Beacon Academy facts for kids

Beacon Academy is a school in Crowborough, East Sussex, England. It's a place where both boys and girls learn together. Students usually attend from age 11 to 18.

What is Beacon Academy?

Beacon Academy is a secondary school and a sixth form. A secondary school is for students aged 11 to 16. A sixth form is for older students, usually aged 16 to 18. They study for advanced qualifications there.

From Community School to Academy

The school used to be called Beacon Community College. It changed its name and became an "academy" in April 2012. Before that, it was a "community school."

What is an Academy?

An academy is a type of school in England that gets its funding directly from the government. It is not managed by the local council. This gives the school more freedom to decide how it runs.

What was a Community School?

A community school was managed by the local council, like East Sussex County Council. The council made many decisions about how the school operated.

Who Supports Beacon Academy Now?

Today, Beacon Academy is supported by the MARK Education Trust. This trust helps manage the school and ensures it provides a good education.

What Can You Study at Beacon Academy?

Beacon Academy offers different types of courses and qualifications for students.

Courses for Younger Students

For students up to age 16, the school offers:

• GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education): These are important exams you take at the end of secondary school. They cover many subjects like Maths, English, and Science.
• BTECs (Business and Technology Education Council): These are practical qualifications. They focus on skills for specific jobs or industries.

Courses for Sixth Form Students

Students in the sixth form (ages 16-18) can choose from:

• A Levels (GCE Advanced Level): These are advanced qualifications. They are usually taken before going to university.
• More BTECs: Students can continue to study practical BTEC courses at a higher level.