Best Secondary Schools in West Sussex 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 37 schools across West Sussex. Updated with 2025–26 data.

West Sussex has 37 secondary schools, of which 9 (24%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted and a further 27 rated Good — 97% of secondary schools in West Sussex are rated Good or Outstanding overall. Ifield Community College currently leads the local rankings on our composite SNM Score.

Application deadlines in West Sussex follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry. Offers go out on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

37
Total schools
9
Outstanding
24%
Outstanding rate
59%
Avg KS2 SATs
35.7
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted SNM Score
🥇 Ifield Community College
Secondary
 Good 80 View school
🥈 The Forest School
Secondary
 Good 80 View school
🥉 St Paul's Catholic College
Secondary
 Outstanding 79 View school
4. Shoreham Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 79 View school
5. Tanbridge House School
Secondary
 Outstanding 78 View school
6. Bishop Luffa School, Chichester
Secondary
 Outstanding 76 View school
7. St Philip Howard Catholic School
Secondary
 Outstanding 76 View school
8. Davison Church of England High School for Girls, Worthing
Secondary
 Outstanding 75 View school
9. Downlands Community School
Secondary
 Good 74 View school
10. Hazelwick School
Secondary
 Outstanding 73 View school
11. Midhurst Rother College
Secondary
 Outstanding 71 View school
12. Warden Park Secondary Academy
Secondary
 Good 68 View school
13. Millais School
Secondary
 Good 67 View school
14. Oathall Community College
Secondary
 Good 67 View school
15. Durrington High School
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
16. Worthing High School
Secondary
 Good 63 View school
17. Bohunt School Worthing
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
18. Sackville School
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
19. Imberhorne School
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
20. St Wilfrid's Catholic Comprehensive School, Crawley
Secondary
 Good 59 View school

Related lists for West Sussex

All schools in West SussexPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in West SussexReception–Year 6 only Outstanding schools in West Sussex9 schools rated Outstanding

See full data for any school in West Sussex

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

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in West Sussex?
There are 37 secondary schools in West Sussex, of which 9 (24%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
What are the best schools in West Sussex?
Based on our composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance and class sizes, the top school in West Sussex is Ifield Community College. See the full ranked list above.
How do I apply for a school place in West Sussex?
Primary and secondary school applications in West Sussex are managed by the Local Authority. Applications for secondary places typically open in September for the following academic year. Visit the West Sussex council website for application forms and deadlines.
What is the average Ofsted rating in West Sussex?
24% of secondary schools in West Sussex are rated Outstanding and 73% are rated Good. 74.9% are rated Good or Outstanding.

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.