Best Primary & Secondary Schools in West Sussex 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 337 schools across West Sussex. Updated with 2025–26 data.

West Sussex has 337 open primary & secondary schools. Of the 302 with a published Ofsted inspection, 26 (9%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 89% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Heron Way Primary School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in West Sussex follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

337
Total schools
26
Outstanding (historic grade)
9%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
59%
Avg KS2 SATs
35.7
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. Heron Way Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 87 View school
2. Amberley CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 84 View school
3. Blackthorns Community Primary Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 81 View school
4. Tanbridge House School
Secondary
 Outstanding 77 View school
5. Fishbourne CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
6. Singleton CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
7. Ashurst CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
8. St Paul's Catholic College
Secondary
 Outstanding 76 View school
9. St Augustine's CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 76 View school
10. Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, Cuckfield
Primary
 Good 75 View school
11. Arundel CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 75 View school
12. Kingslea Primary School
Primary
 Good 75 View school
13. Pound Hill Infant Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 75 View school
14. All Saints CofE Primary School, Horsham
Primary
 Good 75 View school
15. Lindfield Primary Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 75 View school
16. Shoreham Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 74 View school
17. Hazelwick School
Secondary
 Outstanding 74 View school
18. St Robert Southwell Catholic Primary School, Horsham
Primary
 Good 74 View school
19. Rose Green Junior School
Primary
 Outstanding 73 View school
20. Hilltop Primary School
Primary
 Good 73 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for West Sussex

Best primary schools in West SussexTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in West SussexTop-ranked Year 7 onwards Primary schools in West SussexReception–Year 6 only Secondary schools in West SussexYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in Brighton and HoveCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in SurreyCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in PortsmouthCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in SuttonCompare neighbouring authority

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Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary & secondary schools are there in West Sussex?
There are 337 open primary & secondary schools in West Sussex (closed schools are excluded). 26 of the 302 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary & secondary schools in West Sussex?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary & secondary school in West Sussex is Heron Way Primary School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in West Sussex?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in West Sussex?
Primary and secondary applications in West Sussex are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the West Sussex council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.