School profile

Worthing High School

Secondary · Academy converter · Worthing, BN14 7AR

Good

Map showing Worthing High School

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

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#1,799 of 3,312

Similar to most schools in England

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

Worthing High School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 19 Apr 2016

Ofsted rating
Good
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 16
Pupils1,050
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Alex Simpson
TrustSOUTH DOWNS EDUCATION TRUST
Local authorityWest Sussex
Opened01 Dec 2012
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 139109.

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.45.2, similar to England, similar to West Sussex46.746.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.64.1%, similar to England, worse than West Sussex67.4%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.46.1%, similar to England, similar to West Sussex47.2%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.5.3%, worse than England, worse than West Sussex12.9%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths60.2%, similar to England, similar to West Sussex62.7%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4206--

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

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils1,050
Girls420
Boys630
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.15.5%
First language not English8.5%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,122
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.6.4%
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.147
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.65
Average class size24.1

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
78.6%
Other White
7.5%
White and Asian
2.7%
White and Black African
1.7%
Other Asian
1.7%
Indian
1.5%
African
1.2%
Other mixed
1.1%
White and Black Caribbean
1%
Pakistani
0.6%

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 teacher15.9
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.10.3
Teachers (FTE)66.1
Teaching assistants (FTE)18.62
Support staff (FTE)57.14
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2565.9
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2559.5
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/251.6
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/254.8

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.844
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.213
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.193
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)2

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 absence8.6%, worse than England, worse than West Sussex8.1%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.21.3%, similar to England, similar to West Sussex21.4%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.4.8%, 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 rate4.6%
Pupils with one or more suspensions2.7%
Permanent exclusion rate0.2%
Permanent exclusions2

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.95.8%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.93.9%
Further education66.8%
Sixth form college25.2%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.2.8%
Apprenticeship0.9%
Employment0.9%
School sixth form0.5%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 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 Worthing High School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.3 miSecondaryBohunt School WorthingAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.4 miPrimaryBroadwater CofE Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good
0.4 miNot applicableLancing College Preparatory School at WorthingOther independent school
Unrated
0.5 miPrimaryThomas A Becket Junior SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.5 miPrimaryHeene CofE Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Inadequate
0.6 miPrimarySt Mary's Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.6 miSecondarySt Andrew's CofE High SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good
0.7 miPrimaryThomas A Becket Infant SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.7 miPrimaryWhytemead Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.7 miNot applicableOur Lady of Sion SchoolOther independent school
Unrated

Frequently asked questions about Worthing High School

What is Worthing High School's Ofsted rating?

Worthing High School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 19 Apr 2016.

How does Worthing High School rank in England?

Worthing High School ranks 1,799 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools).

What are Worthing High School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 46.1% of pupils at Worthing High School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 45.2 (England 46.2).

How hard is it to get into Worthing High School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Worthing High School made 205 offers from 844 applications (4.1 per offer), and 193 of 213 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Worthing High School?

Worthing High School has 1,050 pupils aged 11 to 16.

What is the capacity of Worthing High School?

Worthing High School had 1,122 school places in 2024/25.

Does Worthing High School have a sixth form?

No, Worthing High School teaches pupils up to age 16.

How big are classes at Worthing High School?

At Worthing High School, the average class had 24.1 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 15.9 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Worthing High School?

In 2025/26, pupils at Worthing High School missed 8.6% of sessions (England 8%), and 21.3% 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.