Rye College

Rye College
Location
The Grove Rye , East Sussex , TN31 7NQ England
Coordinates	50°57′18″N0°43′55″E / 50.955°N 0.732°E / 50.955; 0.732
Information
Type	Academy
Motto	Creating Bright Futures for All
Religious affiliation(s)	None
Founder	Sir Thomas Peacocke
Department for Education URN	146825 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Headteacher	Dominic Downes [1]
Gender	Coeducational
Age	11to 16
Enrolment	500
Website	www.ryecollege.co.uk

Rye College, formerly Thomas Peacocke Community College and Rye Grammar School, is a coeducational secondary school with academy status, ^[2] located in Rye, East Sussex, England. ^[3]

History

The Old Rye Grammar School

The school developed from earlier schools in Rye such as Rye Grammar School which was founded by Sir Thomas Peacocke in 1636.^{[ clarification needed ]} It became a comprehensive school in (or before) 1969.^{[ citation needed ]}

In November 2018 Rye College joined the Aquinas Church of England Education Trust, whilst retaining its community school terms of reference. It is a non-faith school.

Ofsted judgement and academic performance

The school was judged Good by Ofsted in 2023. ^[4] Performance at GCSE in 2017 was average compared to national results, based on the Progress 8 measure. ^[5]

Notable former pupils

Of Thomas Peacocke Community College:

• Simon Nelson, 10th Earl Nelson
• Mark Edwards, best-selling fiction writer
• James McCartney, musician and songwriter ^[6]
• Mary McCartney, photographer and vegetarian cookery writer ^[6]
• Stella McCartney, fashion designer ^[6]

Of Rye Grammar School:

• Prof Percival Allen, Professor of Geology from 1952–1982 at the University of Reading, and President from 1978–1980 of the Geological Society of London ^[7]
• Prof Ted Paige, expert on surface acoustic waves at the Royal Radar Establishment from 1955–1977, and Professor of Electrical Engineering from 1977–1997 at the University of Oxford. His research had great use for airborne radar used by the RAF from the 1970s. ^[8]
• Harry Peulevé DSO MC
• Mark Saville, Baron Saville of Newdigate, chaired the Bloody Sunday Inquiry

References

1. "Rye College". Get Information about Schools. GOV.UK. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
2. "Rye College". BBC. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
3. "Rye College". East Sussex County Council. Archived from the original on 9 January 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
4. "Rye College". Ofsted. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
5. "Rye College". Find and compare schools in England. Archived from the original on 9 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
6. Boshoff, Alison (5 June 2004). "WALRUSGUMBOOT'S ARCHIVED NEWS: Reluctant McCartney's life as a recluse". Archived from the original on 9 November 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
7. "Professor Percival Allen". The Telegraph. 25 May 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
8. Clark, Colin (24 March 2004). "Professor E. G. S. Paige". The Independent. Retrieved 8 April 2025.