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Academy sponsor led · West Sussex

The Sir Robert Woodard Academy

  • 11–18Ages
  • 1,427Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • ChristianReligious character
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 135744URN

Upper Boundstone Lane, Sompting, BN15 9QZ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Jan 2026

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.9per place
0.4 below West Sussex median (2.3)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in West Sussex

447 applications for 242 places · 31st of 40 in West Sussex
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
44.6of 90
26th of 40 in West Sussex
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 13 January 2026Published 22 March 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceStrong standard
  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

  1. 13 January 2026
    Report card · 4 Strong standard, 3 Expected standard
  2. 19 October 2021
    Graded inspection: Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
1.9applications per place, Year 7
0.4 below West Sussex median (2.3) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

447 applications · 242 places offered · 224 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

  1. 2026 1.9; West Sussex median median 2.3
  2. 2025 2.1; West Sussex median median 2.2
  3. 2024 1.8; West Sussex median median 2.2
  4. 2023 2.2; West Sussex median median 2.1
  5. 2022 1.7; West Sussex median median 2.3
  6. 2021 1.8; West Sussex median median 2.3
  7. 2020 1.5; West Sussex median median 2.4
  8. 2019 1.6; West Sussex median median 2.4
  9. 2018 2.0; West Sussex median median 2.6
  10. 2017 1.5; West Sussex median median 2.2
  11. 2016 1.6; West Sussex median median 2.3
  12. 2015 1.4; West Sussex median median 2.3
  13. 2014 1.3; West Sussex median median 2.1
More applications per place than the West Sussex median in 1 of 13 years.
  • This school
  • West Sussex median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20262424471.92240.93
Sep 20252294762.12431.06
Sep 20242855021.82530.89
Sep 20232345252.22701.15
Sep 20223145341.72660.85
Sep 20212815091.82380.85
Sep 20202964561.52190.74
Sep 20193154901.62390.76
Sep 20181703362.01460.86
Sep 20171932801.51530.79
Sep 20161642691.61510.92
Sep 20152042811.41700.83
Sep 20141822391.31320.73

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

246 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)44.626th of 40 in West Sussex
Grade 5 or above in English and maths38%33rd of 40 in West Sussex
Grade 4 or above in English and maths69%
  • This school
  • West Sussex median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.18
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)24644.638%69%–
2024/2523742.138%62%–
2023/2426244.442%70%−0.18
2022/2317841.238%61%−0.30

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

  • 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.

School details

Type
Academy sponsor led
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
135744 · 938/6911
Trust
Woodard Academies Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Religious character
Christian
Capacity
1,400 pupils · 1,427 on roll
Free school meals
19.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 September 2009
Replaced
Boundstone Community College (URN 126074)
Address
Upper Boundstone Lane, Sompting, BN15 9QZ
Local authority
West Sussex · Adur

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources