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Local authority · South East

Schools in West Sussex

  • 286State-funded schools
  • 226Primary
  • 40Secondary
  • 14Special
  • South EastRegion
Applications per placeCircle size: applications
First choice · secondary 2026
88%
4 pts above England (84%)
8,765 families applied
First choice · primary 2026
92%
close to England (92%)
8,127 families applied
Applications per place · secondary
2.3
close to England median (2.2)
Median school
New Ofsted report cards
34of 286 schools
Results by area

How hard is it to get a place here?

DfE · families living in West Sussex
Secondary (Year 7) · Sept 2026
88%got their first choice
4 pts above England (84%)

8,765 applicants · 2.4% offered none of the schools they named

  1. 2026 88%; England 84%
  2. 2025 88%; England 84%
  3. 2024 87%; England 83%
  4. 2023 87%; England 83%
  5. 2022 88%; England 83%
  6. 2021 88%; England 81%
  7. 2020 87%; England 82%
  8. 2019 84%; England 81%
  9. 2018 91%; England 82%
  10. 2017 91%; England 83%
  11. 2016 93%; England 84%
  12. 2015 90%; England 84%
  13. 2014 91%; England 85%
  • West Sussex
  • England
Every year as a table
EntryApplicantsFirst choiceOne of first threeNone they named
Sep 20268,76587.5%97.6%2.4%
Sep 20258,91487.8%97.4%2.6%
Sep 20248,96387.1%98.1%1.9%
Sep 20239,30287.0%96.5%3.5%
Sep 20229,40687.8%97.4%2.6%
Sep 20219,13388.2%97.2%2.8%
Sep 20209,11286.9%97.1%2.9%
Sep 20199,15684.3%96.4%3.6%
Sep 20188,61491.1%98.5%1.5%
Sep 20178,21591.1%98.3%1.7%
Sep 20167,74793.3%98.9%1.1%
Sep 20157,84490.4%97.7%2.3%
Sep 20146,77390.8%98.0%1.9%
Primary (Reception) · Sept 2026
92%got their first choice
close to England (92%)

8,127 applicants · 0.8% offered none of the schools they named

  1. 2026 92%; England 92%
  2. 2025 92%; England 93%
  3. 2024 93%; England 93%
  4. 2023 91%; England 92%
  5. 2022 91%; England 92%
  6. 2021 91%; England 92%
  7. 2020 91%; England 90%
  8. 2019 91%; England 91%
  9. 2018 91%; England 91%
  10. 2017 90%; England 90%
  11. 2016 88%; England 88%
  12. 2015 87%; England 88%
  13. 2014 89%; England 88%
  • West Sussex
  • England
Every year as a table
EntryApplicantsFirst choiceOne of first threeNone they named
Sep 20268,12792.4%99.2%0.8%
Sep 20258,39891.7%98.8%1.2%
Sep 20248,35592.7%99.2%0.8%
Sep 20238,67591.4%98.5%1.5%
Sep 20228,79491.2%98.6%1.4%
Sep 20218,84491.5%98.6%1.4%
Sep 20209,12290.8%98.4%1.6%
Sep 20199,05791.1%98.9%1.1%
Sep 20188,94691.1%98.9%1.1%
Sep 20179,09990.2%98.6%1.4%
Sep 20169,48287.8%97.4%2.6%
Sep 20159,29687.4%98.0%2.0%
Sep 20148,88189.2%97.4%2.6%

What has Ofsted found here?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report cards 34 schools of 286 · since November 2025

  • Inclusion
  • Curriculum and teaching
  • Achievement
  • Attendance and behaviour
  • Personal development and wellbeing
  • Early years (25)
  • Post-16 provision (4)
  • Leadership and governance

Bar: share of schools; number of schools at each grade below.

Overall grade from Ofsted's previous framework 211 schools · graded 2011 to 2024

  • Outstanding15
  • Good182
  • Requires improvement12
  • Inadequate2

Includes grades confirmed by a later ungraded inspection. Not comparable with report cards.

Graded 2024/25, no overall grade 38 schools

Key judgementOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of education3287–
Behaviour and attitudes6311–
Personal development929––
Leadership and management5276–

Not yet inspected (new or reorganised schools): 3.

Latest report cards

Every new report card, month by month · RSS for West Sussex

Secondary schools in West Sussex

40 schools · Year 7 entry 2026

Change the order (visual only)

Sorted by applications per place for September 2026 entry, highest first.

Sorted by Attainment 8, highest first.

Sorted by the date of the latest Ofsted inspection, newest first.

Sorted by name.

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS4 results, Ofsted.
SchoolLatest OfstedApplications per placeAttainment 8FSM
Chichester Free School Good2024 7.1 applications per place 43.5 15%
Worthing High School Standards maintained2025 4.1 applications per place 45.2 16%
St Wilfrid's Catholic Comprehensive School, Crawley Faith Remains Good2023 4.1 applications per place 46.0 17%
St Oscar Romero Catholic School Faith Graded · no overall grade2025 4.0 applications per place 57.2 13%
St Paul's Catholic College Faith Outstanding2023 3.8 applications per place 57.8 8%
Bohunt School Worthing Remains Good2023 3.6 applications per place 45.7 20%
St Andrew's CofE High School Faith Good2023 3.6 applications per place 43.7 25%
The Forest School Remains Good2022 3.6 applications per place 43.1 13%
Hazelwick School Outstanding2023 3.5 applications per place 46.3 19%
The Gatwick School Good2024 3.5 applications per place 44.0 21%
Bohunt Horsham Good2023 3.4 applications per place 47.2 11%
St Philip Howard Catholic School Faith 2026 2.9 applications per place 53.0 12%
Bishop Luffa School, Chichester Faith Outstanding2022 2.8 applications per place 55.1 11%
Tanbridge House School Outstanding2024 2.7 applications per place 56.0 10%
Oathall Community College Remains Good2023 2.6 applications per place 51.3 15%
Warden Park Secondary Academy 2026 2.6 applications per place 55.0 12%
Oriel High School Graded · no overall grade2025 2.5 applications per place 46.0 15%
Millais School Good2022 2.5 applications per place 54.7 13%
Chichester High School Graded · no overall grade2024 2.4 applications per place 42.0 31%
Ormiston Six Villages Academy Good2022 2.3 applications per place 42.2 24%
Ifield Community College Remains Good2023 2.3 applications per place 41.5 33%
Davison Church of England High School for Girls, Worthing Faith Outstanding2024 2.2 applications per place 50.8 14%
Felpham Community College Standards maintained2024 2.1 applications per place 43.2 21%
Downlands Community School 2026 2.1 applications per place 58.3 8%
Sackville School Remains Good2024 2.1 applications per place 47.2 14%
Holy Trinity CofE Secondary School, Crawley Faith Good2023 2.1 applications per place 40.2 32%
Imberhorne School Standards maintained2024 2.1 applications per place 49.4 12%
Midhurst Rother College Outstanding2024 2.0 applications per place 48.8 14%
The Angmering School Good2022 1.9 applications per place 41.8 22%
Shoreham Academy Faith Outstanding2024 1.9 applications per place 51.3 17%
The Sir Robert Woodard Academy Faith 2026 1.9 applications per place 44.6 20%
Durrington High School Good2022 1.8 applications per place 49.4 20%
Bourne Community College 2026 1.7 applications per place 40.5 21%
Weald School, The Graded · no overall grade2024 1.7 applications per place 50.8 13%
The Littlehampton Academy Faith 2026 1.5 applications per place 36.3 26%
The Regis School Remains Good2023 1.5 applications per place 48.9 26%
Steyning Grammar School Faith 2026 1.5 applications per place 48.0 15%
Thomas Bennett Community College Good2022 1.4 applications per place 37.4 36%
The Academy, Selsey Graded · no overall grade2025 1.3 applications per place 38.3 27%
The Burgess Hill Academy Some aspects not as strong2024 1.2 applications per place 45.7 16%

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS4 results, Ofsted. FSM: free school meals.

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Primary schools in West Sussex

226 schools · Reception entry 2026

Sorted by applications per place for September 2026 entry, highest first.

The 25 with the most applications per place. Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS2 results, Ofsted.
SchoolLatest OfstedApplications per placeSATs standardFSM
Lavant Primary School Faith Remains Good2023 6.4 applications per place 53% 10%
Thakeham Primary School Remains Good2024 5.7 applications per place 63% 8%
Whytemead Primary School Good2024 5.4 applications per place 68% 20%
Blackthorns Community Primary School 2026 5.1 applications per place 77% 3%
Stedham Primary School Requires improvement2024 5.0small intake applications per place – 27%
Elm Grove Primary School, Worthing Good2024 4.7 applications per place 52% 9%
Rake CofE Primary School Faith Graded · no overall grade2025 4.3small intake applications per place 25% 14%
Southgate Primary Good2023 4.2 applications per place 45% 37%
Kingslea Primary School 2026 4.0 applications per place 79% 6%
West Green Primary School Good2024 4.0 applications per place 47% 26%
Bury CofE Primary School Faith Remains Good2024 3.9small intake applications per place 58% 3%
Camelsdale Primary School Remains Good2024 3.9 applications per place 79% 4%
Sidlesham Primary School Requires improvement2024 3.9 applications per place 60% 22%
All Saints CofE Primary School, Horsham Faith Graded · no overall grade2025 3.9 applications per place 77% 7%
Lyminster Primary School Standards maintained2025 3.9 applications per place 50% 23%
Jessie Younghusband Primary School Remains Good2024 3.8 applications per place 75% 13%
Slinfold CofE Primary School and Pre School Faith Good2023 3.8 applications per place 18% 12%
Boxgrove CofE Primary School Faith Good2023 3.8small intake applications per place 15% 18%
Sheddingdean Community Primary School 2026 3.8 applications per place 66% 17%
Walberton & Binsted CofE Primary School Faith Remains Good2022 3.8 applications per place 60% 9%
William Penn School Faith Requires improvement2024 3.8small intake applications per place 64% 12%
Bartons Primary School, Bognor Regis Standards maintained2025 3.8 applications per place 56% 18%
Rumboldswhyke CofE Primary School Faith Good2023 3.8 applications per place 18% 25%
Aldingbourne Primary School 2026 3.6 applications per place 63% 12%
Shipley CofE Primary School Faith Remains Good2024 3.6small intake applications per place 50% 9%

The 25 with the most applications per place. Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS2 results, Ofsted. FSM: free school meals.

All 226 primary schools, by district:

Special schools and other provision

20 schools