A multi-academy trust is celebrating rising results and standout school progress, including individual academies climbing into the top 10 per cent of schools.

STEP Academy Trust, which runs schools across East Sussex, recorded 71 per cent of pupils meeting or exceeding expectations in reading, writing and maths, beating the national average by 9 per cent.

Breakwater Academy ranked sixth overall, while Peacehaven Heights Academy rose from 91st to 13th, and High Cliff Academy climbed from 28th to 19th.

All three academies are now in the top 10 per cent in the county.

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Paul Glover, chief executive officer of STEP Academy Trust, said: “These results reflect the continued progress and strength of our academies across East Sussex.

“We are proud to see such strong outcomes for our pupils, alongside the significant improvements being made across our trust.

“What underpins this success is our unwavering commitment to inclusion – ensuring that every child, regardless of background or need, is supported to succeed.

“That shared focus across our academies is what drives both our outcomes and the progress we continue to see year on year.”

The trust reported that pupils who are disadvantaged or have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) consistently achieve above national averages.