School profile

Thomas Bennett Community College

Secondary · Academy converter · Crawley, RH10 5AD

Good

Map showing Thomas Bennett Community College

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#2,959 of 3,312

Worse than 89% of schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#2,337 of 2,536

Worse than 92% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

Thomas Bennett Community College Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 5 Oct 2022

Ofsted rating
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,261
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Daniel Hatley
TrustTHE KEMNAL ACADEMIES TRUST
Local authorityWest Sussex
Opened01 Sept 2012
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 138620.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolWest SussexEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.37.4, worse than England, worse than West Sussex46.746.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.51.8%, worse than England, worse than West Sussex67.4%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.28.3%, worse than England, worse than West Sussex47.2%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.4.7%, worse than England, worse than West Sussex12.9%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths44%, worse than England, worse than West Sussex62.7%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4191--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolWest SussexEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.24.18, worse than England, worse than West Sussex33.9935
Average A-level gradeD+--
Average points, best three A-levels23.85, worse than England, worse than West Sussex35.0835.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsD+--
AAB or better15.4%, similar to England, similar to West Sussex16.2%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.16, similar to England--
A-level progressAverage, similar to England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study111--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Merit+--

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils1,261
Girls552
Boys709
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.33%
First language not English28.3%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,450
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.13%
Sixth form places2024/25200
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.202
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.40
Average class size23.6

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
53.9%
Other White
9.5%
African
6.3%
Other mixed
3.5%
Other Asian
3.5%
Indian
2.8%
Pakistani
2.7%
Other ethnic group
2.3%
White and Black Caribbean
2.1%
Other Black
2%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher28.4
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.18.2
Teachers (FTE)44.41
Teaching assistants (FTE)14.63
Support staff (FTE)26.98
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2568.7
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2523.4
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/257.6
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/2537.7

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.205
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.292
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.103
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.103
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)1

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolWest SussexEngland
Overall absence10%, worse than England, worse than West Sussex8.1%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.27.9%, worse than England, worse than West Sussex21.4%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.4.6%, worse than England, worse than West Sussex3.7%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate60.8%
Pupils with one or more suspensions13.7%
Permanent exclusion rate0.6%
Permanent exclusions7

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.82.4%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.76.2%
Further education34.2%
School sixth form30.1%
Sixth form college11.9%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.9.3%
Apprenticeship3.6%
Employment2.6%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.81.5%
Employment54.3%
Higher education16.3%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.12%
Apprenticeship2.2%
Further education1.1%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near Thomas Bennett Community College
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.2 miPrimaryDesmond Anderson Primary AcademyAcademy converter
Good
0.3 miPrimaryBroadfield Primary AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.3 miNot applicableAtelier21 Future SchoolOther independent school
Good
0.5 miPrimarySouthgate PrimaryAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.5 miPrimaryHilltop Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.7 miPrimarySeymour Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.7 miPrimaryThe Oaks Primary School & NurseryAcademy converter
Good
0.7 miPrimarySt Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School, CrawleyVoluntary aided school
Good
0.9 miSecondaryHoly Trinity CofE Secondary School, CrawleyVoluntary aided school
Good
1.0 miPrimaryWoodgate Primary AcademyAcademy converter
Requires improvement

Frequently asked questions about Thomas Bennett Community College

What is Thomas Bennett Community College's Ofsted rating?

Thomas Bennett Community College is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 5 Oct 2022.

How does Thomas Bennett Community College rank in England?

Thomas Bennett Community College ranks 2,959 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 89% of schools) and 2,337 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (worse than 92% of schools).

What are Thomas Bennett Community College's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 28.3% of pupils at Thomas Bennett Community College got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 37.4 (England 46.2).

What are Thomas Bennett Community College's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Thomas Bennett Community College was D+, and 15.4% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into Thomas Bennett Community College?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Thomas Bennett Community College made 205 offers from 292 applications (1.4 per offer), and 103 of 103 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Thomas Bennett Community College?

Thomas Bennett Community College has 1,261 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of Thomas Bennett Community College?

Thomas Bennett Community College had 1,450 school places in 2024/25.

Does Thomas Bennett Community College have a sixth form?

Yes, Thomas Bennett Community College has a sixth form with 200 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at Thomas Bennett Community College?

At Thomas Bennett Community College, the average class had 23.6 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 28.4 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Thomas Bennett Community College?

In 2025/26, pupils at Thomas Bennett Community College missed 10% of sessions (England 8%), and 27.9% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.