Councillors visit our new Newhaven site

East Sussex Academy has welcomed local councillors to its Newhaven site for a special ‘tea and tour’ event.

The guests were introduced to both the school and London South East Academies Trust and were able to see, first-hand, the progress being made to support local young people needing alternative provision

Formerly known as College Central, the school became part of London South East Academies Trust in September 2025, following an academy order from the Department for Education. Since then, it has been on a rapid journey of improvement, focused on ensuring that pupils needing an alternative to mainstream education have access to a high-quality, appropriate setting within their local community.

Councillors attending the event included: Cllr Mark Wardle (Newhaven North Ward, Deputy Mayor), Cllr Jo Pettitt (Newhaven Denton), Cllr Corina Watts (Newhaven Denton), Cllr Lesley Boniface (Newhaven North Ward), and Cllr Bob Standley, Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability at East Sussex County Council.

They were joined by Kate Shiner, London South East Academies Trust Trustee and Chair of the Alternative Provision Board.

Deputy CEO ofLondon South East Academies Trust, Neil Miller, welcomed guests and spoke about the Trust’s wider work and its commitment to strengthening specialist and alternative provision across the region.

Headteacher of East Sussex Academy, Guy Walsh, outlined the school’s improvement journey so far, highlighting both the challenges that have been addressed and the positive strides being made to enhance outcomes for pupils.

Head of the Outreach, Claire Muccio and Taskforce Manager, Beth Liston shared an overview of the work their teams are doing with schools across East Sussex to help reduce permanent exclusions and support pupils at risk of this.

Guests were then taken on a guided tour of the Newhaven site, where they met staff, visited classrooms and learning spaces, and heard more about the tailored support available to students. The visit provided an opportunity for open discussion about how the academy works collaboratively with local authorities and partners to reduce exclusions and support children with additional needs.

Speaking about the visit, Neil Miller, Deputy CEO at London South East Academies Trust, said:

“We are grateful to our local councillors and trustees for taking the time to visit our Newhaven site. Opportunities like this are invaluable in helping us to strengthen relationships with our civic partners and demonstrate the progress being made at East Sussex Academy.

“By working closely together, we can ensure that young people who need alternative provision receive the high-quality education and support they deserve, right here in their local community.”

Councillor Bob Standley, Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability at East Sussex County Council.

“It was a real pleasure to visit East Sussex Academy today and to see, first hand, the progress being made here. Leaders and staff are so passionate, with a clear commitment to helping pupils rebuild their confidence and re-engage with learning.

“Alternative provision plays a vital role in ensuring no young person is left behind. On behalf of East Sussex County Council, I am proud to support this work and look forward seeing the academy continuing to go from strength to strength.”

Kate Shiner, London South East Academies Trust, Trustee and Chair of the Alternative Provision Academy Board, added:

“As a trustee, part of my role is to ensure that our vision translates into meaningful and positive impact for young people - and it’s fantastic to see this happening in practice at East Sussex Academy.

“The team’s clear sense of purpose and commitment to pupils’ needs is driving real improvement, and it’s inspiring to see that work taking shape. I’m grateful to everyone involved for their dedication to creating the right opportunities for these young people.”