed to ensuring that students at Beacon Academy, Uplands Academy, and what will be Hailsham Academy, benefit from our collaboration, working together to achieve our mission of providing the very best possible education for our students, preparing them for life, so they can stand equally alongside their peers, locally, nationally and globally.”
Anna Robinson was appointed Headteacher of Beacon Academy in 2015, and she became Executive Headteacher of MARK Education Trust in September 2022. She has overseen a transformational journey for the school. In 2019, it celebrated record-breaking A-Level and GCSE results with the Progress 8 measure making Beacon East Sussex’s top-performing school for three consecutive years, as well as being first across Sussex, and in the top 1.8% nationally.
Beacon transformed
Beacon’s results continue to reflect academic excellence with sixth form students excelling despite national shifts in A-Level rigour, and the vast majority of its students’ secure places at their first-choice university, apprenticeship or employment.
After a rigorous Ofsted inspection in 2024, Beacon Academy received an Outstanding rating across all categories.
MARK welcomed Uplands Academy (formerly Uplands Community College) into the trust in September 2022. Located in Wadhurst, East Sussex, Uplands is a good school with vast potential, driven by an inspiring student and staff body.
Oversubscribed
Ms Robinson said: “Together, we make a strong, unified team, focused on delivering whole school improvement. Centralised business services support our schools to develop and sustain excellence in every classroom. Our trust’s schools remain oversubscribed across year groups: a testament to our committed team’s dedication to our mission.”
She added: “Our growth strategy is implemented thoughtfully to ensure that each of our schools retains its unique identity while continuously striving for excellence through collaboration connected by our shared vision.”
Subject to the final regulatory approval, Hailsham Community College will join the MARK Education Trust on 1 September 2025.